Stampede, a licence to rip off?

[TurboMedic]

I read the profits thread, and that got me thinking. We went on one day this year, and was shocked at the amount of money we spent! I have a couple issues, and I'm not being cheap, because I'm truly not. It seems that its getting more expensive every year, shockingly enough....Here are a few observations:

$4 small (or normal size) corndog (over $6 for the large)
$5 to ride the stupid carpet down the slide
$6+ for any decent sandwich
$15 for rush seating to the grandstand show (plus the $12 gate admission, and you may as well have bought the $30 reserved seat!)
$6.25 shitty beer
$3 for single plays at most games
$5 for a small lemonade
etc etc etc


I honestly think that there is no reason whatsoever to charge exhorbitant amounts for these items! Yeah I know, if people will pay it why not, but thats not the point. In the end, with NO RIDES and barely a handful of games we spent over $150.....I don't think I'm going stampeding anymore, there just wasn't anything worth it to me to see for that amount......

[l8braker]

Lesson learned then.

[Aleks]

I quit going years ago. It's the same shit every year. Now I only go with my work (once per stampede) as they pay for everything.

[CaptainReboot]

My cousin audited them one year.

During stampede, at some booths, you may have noticed someone just sitting there either inside or right outside the booth.

What they do is watch transactions and see if nothing gets done "under the table".

He told me they make ridiculous amounts of money. That slurpee place alone in the roundup centre makes something like $30,000 a day.

[Sprinter]

A buddy of mine worked at the grandstand handing out liquor and made about $3800... in a span of 10 days... in tips!!!!... WTF :dunno:

[Melinda]

We got the low down this year on why the food at the stampede. Apparently the stampede takes a ridiculous percentage from everything the vendors make. So if you include that percentage, food costs, staff costs, and the booth that they are selling out of, it adds up quick. Not fair by any means, but that's why you pay $6.00 for a weiner with a stick and some fried goo on it.

[SunniSunShine]

the people that go to the grandstand shows are a bunch of corporate big wigs of course hes going to make a ton of money

imagine if he had breasts

[l8braker]

Originally posted by SunniSunShine
the people that go to the grandstand shows are a bunch of corporate big wigs of course hes going to make a ton of money

imagine if he had breasts

wtf? :nut:

[nonsane]

I just eat before i go, or bring food with me. that helps easy the rape and pillaging of my wallet.

Looks like most of your money was spent on food.

Regardless i still don't go because of this. 4 years ago i used my last 100$ to go to stampede and all of it was gone by 4pm...

[2000_SI]

Originally posted by Melinda
We got the low down this year on why the food at the stampede. Apparently the stampede takes a ridiculous percentage from everything the vendors make. So if you include that percentage, food costs, staff costs, and the booth that they are selling out of, it adds up quick. Not fair by any means, but that's why you pay $6.00 for a weiner with a stick and some fried goo on it.
Your friend is quite correct.
The company I work for has a restaurant on the grounds, and I beleive the Stampede charges us 60% of what we make... that doesnt include basic rent and utility charges as well.
Add on needing staff to work the thing for $10 or so bucks an hour, having to go through Stampede Approved distibution only (we are not with Bridgebrand, so we have to get all of out stuff expo'ed in b/w 1-3am, as well as pay a fee for doing so) and your looking at a small margin of net profit.

[air_mikey]

Originally posted by nonsane
I just eat before i go, or bring food with me. that helps easy the rape and pillaging of my wallet.

Looks like most of your money was spent on food.



Im just glad that my parents own a restaurant 2 blocks away so i just eat and drink there. :thumbsup:

anyone else notice that the price of parking went up this year too. it was consistently around 15 bucks...

[EnRich]

I refuse to support anything to do with the stampeed anymore because of shit like this... 12 bucks to get in is :bullshit:

[codetrap]

.

[yellowsnow]

I don't know why people keep paying so much.. attendance keeps going up every year. You think they're going to lower their prices if people are willing to pay?

[3g4me]

Ya i went once this year just for the rodeo finals. I think that they should have like a discount if you live in Calgary. They do in Disneyland for anaheim residents. Why would you want to rip off your own city's people?

[Aleks]

Originally posted by yellowsnow
I don't know why people keep paying so much.. attendance keeps going up every year. You think they're going to lower their prices if people are willing to pay?

Because there is nothing better to do here during summer? :dunno:

[bulaian]

The prices are pretty rediculous...

$12 to get in
$47 or something for an all day ride pass wtf?


Luckily I went to Toronto a few weeks and got my fill of rides and such from Paramount Canada's Wonderland. $36.99 for admission plus all ride pass :thumbsup:

and those rides are wayyy better and have shorter lineups.

We need a place like that close to here... screw Calaway Park, that place is lame

[3g4me]

^ i agree Calgary definetly needs to get some kind of amusement park or something.

