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The Calgary Stampede has long been a part of this city’s history. In recognition of this year’s event, on 10 weekdays (between July 4 and July 15), we’re sharing archival photo highlights and and events of note from the first 10 decades of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. This instalment: The Stampede in the 1980s.
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1980: The Flames NHL hockey team moved from Atlanta to Calgary, playing its first three seasons in the Stampede Corral.
1981: The Stampede had more than 2,000 volunteers.
1981: Calgary’s LRT was opened, offering convenient service to Stampede Park.
1981: The original BMO Centre was completed at a cost of $21 million.
1982: The Half Million Dollar Rodeo was introduced, making it the richest rodeo in the world at the time. It paid out $50,000 to the winning cowboy in each event.
1983: The Saddledome was officially opened as Calgary’s first Olympic venue and the new home of the Calgary Flames.
1983: Mickey and Minnie Mouse were parade marshals.
1983: A free entertainment stage, now the Coca-Cola Stage, was opened in Sun Tree Park.
1986: The Stampede celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first exhibition in Calgary.
1987: Superdogs was added to the Stampede’s entertainment program.
— Chronology compiled by Karen Crosby, Norma Marr and Aimee Benoit.
