Crowds enjoy early sunshine on last day of Stampede
Posted Jul 17, 2016 5:14 pm.
Last Updated Jul 17, 2016 5:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Cowboys really don’t mind getting their boots wet or muddy if they happen to be competing in the rodeo.
Organizers with the Calgary Stampede admit, all the rain did hurt attendance this year, but it didn’t get in the way of the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”
Torrential downpour soaked the Stampede for most of the event’s 10 days, and attendance numbers dropped overall compared to last year.
Stampede CEO Warren Connell says, those who stuck it out got quite the show.
“(Our) worst critics have actually come out this year and talked about the Grand Spectacular actually being spectacular as far as the Grand Stand show goes. That’s in spite of the rain. And the rain actually did hit that show in the majority of evenings and the stands were still filled with people wearing ponchos and watching,” Connell said.
Connell notes one-in-five visitors were first-time attendees, the 50/50 raffle could be on its way to hitting a record as it sat at $1.3 million and counting Sunday afternoon, and 90 per cent of guests said the event met or exceeded expectations during an exit survey.
The Stampede offered free admission from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Sunday. It was the third time it offered reduced admission this year. Organizers say they waited for a sunny forecast to offer the free admission on Sunday, and it’s wasn’t to make up for decreased attendance.
“Our goal (sic) is that our guests’ smiles become a little bit brighter, their memories become wonderful and we all celebrate Stampede and the final Sunday together,” Connell said.
As of Saturday, 826,527 people visited the grounds. Overall attendance is down by just over 84,000 from 2015.
