Why this year's Stampede is something of a 'comeback' for local businesses

During the 10 days of Stampede, superfan Linda Craig spends as much time as possible down at the grounds. 

"I love the energy that is created … it just wakes up the entire city," Craig said Thursday at the First Flip Pancake Breakfast. 

The bad news is Craig has a job, which means she can't be there all the time (though she'll often swing by when her shift is done). Good news is her job is at a downtown hotel, where she can get some of her fix by introducing guests to the event during their stay. 

"When people come in that have never been here before, and I get to share with them the excitement and energy that is created, you just see them light up," she said. 

That energy — and the influx of hotel guests, bar patrons and taxi customers — is expected to give a big boost to the city's economy in the days ahead, according to Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Hotels are booked up, Yedlin said, and restaurants have scheduled all hands on deck. She said it's just what the hospitality industry, and the city as a whole, needs after "seven lean years." 

"Five years of really tough energy sector issues, then followed by the pandemic, so this is a comeback for Calgary in a way" said Yedlin.

Oil prices are up, Yedlin said, but this year the city's economic diversity is also on display.

"So many different companies are part of Stampede this year that we've never seen as part of it," said Yedlin, who added Stampede corporate sponsorships have also rebounded to 2019 levels.

In 2019, the Stampede contributed $282 million to the Alberta economy during the 10 days of the event, and $540 million throughout the year, according to numbers released by the organization. 

The event is also a classic opportunity to showcase the city and what it has to offer, said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. 

"We are an amazing city, you should come and get to know us," she said. 

City resident Darren Ilao was making a similar pitch to his parents, Felipe and Jeanette. The Winnipeg couple is in town this week for their first Stampede. 

"I just wanted to show them around, and show them why I moved to Calgary from Winnipeg, to show them why Calgary is better," said Ilao. 

Is it working?

"They're probably going to move here next year," he said.