[Lex350]

Originally posted by TurboMedic
I read the profits thread, and that got me thinking. We went on one day this year, and was shocked at the amount of money we spent! I have a couple issues, and I'm not being cheap, because I'm truly not. It seems that its getting more expensive every year, shockingly enough....Here are a few observations:

$4 small (or normal size) corndog (over $6 for the large)
$5 to ride the stupid carpet down the slide
$6+ for any decent sandwich
$15 for rush seating to the grandstand show (plus the $12 gate admission, and you may as well have bought the $30 reserved seat!)
$6.25 shitty beer
$3 for single plays at most games
$5 for a small lemonade
etc etc etc


I honestly think that there is no reason whatsoever to charge exhorbant amounts for these items! Yeah I know, if people will pay it why not, but thats not the point. In the end, with NO RIDES and barely a handful of games we spent over $150.....I don't think I'm going stampeding anymore, there just wasn't anything worth it to me to see for that amount......


It's no different that going to a sporting event like Hockey of Football.


parking - beer - a hot dog......all way over priced and one of the reasons I cancelled both my stamps season tickets and two of our flames seaon tickets. I just didn't like the overall feeling of being ripped-off.

[SLK55]

This is why I havent gone in like 4yrs. And quite frankly, Im not missing much, look at all the money Ive saved over the years.

Even when I did go, I didnt find that you needed to spend what most people would spend. Its just careful planning - I would eat before heading down, and for lunch/dinner and stuff just head off the grounds. Just make sure you get your stamp and head back later. I dont know about you guys, but I couldnt stay on the grounds for all day, straight. Head off to get a bit to eat half way into it, and you come back refreshed, its amazing how much you save! Besides, Im not big on Stampede food to begin with.

But like everyone else has said, its the same shit every year.I would much rather spend the money on vacation than at the Stampede.

[Tik-Tok]

Lol, I remember my stoner days, when I lived in Vic.Park, a group of us would have one guy pay to get in, then he'd get his stamp and rush out to meet the rest of us. With the ink still wet on his wrist, he'd press it against all our wrists. Then we'd all go inside, and ask to get new stamps because ours had fadded over the day.

Worked like a charm, :D

Do they still use stamps?

[codetrap]

.

[l8braker]

Originally posted by codetrap


Calaway Park.

Calaway is old and dated.

Never thought about why they don't have a big Paramount style park around here.... enough people you would think in Southern AB?

[Impreza]

I went to the stampede just to eat! Honestly, who cares! It happens once a year, I don't mind spending some money as long as I have a good time. Sure, the Stampede may seem repetitive, but I go once a year, not once a week. I spent like $50 just on food for myself when I went this year, mini donuts, turkey drumstick, jumbo corndog, candy apple, apple fries, etc...

I actually crave the turkey drumstick right now.....

[SLK55]

Originally posted by Tik-Tok
Lol, I remember my stoner days, when I lived in Vic.Park, a group of us would have one guy pay to get in, then he'd get his stamp and rush out to meet the rest of us. With the ink still wet on his wrist, he'd press it against all our wrists. Then we'd all go inside, and ask to get new stamps because ours had fadded over the day.

Worked like a charm, :D

Do they still use stamps?

It still works, and I know people in their late 20's who still do this every year lol. Just like the people who would jump the fence...

[rc2002]

Originally posted by l8braker


Calaway is old and dated.

Never thought about why they don't have a big Paramount style park around here.... enough people you would think in Southern AB?

It would be closed for more than half the year... I don't think it would make any money.



As for all those complaining about pricing, the Stampede is actually pretty good - it's quite reasonable pricing when you compare it to most other amusement parks. You pay a bit more for food and entertainment, but that's just the business.

[SLK55]

Admission I think is fair, its the same price what movies are now in threatres (though I cant say I would pay $12 for a movie).

Where they really rip you off is rides and games.

I remember a few years ago, a friend of mine really wanted this huge stuff animal. And after wasting about $20 on that game, she asks the dude if she could just buy it and how much he would want. He said, thats not possible, but he would quote "make an exception this one time, just for you for $500" I nearly puked lol.

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by richardchan2002


It would be closed for more than half the year... I don't think it would make any money.

Also, they're in the middle of 10M people while you can't even find 5M lumping all 3 western province together. So a big amusement park will never work here. It's lucky that Calaway stays open.

[JordanLotoski]

I didnt even go downtown this year...i hate everything to do with that event.

[ProjectR]

Originally posted by SLK55
This is why I havent gone in like 4yrs. And quite frankly, Im not missing much, look at all the money Ive saved over the years.

