The 2020 Calgary Stampede has officially been cancelled

Apr 23 2020, 9:09 pm

The 2020 Calgary Stampede has been cancelled.

Organizers announced the decision in a press conference on Thursday, April 22, stating that The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth would see too large of crowds given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Originally scheduled for July 3 to 12, the annual Stampede sees well over one million attendees over the course of the 10-day event, with an average of over 100,000 attendees per day.

The Calgary Stampede has withstood two world wars, the Great Depression and, most recently, a flood that severely damaged the city in 2013.

Stampede organizers had previously cancelled or postponed events that led up to the main event, including the Canvas Auction and Aggie Days.

In mid-March, the Stampede temporarily laid off around 80% of its staff as a result of the pandemic.

Calgary has already seen the city cancel all public events up until June 30, and the Province of Alberta has prohibited gatherings of over 15 people.

It is unknown when the physical distancing measures put into place to slow the spread of coronavirus will be lifted, though other Calgary events have also seen cancellations and postponements as a result.

More to come…

Chandler WalterChandler Walter

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