Chances are that you’ve seen the pictures of the massive crowds at the Calgary Stampede over the last week. Or maybe, you lived it! Between big names headlining free shows, the general pull of the Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth, and special promotions like Family Day, it’s clear why there’s been a significant increase in attendance since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. But just how many records have been broken?
Here’s a look at the record-breaking daily attendance throughout the years.
Friday opening night
Record attendance for that first Friday tends to go up consistently. The current record is Friday, July 7, 2023, which saw 164,939 people enter the gates. 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2012, and 2000 were also record-breaking years. While 2025’s attendance of 161,057 would have broken those previous records, it couldn’t quite match the opening night from two years ago.
The first Saturday
Despite increasingly higher attendances across the last few years, none have gotten even close to the current record holder — July 8, 1977, with 177,207 attendees. That date marked the first edition of “Midnight Madness,” a special promotion where fun-seekers of all ages could purchase a wristband for $5 that would allow them to enjoy unlimited rides from midnight to 8 a.m. the next morning. So many people showed up that the police and security had to turn away hopeful patrons. Despite the chaos, the promotion was brought back year after year until the mid-80s, when it was phased out due to safety concerns.
Family Day Sunday
The first Sunday of Stampede marks Family Day, where the whole family can enjoy free admission until 11 a.m. along with a free pancake breakfast while quantities last. It’s no surprise that this promotion brings in a lot of guests, but believe it or not, it was a Sunday that brought in the highest daily attendance record ever. Sunday, July 7, 2024, welcomed 201,260 people through the gates. The previous record was set in 2012, which was also the overall daily attendance record at that time. Note to self: Sundays are popular!
Monday
Monday’s record-attendance occurred in 2012, with 103,480 guests walking through the gates. In fact, the 2012 Calgary Stampede held the record for highest overall attendance with 1,409,371 attendees until 2024 managed to surpass it with 1,477,953. Considering it was the centennial celebration, it’s no surprise that the turnout was especially high.
Community Day Tuesday
In the spirit of community, everyone gets free admission from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Combine that with a much-anticipated performance by Don Toliver, and you get a record-breaking turnout in 2025 with 193,033 people. Although such high numbers were anticipated, some concert-goers described feeling “crushed” and “unsafe,” leading to a larger discussion about crowd management and what sort of venues are appropriate for such big names.
Kids Day Wednesday
On Wednesday, children 12 and under get free entry all day. While this does make the attendance higher than a weekday with no promotions (okay, Monday), it doesn’t necessarily equate to any jaw-dropping numbers. However, the record was broken this year with 161,419 people in attendance on July 9. This is likely due to Khalid headlining the Coca-Cola stage, as crowds appeared to be on par with the previous evening’s.
Thursday
The busiest Thursday in Stampede history goes to the centennial, which saw 142,905 people go through the gates on July 12, 2012. It was on this day that Garth Brooks, who at the time had stopped touring, came to Calgary to perform at the historic event. This year, Thursday saw a significant dip in attendance, at 95,165.
Friday
The record attendance for the Stampede’s final Friday was set in 2009 with 154,965 people, while the last few years have hovered around the 130,000s. I can’t for the life of me figure out why that day in 2009 was so well-attended. The weather was a nice 22°C following four days in the teens, so maybe Calgarians were anxious to get out and about. Or, maybe one of the performers was super popular back then. I don’t know, I wasn’t there — I was too busy being 10 and in Saskatchewan.
Saturday
Again, the centennial celebration takes the record with an attendance of 171,715 on Saturday, July 14, 2012. Brad Paisley and The Band Perry headlined the Saddledome.
Sunday closing night
The highest attendance on the last day of Stampede was in 2006, with 146,853 people. Last year came close, falling just 180 people short of the record.
The record for overall Stampede attendance goes to 2024 with 1,477,953 people across the entire event. 2025 takes second, with 1,470,288. Although there are many record-breaking days far behind us, the overall numbers show a steady rise in Stampede attendance. Now the question is: What will next year bring, and is the city ready?
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