View source for Stampede Corral

{{Short description|Former multi-purpose venue in Calgary, Alberta}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Coord|51|2|15|N|114|3|18|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=title|name=Stampede Corral}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Stampede Corral
| image = Stampede-Corral-Szmurlo.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| location = 10 Corral Trail SE<br />[[Calgary]], [[Alberta|AB]] T2G 2W1<br>[[Canada]]
| coordinates = 
| opened = December 15, 1950
| closed = 2020
| demolished =October 2020 - March 2021<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dippel |first1=Scott |title=Preparations to demolish Stampede Corral now underway |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/stampede-corral-demolition-history-1.5653056 |access-date=1 August 2020 |work=[[CBC News]] |date=2020-07-17}}</ref>
| owner = Calgary Exhibition & Stampede
| operator = 
| seating_capacity = 7,475
}}
[[File:Stampede Corral, Calgary (25908748310).jpg|thumb|Interior of the Stampede Corral]]

The '''Stampede Corral''' was a multi-purpose venue ([[ice hockey]], [[professional wrestling]], [[rodeo]], [[tennis]]) in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], Canada. Located on the grounds of [[Calgary Stampede#Stampede Park|Stampede Park]], the arena was completed in 1950 at a cost of [[Canadian Dollar|C$]]1.25 million (${{Inflation|CA|1.25|1950|r=1|fmt=c}} million today) to replace Victoria Arena as the home of the [[Calgary Stampeders (ice hockey)|Calgary Stampeders]] minor professional hockey club (not to be confused with the present-day [[Canadian Football League]] [[Calgary Stampeders|team of the same name]]), which hosted their [[Western Hockey League (1952–74)|Western Hockey League]] games for years. The Corral was built and owned by the not-for-profit [[Calgary Stampede|Calgary 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.<ref name="iceshow2011">{{cite web | url=http://news.calgarystampede.com/News/Latest-News/Release-Details/2011/Sal-and-Pelletier-to-headline-the-2011-ENMAX-Ice-Show/default.aspx | title=Salé and Pelletier to headline the 2011 ENMAX Ice Show | publisher=Calgary Stampede | date=June 2, 2011 | access-date=July 10, 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603002339/http://news.calgarystampede.com/News/Latest-News/Release-Details/2011/Sal-and-Pelletier-to-headline-the-2011-ENMAX-Ice-Show/default.aspx | archive-date=June 3, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="corralshow2012">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804234623/http://cs.calgarystampede.com/events/enmax-corral-show.html |archive-date=August 4, 2012 |url=http://cs.calgarystampede.com/events/enmax-corral-show.html | title = Enmax Corral Show - Calgary Stampede 2012 | year=2012 | access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref>

In March 2016, the Calgary Stampede organization announced plans to demolish the Stampede Corral to make way for a $500 million expansion of the adjacent [[BMO Centre]]. Stampede officials said that the Corral was no longer up to code, and would not have been worth the expense to renovate it.<ref name=demolish/><ref name=goodbye/> Demolition began in December 2020 and was completed in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=BMO Centre expansion on track, Corral to be demolished this month |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/bmo-centre-expansion-corral-demolished-calgary-1.5824945 |access-date=January 22, 2022 |work=CBC News |agency=CBC |date=December 2, 2020}}</ref>

At the time of construction, the Stampede Corral was the largest arena in Canada west of [[Toronto]], and the first in the region without support columns obscuring the lines of sight.<ref name=demolish>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/stampede-corral-demolish-bmo-centre-expansion-1.3497989 |title=Stampede Corral to be demolished if $500M BMO Centre expansion |work=[[CBC News]] |date= 2016-03-18 |access-date=2017-04-28}}</ref> 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. Musicians from across the province played at the Corral in its lifespan, including [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Loverboy]], and [[Tegan and Sara]].

The Stampede Corral hosted several major events, including the 1972 [[World Figure Skating Championships]], the [[Figure skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics|figure skating]] and [[Ice hockey at the 1988 Winter Olympics|ice hockey]] events at the [[1988 Winter Olympics]], as well as rodeo competitions.<ref>[http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1988/orw1988pt1.pdf 1988 Winter Olympics official report.] Part 1. pp. 160-3.</ref> The Corral was also a frequent venue for the [[Canada Davis Cup team]], with Canada holding a 5–0 all-time record in the Corral in this international tennis challenge. Most recently, Canada defeated [[Mexico Davis Cup team|Mexico]] 4–1 in the [[2008 Davis Cup Americas Zone|2008 tournament]].

