Stampede Corral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Stampede Corral

Location	10 Corral Trail SE Calgary, AB T2G 2W1 Canada
Owner	Calgary Exhibition & Stampede
Capacity	7,475
Construction
Opened	December 15, 1950
Closed	2020
Demolished	October 2020 - March 2021

The Stampede Corral was a famous building in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was used for many different events. People watched ice hockey games, exciting rodeo shows, and even tennis matches there.

The Corral was part of Stampede Park. It was finished in 1950. It cost about $1.25 million Canadian dollars to build. This new arena replaced an older one called Victoria Arena. The Stampede Corral became the home for the Calgary Stampeders hockey team. This team played in the Western Hockey League.

The building was owned by the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede group. This group is a not-for-profit organization. The city of Calgary leased the land to them for only $1 a year. The Corral could hold 6,475 people sitting down. Many more could stand. It was a big part of the yearly Calgary Stampede event. It hosted many fun shows and entertainment.

About the Stampede Corral

In March 2016, the Calgary Stampede group announced a plan. They decided to tear down the Stampede Corral. This was to make space for a big expansion. This expansion was for the BMO Centre next door. Officials said the Corral was old and not safe anymore. It would have cost too much money to fix it up.

A Big Building for its Time

When it was built, the Stampede Corral was very special. It was the largest arena in Canada west of Toronto. It was also the first in the area without big support poles. These poles used to block people's view. This meant everyone could see the action clearly.

The Stampede Corral officially opened on December 15, 1950. The first hockey game was played there on December 26. The Calgary Stampeders beat the Edmonton Flyers 5–0. A huge crowd of 8,729 people came to watch. Some famous musicians from Alberta also performed there. These included Joni Mitchell in 1964 and Loverboy in 1980. The band Tegan and Sara played there in 2005.

Major Events Hosted

The Stampede Corral hosted many important events. In 1972, it held the World Figure Skating Championships. It was also a venue for the 1988 Winter Olympics. During the Olympics, it hosted the figure skating and ice hockey events.

The Corral was also a popular place for rodeo competitions. The Canada Davis Cup team often played their tennis matches there. Canada had a great record at the Corral. They won 5 out of 5 matches there. For example, in 2008, Canada beat Mexico 4–1 in a tournament.

Wrestling and Other Shows

For many years, the Stampede Corral was famous for wrestling. Stu Hart's company, Stampede Wrestling, held big shows there. These were especially popular during the Calgary Stampede. Many wrestling stars became famous through Stampede Wrestling. Some of these included Bret Hart, Archie Gouldie, Dan Kroffat, and Jake Roberts. Even World Wrestling Entertainment used the Corral for their shows.

On November 21, 2016, a "Disney On Ice" show was canceled at the last minute. No reason was given for why it was canceled. People who bought tickets were offered refunds.

Sports Photo Collection

The Stampede Corral was home to a large collection of sports photos. These photos were on public display. They were part of the Calgary Stampede Archives. In 2016, a big project was underway to fix up these photos. It took two years and cost over $75,000 to restore them.

Teams That Played Here

Many different sports teams called the Stampede Corral home over the years. Here are some of them: