The Calgary Stampeders Game Day Guide

The Calgary Stampeders Game Day Guide
The Calgary Stampeders Game Day Guide
Kick Off

The Calgary Stampeders Game Day Guide

Everything you need to know to attend a Calgary Stampeders game at McMahon Stadium.
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. 
Supress from menu
No

 

Do some game day homework

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.

 

Supress from menu
No
Get to know the Calgary Stampeders players before kickoff.

Get to know the Calgary Stampeders players before kickoff.

 

Take public transportation to the Calgary Stampeders game

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.
 
Supress from menu
No
Plan ahead and take transit to the game.

Plan ahead and take transit to the game.

 

Experience a CFL tailgate party at McMahon Stadium

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. 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.
 
Supress from menu
No
Celebrate your love of the game at the greatest tailgate experience in the CFL.

Celebrate your love of the game at the greatest tailgate experience in the CFL.

 

Find your seat before kickoff

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!

 

Supress from menu
No
Give yourself extra time to get to your seat before kickoff.

Give yourself extra time to get to your seat before kickoff.

 

Get ready for food and drinks

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!

 

Supress from menu
No
Food and drinks at McMahon Stadium.

Food and drinks at McMahon Stadium.

 

Cheer on your team 

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!

 

Supress from menu
No
Cheer your face off for the Calgary Stampeders.

Cheer your face off for the Calgary Stampeders.

Fans of all ages can cheer on the Calgary Stampeders.

Fans of all ages can cheer on the Calgary Stampeders.

 

McMahon Stadium tips

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.
 
Supress from menu
No
The Calgary Stampeders play at McMahon Stadium.

The Calgary Stampeders play at McMahon Stadium.

 

Buy a 50/50 Ticket

Test your luck and buy a 50/50 ticket or two. The Stampeders foundation supports minor league football and Calgary is no slouch in the prize department (we love to buy tickets!). You can typically see prizes in excess of $30,000 being awarded right there at the stadium for every game. The ticket is drawn at the three minute warning of the fourth quarter, but don’t fret if you have to leave early. The winning number is posted on the team’s website and you have 30 days to claim it.
 
Supress from menu
No
Buy a 50/50 ticket and you might be cheering for a cash prize.

Buy a 50/50 ticket and you might be cheering for a cash prize.

 

Enjoy the Canadian game

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.
 
Supress from menu
No
Learn about the unique rules of the CFL to understand the game.

Learn about the unique rules of the CFL to understand the game.

By
Ryan Ballantine
September 1st, 2022

Ryan Ballantine is a long time Calgary Stampeders fan and a member of the CFL Horsemen fan club.

More stories from Calgary
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markström
Puck Drop

The Calgary Flames Game Day Guide

Everything you need to know to attend a Calgary Flames game at the Scotiabank Saddledome
The Cavalry FC Game Day Guide
Soccer in Calgary

The Cavalry FC Match Day Guide

Everything you need to know about Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League.