Stampede Corral

Stampede Corral
Location 10 Corral Trail SE
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2G 2W1
Coordinates 51°2′15″N 114°3′18″W / 51.03750°N 114.05500°W / 51.03750; -114.05500 (Stampede Corral)Coordinates: 51°2′15″N 114°3′18″W / 51.03750°N 114.05500°W / 51.03750; -114.05500 (Stampede Corral)
Owner Calgary Exhibition & Stampede
Operator Calgary Exhibition & Stampede
Capacity 6,450 + standing room
Opened December 15, 1950

The Stampede Corral is an ice hockey, rodeo, and tennis arena multi-purpose venue in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The arena was completed in 1950 at a cost of C$1.25 million to replace Victoria Arena as the home of the Calgary Stampeders Hockey Club. Seating 6,475, plus standing room, it is used in the annual Calgary Stampede. The Corral was built and is still owned by the Calgary Stampede not-for-profit organization, which leases the underlying land at $1/year from the city of Calgary.

At the time of construction, it was the largest arena in Canada west of Toronto. It was officially opened on December 15, 1950. The first hockey game was held at the Corral on December 26, as the Stampeders defeated the Edmonton Flyers 5–0 in a Western Canada Senior Hockey League game before a standing-room-only crowd of 8,729.

The Corral has hosted several major events, including the 1972 World Figure Skating Championships, and Figure Skating and ice hockey at the 1988 Winter Olympics.[1] The Corral is also a frequent host for Canada's Davis Cup tennis team. Canada is 5–0 all time in the Corral, including a thrilling upset of Brazil, and former #1 player Gustavo Kuerten in 2003. Most recently, Canada defeated Mexico 4–1 in the 2008 tournament.

For years, the Corral played host to special wrestling supershows promoted by Stu Hart's Stampede 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 World Wrestling Federation in 1984. Some of said stars included Bret Hart, Archie Gouldie, Dan Kroffat and Jake Roberts.

The Corral houses one of the most extensive private sports photo collections in Canada on public display. A significant restoration of this photo collection has recently taken place. The project took over two years to complete at a cost of over $75,000. The original photographs have been removed for preservation in the Calgary Stampede Archives collection. Original captions have been retained for authenticity with some minor corrections.

The Corral is still used year round; notable events include the ENMAX Corral Show which takes place daily during the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.[2][3][4]

Former tenants

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 Hitmen WHL 1995–96, 1998 and 2016 Temporary home
Calgary Drillers ABA 2004–05 Folded after five home games
Calgary United F.C. CMISL 2007

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stampede Corral.
  1. ↑ 1988 Winter Olympics official report. Part 1. pp. 160-3.
  2. ↑ "Salé and Pelletier to headline the 2011 ENMAX Ice Show". Calgary Stampede. June 2, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Enmax Corral Show - Calgary Stampede 2012". 2012. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Enmax Corral Show - Calgary Stampede 2013". 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
Preceded by
Omni Coliseum		 Home of the
Calgary Flames
1980–1983 		Succeeded by
Olympic Saddledome
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