For years, the Stampede 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 the World Wrestling Federation (now known as [[WWE]]) in 1984, including [[Bret Hart]], [[Archie Gouldie]], [["Cowboy" Dan Kroffat|Dan Kroffat]] and [[Jake 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parents say Disney on Ice show cancelled without notice |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/parents-say-disney-on-ice-show-cancelled-without-notice/ |website=CTV News Calgary |access-date=August 21, 2019 |language=en |date=21 November 2016}}</ref>

From April 7-8, the arena and surrounding parking lot hosted [[Psychopathic Records]]' ''Canadian Juggalo Weekend'' which featured performances from [[Ice-T]], [[The 2 Live Crew]], [[Kung Fu Vampire]], [[Big Hoodoo]], [[Onyx (hip-hop group)|Onyx]], [[Swollen Members]], the [[Insane Clown Posse]], and more. The event also featured [[professional wrestling]] matches from [[Juggalo Championship Wrestling]]. 

The Stampede Corral housed one of Canada's most extensive private sports photo collections on public display &ndash; 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.<ref name=goodbye>{{cite news |url=http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/03/31/eric-francis-saying-goodbye-to-the-corral-calgarys-grand-dame-of-an-arena |title=Saying goodbye to the Corral, Calgary's grand dame of an arena |last=Francis |first=Eric |work=[[Calgary Sun]] |publisher=[[Postmedia Network]] |date=2016-03-31 |access-date=2017-04-28}}</ref>

==Former tenants==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="20%" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | League
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Years
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="40%" | Notes
|-
| [[Calgary Stampeders (ice hockey)|Calgary Stampeders]] || Various || 1950–72 ||
|-
| [[Calgary Centennials]] || [[Western Hockey League|WCHL]] || 1966–77 ||
|-
| [[Calgary Cowboys]] || [[World Hockey Association|WHA]] || 1975–77 ||
|-
| [[Calgary Wranglers (WHL)|Calgary Wranglers]] || [[Western Hockey League|WHL]] || 1977–87 ||
|-
| [[Calgary Boomers]] || [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]] || 1980–81 ||
|-
| [[Calgary Flames]] || [[National Hockey League|NHL]] || 1980–83 ||
|-
| [[Calgary 88's]] || [[World Basketball League|WBL]] || 1988–92 ||
|-
| Calgary Drillers || [[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|ABA]] || 2004 || Folded after five home games
|-
| [[Calgary United F.C.]] || [[Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitmenhockey.com/article/hitmen-unveil-plans-for-corral-series-presented-by-adrenalin-source-for-sports | title=Hitmen Unveil Plans For Corral Series }}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Stampede Corral}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100711064521/http://venues.calgarystampede.com/facilities/stampede-corral.html Official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061005015614/http://www.calgarypubliclibrary.com/calgary/historic_tours/corner/stcorrl.htm Historical info from Calgary Public Library]

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
 | title = Home of the<br>[[Calgary Flames]]
 | years = 1980–1983
 | before = [[Omni Coliseum]]
 | after = [[Scotiabank Saddledome|Olympic Saddledome]]
}}
{{End}}
{{Calgary Flames}}
{{Calgary landmarks}}
{{LFL Venues}}
{{1988 Winter Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues figure skating}}
{{Olympic venues in ice hockey}}
{{StampedeWrestling}}
{{Former NHL arenas}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1950 establishments in Alberta]]
[[Category:Calgary Cowboys]]
[[Category:Calgary Flames]]
[[Category:Defunct National Hockey League venues]]
[[Category:Defunct indoor arenas in Canada]]
[[Category:Historic buildings and structures in Calgary]]
[[Category:Ice hockey venues in Alberta]]
[[Category:Music venues in Calgary]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor venues]]
[[Category:Olympic figure skating venues]]
[[Category:Olympic ice hockey venues]]
[[Category:Rodeo venues in Canada]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1950]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Calgary]]
[[Category:Stampede Wrestling]]
[[Category:Tennis in Alberta]]
[[Category:Tennis venues in Canada]]
[[Category:Venues of the 1988 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Western Hockey League arenas]]
[[Category:World Hockey Association venues]]
[[Category:Wrestling venues in Canada]]