The doors haven’t opened yet at the Agrium Western Event Centre on the Calgary Stampede grounds, but four horse-centred groups have already booked 2014 events in the new venue.
The Arabian Horse Association’s regional championships will be held there July 21-26, the Team Roping Canada finals will run Sept. 26-28, the Canadian Team Cattle Penning Association national finals are scheduled Oct. 9-14 and Royal West, a new equestrian show produced by Rocky Mountain Show Jumping, will run Oct. 23-Nov. 1.
The 150,000 sq. foot centre, which cost $61.5 million, is one of the largest capital projects in the Stampede’s 101-year history. Its competitor friendly and horse friendly designs are key attributes cited by those who have booked events.
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“It’s going to be a pretty fancy facility and a good large arena,” said Ken Hillard of the Canadian Team Cattle Penning Association.
“It’s going to be great because there aren’t any other facilities that are large enough to handle us, when we get anywhere from 800 to 1,200 teams. We are limited anywhere else.”
The team penning finals used to be held in the old Stampede Corral, but its use required removal of the ice in the arena and installation of dirt and other infrastructure.
Costs associated with that forced the event to move three years ago to the Claresholm Agriplex in Claresholm, Alta. Hillard praised that venue and those associated with it, but size limited event growth.
The Agrium centre will have 400 stalls compared to 232 in Claresholm. A fully indoor venue also has advantages in unpredictable fall weather.
“You can saddle your horse inside, just ride 88 feet, I think it is, and you’re into the new facilities there, where you can warm your horse up and you’ll be able to watch penning from your horse when you’re getting ready to ride.”
The large warm-up arena and 250 by 125 foot show arena are also attractions for Art Gallais of Team Roping Canada, which has held its finals in Olds, Alta., since 2004.
Gallais said a larger arena and viewing area are advantages.
“The last two years we’ve had between 1,300 and 1,500 teams at our finals, so it has grown. When we started we were at about 800,” said Gallais.
Rent will be higher in Calgary, but it might attract additional sponsors and increase income from stall fees and other avenues, he added.
Royal West is a new venture that will include show jumping as well as barrel racing, heavy horse shows and terrier racing.
Bonni Clark of Stampede corporate communications said Royal West organizer John Anderson had been considering such a show for years but lacked an appropriate venue.
The Arabian event, which involves up to 500 horses, is expected to draw higher participation for its various events because of southern Alberta’s attractions in addition to the show.
