The ultimate guide to Calgary’s pro sports teams

Calgary is a sports city, home to an impressive roster of professional teams from the NHL to the NLL. No matter the time of year, the city comes together to cheer on its hometown heroes.

Discover the teams that fuel Calgary’s sports scene and experience the pride of the home side.

Calgarians live and die by their NHL hockey team, the Calgary Flames . On game nights, expect to find the ‘C of Red’ packing the Scotiabank Saddledome and filling bars along the Red Mile.

• Professional league: The Flames play in the National Hockey League, the highest level of hockey in the world.

• Arena: All home games are at the historic Scotiabank Saddledome on the east end of downtown. The Victoria Park C-Train station is right next to the arena.

• Season: The NHL regular season runs from October to April, followed by the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

• Rival team: Known as ‘The Battle of Alberta’, the Flames primary rival is the Edmonton Oilers.

• Championships: Stanley Cup winner - 1988-89 season.

• Game day experience: The atmosphere at a Calgary Flames game is electric.  From the moment you step foot in the Saddledome, whether you head straight for a Pocket Dawg or go right to your seats, you can feel the sense of energy and community throughout the building. After every home goal, feel the heat of the flames that shoot out above the ice.

Founded in 1945, the Calgary Stampeders are one of the CFL’s most successful and storied franchises. The Stamps have been a summer staple for generations of Calgarians. Whether it’s a sun-soaked summer kickoff or a chilly fall playoff push, the energy at McMahon is unmistakably Calgary.

• Professional league: The Stampeders play in the Canadian Football League (CFL), Canada’s highest level of professional football.

• Arena: Home games take place at McMahon Stadium, located just off Crowchild Trail and accessible by C-Train.

• Season: The CFL season runs from June to October, culminating in the Grey Cup championship in November.

• Rival team: Calgary’s fiercest rivalry is with the Edmonton Elks. Every September the two teams play a home-and-home series: the Labour Day Classic and the Labour Day rematch.

• Championships: 8-time Grey Cup Champions, most recently in 2018.

• Game day experience: There’s something special about game day at McMahon Stadium. Fans in red and white stream toward the stadium, many stopping first in the tailgate lot — where the grills are hot, music is playing, and longtime season ticket holders are welcoming everyone with a burger and a high-five. Once inside, you’ll have plenty of choices of food and drinks, including the warm smell of BBQ hitting you from every angle.

The Calgary Surge have brought the buzz of basketball back to the city. As a founding franchise of the CEBL, the Surge have quickly made waves with fast-paced play, a passionate fanbase, and a courtside energy that’s second to none.

• Professional league: The Surge play in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada’s top professional men’s basketball league.

• Arena: Home games are held at WinSport Event Centre, located at Canada Olympic Park in west Calgary.

• Season: The CEBL season runs from May through August, wrapping up with a high-stakes playoff push in late summer.

• Rival team: Look out for heated matchups against the Edmonton Stingers — Alberta’s basketball rivalry is officially on.

• Championships: None yet, but the Surge made an instant impact, reaching the Western Conference Final in their debut season in 2023.

• Game day experience: A Surge game is more than just basketball — it’s a summer night out packed with energy, music, and momentum. Expect fast breaks, slam dunks, and fan-fuelled fun from the moment you step inside. With pre-game festivities, local eats, courtside DJs, and a family-friendly vibe, the Surge bring a fresh and electrifying experience to Calgary’s sports scene.

As the AHL affiliate of the Flames, the Calgary Wranglers give fans a front-row seat to the future of pro hockey. These players are one step away from the NHL and play every game with something to prove.

• Professional league: The Wranglers play in the American Hockey League (AHL), the top development league for the NHL.

• Arena: All home games are played at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the same rink as the Flames.

• Season: The AHL regular season runs from October to April, followed by the Calder Cup Playoffs.

• Rival team: A growing rivalry has formed with the Abbotsford Canucks and the Manitoba Moose.

• Championships: AHL Pacific Division Champions – 2022–23 (in their inaugural season in Calgary). No AHL Championships ... yet.

