Calgary Stampede a welcome distraction in a depressing year

Despite a drop in attendance so far this year, the Calgary Stampedeis offering a nice escape in an otherwise gloomy year for the oiltown.

On the grounds of the annual 10-day party,fewer people are flocking to the midway and rodeo.

Food vendors accustomed to selling out everydayhave yet to clear out their stock, even on the busiest of afternoons and nights.Barbecue stands expecting to cook up fivekilogramsof meatare only going through three.

Official figures from the Stampede are that attendance is down by about eight per cent this yearleading into the final weekend.

"Last year it was pretty strong. This yearI heard that it has been down because of the oil," saidDustin Usher, working one of the midway games. "Hopefully it'll be the same. I just want the money, right?"

Welcome distraction

The Stampede has definitely succeeded in one aspect this year, providing adistractionfor the downtrodden oilpatch. For much of the past year talk on the streets of downtown Calgary has been about the decline in the price of oil.

But this week is different, with oil and gas office workers throwing on boots, jeansand a Stetson andforgetting about spending cuts, layoffs and financial red inkfor a short while.

There's nothing like free pancakes in the morning and leaving work at noon to boost one's spirits.

"You can't help but feel the enthusiasm, the pride in the city. At least it gives everyone a moment to not worry," said Doug Suttles, CEO of oil and gas company Encana. "At least for 10days."

The drop in Stampede attendance shouldn't come as a surprise considering the economic situation. Some companies decided to cancel their corporate parties this year and catering firms have lamented a drop in business.

Last month'sGlobal Petroleum Show, a massiveconference and trade show in Calgary with about 50,000 attendees from around the world,was also noticeably quieter.

As the oilpatch goes through many periods of ups and downs, so too does the Calgary Stampede. The last five years have proved to be exceptionably adventurousfor the western fair and rodeo.

• 2011:Calgary receives global attention as Will and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge,take in Stampede festivities.Even the annual parade became a news spectacle.
• 2012:Abig year as the Stampede celebrates itscentennial. The party is big and bold, leading to record attendance.
• 2013:Massive floods hit Southern Alberta, washing away parts of the grounds. Attendance flops as concerts are cancelled and locals clean up. The event is still memorable,symbolizing the community rising up from the disaster andrecoveringfrom the flood.
• 2014:Oil tops $100 US a barrel and the hot economy spurs significant spending. Attendance isnear record breaking.
• 2015:Crude prices have tumbled andhover around$50 US a barrel.

Tourism up

One industry expecting a banner year is tourism.Alberta is projected to see a record number of visitors from the United States in 2015, as Americans take advantage of the low Canadian dollar.The Stampede is seeing an increase in international visitors by about three per cent this year.

"The exchange dynamics are making it a great tourist attraction, hopefully that's an offset to the the lower local spending," saidAdam Legge, an economist andCalgary Chamber of Commerce president.

The increase in foreign visitors is noticed by those working on the grounds.

"Absolutely, I've seen a lot more tourists," said Karen Moreland as she sells lottery tickets for the localKinette Club."It's a lot of fun meeting people from all over the world."

The Stampede will still attract more than onemillion people this year and on certain evenings the crowds have been as large as ever.

"I just go to the beer garden because I get a little claustrophobic." saidJakeGossen, who takes in the rodeo every year.

The weather is also a factor.

On the first weekend ofthis year's Stampede, cowboy hats became a protective device as a sudden hail storm rolled through Calgary's downtown. Outdoor festivals are always at the mercy of the weather and the Stampede is no different.

Stampede administration points out last year's weather wasspectacularwithout a day of rain. That's why it's hard to set expectations too high for such an event, regardless of whether Calgary's economy is roaring hot or stuck in a near recession.