Quote:
Originally Posted by Hack&Lube
I don't know why the stampede has 'international renown'...it's just sort of a small country festival with rodeos and carnival rides and hick sideshows in a run-down and shabby park that is 40 years out of date.
I still remember vividly when Ewan MacGregor and that show he had where he and his friend biked around the world...came to Calgary and visited the stampede. I cringed a little. They weren't impressed and certainly, I never have in all my years here.
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That's quite the negative opinion about the Stampede... Your hate for Calgary is showing, bro. I'm not sure what you want out of the Stampede but it is indeed internationally reknowned. And a 10 day party that hosts over a million guests is no "small town country festival".
And hick sideshows? I've seen some pretty damn good bands at the Stampede. Both at the Coke stage and in the 'dome during stampede (saw Bon Jovi there last year)...
The buildings are 40 years out of date? They just built the new round up center. Did you think that they would just bulldoze the entire park and rebuild it in time for the following year's stampede?
Anyway, I'm not a big fan of the stampede myself, but that's kinda because I've been there, done that. The novelty has worn off for me (I think it wore off at the age of 14). But I sure love the air around the city during stampede. And visitors tend to as well. Maybe Ewan McGregor had a so-so experience, but lots of people do. Lots of people have great experiences as well and return many times for the stampede.
So I have one question for you: what festival do you think the stampede should emulate to change your opinion of it?