Calgary Stampede closure of little-known entrance could hurt Ramsay's school

It was both a well-kept community secret and the key to the local school's annual fundraiser, but now the Stampede entrance at the base of Scotsman's Hill is gone.

"The biggest concern was the school fundraiser. We do parking up at the school here to provide funding to the school programs and without the ticket booth, the fundraiser would not move forward," said Erin Joslin, the vice-president external with the Ramsay Community Association.

In previous years, Stampede goers could park at the school lot and then head down the stairs on Scotsman's Hill to a little-used gate. This year the Indian Village has moved into the new Enmax Park at the base of the hill, and the only access is just to the north on MacDonald Avenue. 

"The entrance that used to be there is slightly moved, and it's really just to compliment the whole Indian Village experience and the entrance into Stampede Park," said Stampede spokesperson Jennifer Booth.

"It's approximately a three to five minute walk from its previous location at the bottom of the stairs."

Shuttles and cabs

The community association brought its concerns to the Stampede when it found out about the changes in the spring and as a result the Stampede provided shuttle buses to and from the lot. 

"The Stampede has done a great job of providing the shuttle during peak time, but some of the feedback that I've heard is that people are down on the grounds, the kids are tired and they're done and they want to get back to their cars and now the option is they have to walk all the way around," said Joslin, who emphasized the solid working relationship her organization has with the Stampede. 

"I've heard of people taking cabs back to their parking spot, which then adds an additional cost on, which makes the parking no longer feasible for them to consider next year."

Cost-benefit

She said the community association will sit down with the Stampede once the dust settles and discuss what worked and what didn't this year. 

"We'll just have to wait and see what the Stampede decides," she said. 

"It costs them, it's a significant cost for them, and they've got to look at the weight of, is the cost worth it for the amount of attendance they're going to get through that gate?"

Booth said they've had great success with the new entrance, particularly with access off the regional pathways. The Stampede has its biggest bike valet station at the new gate. 

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