The Calgary Stampeders Game Day Guide

The roar of the crowd, the smell of the food, the ease of a Saturday evening beverage, and best of all, an entertaining night of football. That’s what you can expect when you visit the historic McMahon Stadium on a Calgary Stampeders game day.  Getting ready for the game is one thing that can become an art form. Here’s my advice on how to prepare for the game like a true fan.

The Calgary Stampeders typically play home games starting in June through the playoffs in November. Get tickets ahead of the game at stampeders.com, or show up to stadium on game day to buy tickets in person.

Jump online for just a few minutes and read an article or two about the team’s recent play . It’s never a bad thing to know a little about what’s going on. If you are a big fan of CFL football, knowing who is in and out of the lineup will give you a leg up once the ball is kicked off in the conversation part of the football fan experience.

Why not catch a ride on the Calgary Transit C-Train ? It stops just a short five minute walk from the stadium at Banff Trail Station and will be filled with like-minded fans. Parking at McMahon itself is a permit-only situation and the waiting list can be long. Alternate transportation to driving your car to the game is the best plan for the traveller headed to the stadium, and while Calgary Transit is the ideal option, there are several lots near the stadium who offer cash-only parking. These tend to be located further from the stadium than the C-Train station, so transit is the most convenient option to get to and from the game. Taxis and Ubers are also good options.

The greatest tailgate experience in the entire CFL surrounds McMahon Stadium. Some fans arrive as much as eight hours early to set up and celebrate their love of the Canadian game. Check out the pre-game tailgate tradition at the Gridiron Gardens , a free pre-game gathering place for Stamps fans prior to select home games! Don’t know anyone there? Stop by the CFL Horsemen party. Send the @CFL_Horsemen account a tweet and be welcomed into the best pre-game party around.

Give yourself time to get to your seat for kickoff. There is a bag search line that can take a while to navigate. Check out the list of prohibited items  before you go. Find your seat, get comfortable, and get ready to cheer on the Calgary Stampeders!

McMahon Stadium is home to plenty of excellent food and drink options . Alcoholic beverages run about $8.00 to $10.00, depending on what you tip. A beer on the concourse is $10.75. It's always a good idea to tip the Beer Guy.

Other delicacies await! Whether it’s the Huf’s Burgers Stand or the Beef Brisket Sandwich offered at the tailgate grill, McMahon is filled with concession stands that offer a little more cultured fare than the hot dogs and nachos. Get a taste of the Calgary Stampede with some mini donuts and Freshly Squeezed Lemonade! If a hotdog is your kind of meal, try the best dogs in the building at the Pocket Dawg stand. Ketchup, Mustard, Ranch, and Nacho Cheese? Don’t mind if I do!

Cheer your face off! Show your colours, no matter what they are. Calgarians are a pretty welcoming bunch when visiting fans make their way through the stands. Expect some good natured ribbing to come your way if you aren’t supporting the Red and White, but rarely does anything more than that occur, and it’s all the spirit of fun and love for the CFL. You can feel safe wearing your home team’s jersey to McMahon!

McMahon is the oldest stadium in the Canadian Football League and does have its challenges. If you wait for halftime to visit the washroom, expect a lineup. The concourse can get crowded, especially compared to other stadiums in the league, and because Stamps fans love popcorn, you can expect a bit of a wait for the general food stands. Beer stands and specialty food vendor lines tend to move quickly.

Test your luck and buy 50/50 tickets online from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. MT on all Stampeders game days and help support local minor league football! In-game 50/50 tickets are also available for purchase in person at all home games at McMahon Stadium. The winning number is drawn at 11:00 p.m. MT every game day and posted on the team’s website where you will have 30 days to claim it.

Canadian football is the best possible rule set for the sport and is almost always exciting. Unlimited motion and only three downs makes the game far more entertaining offensively! If you are an NFL fan making your way north for the first time, ask those around you about the rules. There is nothing we like more than educating our southern neighbours on the greatness of the Canadian game. I’d start with “No Yards vs Fair Catch” and “The Rouge” as they seem to be the ones that make people confused at first. Remember, no lead is ever safe, and no game is over until the final whistle.