• Game day experience: Wranglers games are fast paced and bring you closer to the action with lower bowl seating at affordable prices. Local tip: take in ‘Sunday Funday’ with cheap tickets and even cheaper food and drinks all game long!

Cavalry FC is Calgary’s professional soccer club, competing in the CPL since its launch in 2018. Based out of the scenic ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows, the club has quickly become a force in Canadian soccer—capturing regular season titles in 2019, 2021, and 2023, and lifting the CPL Championship trophy in 2024.

• Professional league: Cavalry FC play in the Canadian Premier League (CPL), Canada’s top-tier professional men’s soccer league.

• Arena: Home matches are played at picture-perfect ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows.

• Season: The CPL season runs from April through October.

• Rival team: Cavalry’s fiercest battles are with Pacific FC and Forge FC — rivalries built on close matches and playoff drama.

• Championships: CPL Regular Season Champions – 2019, 2021, 2023 and North Star Cup Champions in 2024.

• Game day experience: Matchday at ATCO Field is unlike anything else in Calgary. Tucked into the lush grounds of Spruce Meadows, the vibe is part festival, part football frenzy. Fans arrive early to soak in the views, visit food trucks, and enjoy craft beer in the Fan Zone. Die-hard Cavalry fans known as ‘Foot Soldiers’ bring nonstop chants, flags, and drums—turning every match into a passionate, high-energy celebration.

Calgary’s landmark women’s pro soccer team is rewriting the city’s sports history. Founded in May 2024 as one of six inaugural clubs in the NSL, the Wild bring elite domestic-level soccer to Alberta.

• Professional league: Calgary Wild FC compete in the Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league which launched in 2025.

• Arena: Home matches are played at iconic McMahon Stadium.

• Season: The NSL regular season runs from April through October, with playoffs concluding in November.

• Rival team: With the league still fresh, rivalries are just emerging—but matches against AFC Toronto and Vancouver Rise have already brought plenty of competitive heat.

• Championships: The Wild are aiming high in the NSL’s inaugural season.

• Game day experience: Matchdays at McMahon are a vibrant fusion of community, colour, and cause. Before kickoff, families and friends gather—decked out in neon violet and red—for live entertainment and fan photo zones. Once play begins, the ‘Wild Roses Supporters’ —armed with flags and chants—unleash waves of passion that echo throughout the stadium.

Calgary’s deep-rooted love for hockey extends to the city’s major junior team, the Calgary Hitmen. A cornerstone of the WHL, the Hitmen are known for developing future NHL stars and putting on a high-energy show at the Saddledome.

• Professional league: The Hitmen play in the Western Hockey League (WHL), one of the top major junior leagues in North America, featuring players aged 16–20.

• Arena: All home games are played at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the same rink as the Flames.

• Season: The WHL regular season runs from late September through March, with playoffs extending into the spring.

• Rival team: The Hitmen’s biggest rivals include the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

• Championships: WHL Champions in 1999 and 2010.

• Game day experience: Hitmen games are packed with family-friendly energy, on-ice talent, and fun traditions — from the Teddy Bear Toss to theme nights - that bring the crowd to its feet. It’s a can’t-miss experience for hockey fans of all ages. Similar to Wranglers’ games, be on the lookout for ‘Sunday Funday’ where ticket prices are slashed and food and beverage deals run all game long.

Consistently one of the top teams in the NLL, the Calgary Roughnecks combine non-stop action with an electric in-game atmosphere unlike anything else in the city.

• Professional league: The Roughnecks play in the National Lacrosse League (NLL), North America’s top lacrosse league.

• Arena: All home games are played at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

• Season: The NLL season runs from December to April, with playoffs following in the spring.

• Rival team: The biggest rival is the Saskatchewan Rush, a rivalry that dates back to when the Rush played in Edmonton.

• Championships: NLL Champions in 2004, 2009, and 2019.

• Game day experience: Anyone who has attended a Roughnecks game can tell you it’s part sport, part full-on party. There is music that plays throughout the game, post-goal chants, plus plenty of taunts directed at the away team. Fans are loud, passionate, and always ready to celebrate. It’s one of Calgary’s most unique and unforgettable nights out — and once you’ve been, you’ll want to come back for more.