51°2′15″N114°3′18″W / 51.03750°N 114.05500°W /51.03750; -114.05500 (Stampede Corral)
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 Interactive map of Stampede Corral | |
| Location | 10 Corral Trail SE Calgary,AB T2G 2W1 Canada |
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| Owner | Calgary Exhibition & Stampede |
| Capacity | 7,475 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 15, 1950 |
| Closed | 2020 |
| Demolished | October 2020 - March 2021[1] |
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TheStampede Corral was a multi-purpose venue (ice hockey,professional wrestling,rodeo,tennis) inCalgary,Alberta, Canada. Located on the grounds ofStampede Park, the arena was completed in 1950 at a cost ofC$1.25 million ($15.7 million today) to replace Victoria Arena as the home of theCalgary Stampeders minor professional hockey club (not to be confused with the present-dayCanadian Football Leagueteam of the same name), which hosted theirWestern Hockey League games for years. The Corral was built and owned by the not-for-profitCalgary Exhibition & Stampede organization, which leased the underlying land at $1/year from the city of Calgary. Seating 6,475, plus standing room, it was used during the annual Calgary Stampede, with a variety of entertainment events in each year's daily ENMAX Corral Show.[2][3]
In March 2016, the Calgary Stampede organization announced plans to demolish the Stampede Corral to make way for a $500 million expansion of the adjacentBMO Centre. Stampede officials said that the Corral was no longer up to code, and would not have been worth the expense to renovate it.[4][5] Demolition began in December 2020 and was completed in 2021.[6]
At the time of construction, the Stampede Corral was the largest arena in Canada west ofToronto, and the first in the region without support columns obscuring the lines of sight.[4] It was officially opened on December 15, 1950. The first hockey game was held at the Corral on December 26, as the Stampeders defeated theEdmonton Flyers 5–0 in aWestern Canada Senior Hockey League game before a standing-room-only crowd of 8,729. Musicians from across the province played at the Corral in its lifespan, includingJoni Mitchell,Loverboy, andTegan and Sara.
The Stampede Corral hosted several major events, including the 1972World Figure Skating Championships, thefigure skating andice hockey events at the1988 Winter Olympics, as well as rodeo competitions.[7] The Corral was also a frequent venue for theCanada Davis Cup team, with Canada holding a 5–0 all-time record in the Corral in this international tennis challenge. Most recently, Canada defeatedMexico 4–1 in the2008 tournament.
For years, the Stampede Corral played host to special wrestling supershows promoted byStu Hart'sStampede Wrestling, particularly during the Calgary Stampede. Stampede Wrestling is known for having featured some of the biggest names in pro wrestling history prior to its purchase by the World Wrestling Federation (now known asWWE) in 1984, includingBret Hart,Archie Gouldie,Dan Kroffat andJake Roberts. WWE also used the Corral numerous times for non-televised house shows.
On November 21, 2016, the last Disney On Ice show was cancelled at the last minute. No reason was cited for the cancellation, although Disney offered refunds.[8]
From April 7-8, the arena and surrounding parking lot hostedPsychopathic Records'Canadian Juggalo Weekend which featured performances fromIce-T,The 2 Live Crew,Kung Fu Vampire,Big Hoodoo,Onyx,Swollen Members, theInsane Clown Posse, and more. The event also featuredprofessional wrestling matches fromJuggalo Championship Wrestling.
The Stampede Corral housed one of Canada's most extensive private sports photo collections on public display – part of the Calgary Stampede Archives collection. A significant restoration of the photo collection, taking two years and costing over $75,000, was underway in 2016.[5]
| Team | League | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary Stampeders | Various | 1950–72 | |
| Calgary Centennials | WCHL | 1966–77 | |
| Calgary Cowboys | WHA | 1975–77 | |
| Calgary Wranglers | WHL | 1977–87 | |
| Calgary Boomers | NASL | 1980–81 | |
| Calgary Flames | NHL | 1980–83 | |
| Calgary 88's | WBL | 1988–92 | |
| Calgary Drillers | ABA | 2004 | Folded after five home games |
| Calgary United F.C. | CMISL | 2007 | |
| Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 1995-1996, 1998, 2016 and 2019 | Used as an auxiliary home to the Saddledome when unavailable or for commemorative events.[9] |
Media related toStampede Corral at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by | Home of the Calgary Flames 1980–1983 | Succeeded by |
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