{"id":777392,"date":"2026-07-03T09:55:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/777392\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T09:55:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:55:13","slug":"credit-cards-rarin-to-go-as-calgary-stampede-kicks-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/777392\/","title":{"rendered":"Credit cards rarin’ to go as Calgary Stampede kicks off"},"content":{"rendered":"

CALGARY \u2014 The Calgary Stampede kicks off today and visitors\u2019 credit cards are already rarin\u2019 to go. <\/p>\n

The 10-day salute to cowboy culture begins with a parade through downtown and features pancake breakfasts, corporate shindigs, midway rides, carnival games, concerts and daily rodeo competitions. <\/p>\n

The Mastercard Economics Institute looked at last year\u2019s spending data and estimated that the festival generated an 18 per cent uplift for local businesses compared to a no-Stampede baseline. <\/p>\n

Restaurants saw the biggest bump, with a 29 per cent rise in spending, and retailers also saw a lift the day before the event as folks looked to rustle up last-minute hats, boots and other western duds. <\/p>\n

Spending on accommodations built early, concentrated on hotel bookings downtown during the first few days of the event. <\/p>\n

Preliminary Mastercard data also points to an uptick in international visits this year over last. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Calgary Stampede is a great example of how a cultural moment can also be a major economic catalyst,\u201d said Benjamin Jacob, a senior vice-president at Mastercard Canada.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor local businesses, success during Stampede is not just about being busy, it is about being ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce says Stampede generated $644 million in local economic activity last year.<\/p>\n

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2026.<\/p>\n

The Canadian Press<\/p>\n

\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n

Add CityNews Halifax as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n

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