Attendance record stands as 2023 Calgary Stampede statistics released

This year's attendance numbers for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth have been released, making the event the second-largest Calgary Stampede in history.

According to officials, 1,384,632 people attended this year.

The average daily attendance at the grounds was 125,050.

That's just short of the all-time attendance record of more than 1.4 million visitors, which was set in 2012.

"That's really not what's important. What's important is the quality of what we've done, the quality of the experience that we presented this year," said Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede.

However, many other records were broken, from opening day attendance to the Guinness World Record for most pancakes served in eight hours.

A safe Stampede is also something to celebrate.

Supt. Joe Brar with the Calgary Police Service says there were only a few minor incidents during the 10-day event.

"I know there's a lot of concern around public safety and public spaces and transit and stuff like that, and we didn't want that fear coming at the expense of people being able to enjoy the first full Stampede since the pandemic," he said.

CHUCKWAGON WINNER

A new name topped the podium on the final night of chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede.

Officials with the World Pro Chuckwagons said Layne MacGillivray, driving the Spray Lakes Sawmills Outfit, with outriders Brendan Nolin and Trey MacGillivray, won the championship final.

He defeated Kurt Bensmiller by 34 one-hundredths of a second.

It was his first time winning as a driver at the Cowboys Rangeland Derby Championship at the Calgary Stampede, having won twice before as an outrider.

Officials say he was also given the Guy Weadick Award earlier in the evening, a commendation that's given to a competitor "who best represents what a cowboy stands for and embodies the spirit of the Calgary Stampede."

ECONOMIC IMPACT

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce expects the economic impact from this Stampede will exceed 2019, when the event generated about $282 million.

"The Bird scooters that everybody was riding around on, the fact that all the hotels were at capacity, they were sold out, you could not get a place to stay, so were the Airbnbs and the restaurants full," said Deborah Yedlin, chamber president and CEO.

Jeff Hessel, senior vice-president of marketing for Tourism Calgary, says about 30 per cent of visitors were from outside of the city — a good sign of what's to come.

"We're hoping that translates to a great number at all the events that take place throughout the summer and also into the fall and winter," he said.

PLANS FOR 2024

Stampede officials say they put a lot of thought into the layout of this year's event, ensuring major attractions were near each entrance and C-Train station.

They say it worked very well and plan to carry that forward to next year.

They say the BMO Centre expansion will be complete by this time next year, giving them even more indoor space to work with.

The Sam Centre will also be open next year.

That's the interactive Stampede experience that celebrates not only the history of the Calgary Stampede, but the importance of western heritage and agriculture.

Officials hope that will be a big draw as well.

The 2024 Stampede is set to run from July 5 to 14.