Editing Calgary Stampede (section)

==Stampede Park==
[[File:Saddledome from Calgary Tower.JPG|thumb|right|350px|Stampede Grounds as seen from the [[Calgary Tower]]. The [[Saddledome]] is on the left, and the race track and grandstand are in the distance to the right.|alt=A downward-looking image of numerous buildings. A large arena is situated to the left, behind a building with a green peaked roof. To the right in the distance is a dirt race track.]]
Stampede Park is located southeast of [[Downtown Calgary]] in the [[Beltline, Calgary|Beltline District]] and is serviced by [[Calgary Transit]]'s [[C-Train|light rail system]]. Permanent structures at the site include the Saddledome, Big Four Building, [[BMO Centre]]&nbsp;– a convention and exhibition facility&nbsp;– Cowboys Casino, the [[Stampede Grandstand]], the agriculture building, and a number of facilities that support the exhibition and livestock shows.<ref name="StampedePark">{{citation |title=Stampede Park |work=Calgary Sun |date=2011-07-08 |pages=2–3}}</ref>

The park remains at its original location, though attempts were made to relocate. In 1964, the Stampede Board made plans to purchase former military land ([[Currie Barracks]]) in southwest Calgary near [[Glenmore Trail]] and 24 Street and relocate the park there. A fully developed plan was released in 1965, and while it had the support of the civic and federal governments, intense opposition from nearby residents quashed the proposal.<ref name="Gray152">{{harvnb|Gray|1985|p=152}}</ref> Space concerns remained a constant issue, and a new plan to push northward into the Victoria Park community beginning in 1968 initiated a series of conflicts with the neighbourhood and city council that persisted for decades.<ref name="Gray158">{{harvnb|Gray|1985|p=158}}</ref>

While Victoria Park fell into steady decline, it was not until 2007 that the final buildings were removed, paving the way for both an expansion of Stampede Park and an urban renewal program for the area.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/archives/story.html?id=ed77fced-1555-4793-b89b-a7aa1154a53e |title='We've erased Victoria Park' |work=Calgary Herald |date=2007-05-15 |access-date=2011-01-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110112328/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/archives/story.html?id=ed77fced-1555-4793-b89b-a7aa1154a53e |archive-date=2012-11-10 }}</ref> With the land finally secured, the Stampede organization<!--does the entity have a name other than the event name?--> embarked on a $400-million expansion that is planned to feature a new retail and entertainment district, an urban park, a new agricultural arena and potentially a new hotel. The expansion was originally planned to be complete by 2011, but delays and an [[Late-2000s recession|economic downturn]] have pushed the expected completion of the project back to 2014.<ref>{{citation |last=Toneguzzi |first=Mario |title=Calgary Stampede Park moves ahead with $400-million expansion |work=Calgary Herald |date=2010-11-09 |page=D3}}</ref>

Stampede Park has long been a central gathering place for Calgarians and tourists. In addition to attendance at the Calgary Stampede, over 2.5 million people attend other sporting events, concerts, trade shows and meetings on a grounds that hosts over 1,000 events annually.<ref>{{harvnb|Dixon|Read|2005|p=115}}</ref>