I'm with this guy! SLK55 > Stampede :rofl:

[theken]

12 dollar admission is like going to a softcore porn, all the little sluts in mini's with there tits out. i went to see our lady peace, got some mini donuts, then watched the fireworks, then went to a bar. had to take the girlfriend so i spent about 100 bucks.

you wanna hear rediculous pricing. Phantom of The Opera. period. 90 bucks a ticket, plus 8.75 "convinience" fee, $3.00 for a 500ml bottle of water, 4.50 for a ice cream bar, 4 bucks for parking, 30 dollars in booze 2 drinks each. then dinner afterwards. ouch.

[frostyda9]

I paid $12 for admission, $5 for two drinks, and $15 for a few games. Total: $32, and I got to see Our Lady Peace, which would have been more than that alone. :whocares:

$12 isn't too expensive, it's cheap IMO. Go down, see some bands, and take in the atmosphere. What else are you going to do for $12 anyway?

[scat19]

I'd rather pay what I did at Six Flags Chicago- Admission = 80$ USD

[QuasarCav]

Originally posted by frostyda9

$12 isn't too expensive, it's cheap IMO. Go down, see some bands, and take in the atmosphere. What else are you going to do for $12 anyway?

I dont call 13 year old sluts and line-ups galore atmosphere, I call it crap.

[civic_stylez]

Originally posted by bulaian
The prices are pretty rediculous...

$12 to get in
$47 or something for an all day ride pass wtf?


Luckily I went to Toronto a few weeks and got my fill of rides and such from Paramount Canada's Wonderland. $36.99 for admission plus all ride pass :thumbsup:

and those rides are wayyy better and have shorter lineups.

We need a place like that close to here... screw Calaway Park, that place is lame

Paramount Canadas owns all canadian based amusement parks!!! that place has some killer rides..

[frostyda9]

Originally posted by QuasarCav


I dont call 13 year old sluts and line-ups galore atmosphere, I call it crap.


Well, according to the 1,262,518 clicks of the turnstiles, apparently some people do find something worthwhile about it.

[QuasarCav]

Originally posted by frostyda9



Well, according to the 1,262,518 clicks of the turnstiles, apparently some people do find something worthwhile about it.


We'll round that up to 1.3Mil

1,300,000.00:

250,000 = Azn Skillz (No offense Azn Skillz) there for gambling.

250,000 = Suits that are there for sales and/or free rodeo tickets.

250,000 = Screaming white trash kids that need to win a 5c toy.

250,000 = Parents of kids / Slutty pre-teen girls

299,999 = Tourists who think it's cheap here compared to Europe.

1 = FrostyDA9



:)

[frostyda9]

Pssshh, I don't see the "Brocket 99" demographic included anywhere, they were representing.

Thanks for not lumping me in with the others though :rofl:

[Dren]

Originally posted by 3g4me
^ i agree Calgary definetly needs to get some kind of amusement park or something.

Totally..We need something Moree..for Adults. We are a Growing City..with lots of Head Offices with people with lots of $$$.

We need something as a place to hang out on a summer night.

[Black Dragon]

my wife works the gate and on her shifts she pulls in $40 000+

[boopydogg]

i go every year and will keep going because i think the 12 is cheap with all the free things there is to do in the grounds.
I agree that the food is expensive and thats why i go to weedickville (dont know how to spell it) and there the hot dogs are cheap (they were 1.75 this year) and i spent probally 5 hours just walking around looking at things this year(all the stuff in the big 4) and there are free concerts and the livestock shows and the art exibits as well.

If you dont like the price then dont go......there are always going to be tourists that will support it so if you wanna whine about it just dont go i wouldnt think that its that hard of a concept

[dragonone]

isn't this kind of like going to the theatres
about the same price admission and food is expensive
i still go, and it's still packed all the time, nothing's gonna change that:dunno:

the other thread/comment about using the name 'calgary' since it's private was more interesting than this:zzz:

[jdm_eg6]

ps: those kids serving you pop and what not are easily steeling your money and not putting it into the register, i have heard of kids making a couple G just doing that, thats why your food is so expensive. because those kids are making like 30 buks an hour haha.

[nonsane]

Originally posted by SLK55
Admission I think is fair, its the same price what movies are now in threatres (though I cant say I would pay $12 for a movie).

Where they really rip you off is rides and games.

I remember a few years ago, a friend of mine really wanted this huge stuff animal. And after wasting about $20 on that game, she asks the dude if she could just buy it and how much he would want. He said, thats not possible, but he would quote "make an exception this one time, just for you for $500" I nearly puked lol.

I don't think 12$ to get in is horrible. If you think that is bad go to West Edmonton mall, any admission there is rediculous. 12$ is not so bad if you just go around and take in the free shows, it's actually pretty entertaining, but if you want to do anything more you'll get it in the bum.

Also for the stuffed animals, I have a buddy who used to work for callaway park and he saw the invoice for the stuffed animals. For the small size ones, they are 6-9cents/each(purchased in bulk) for the large sized ones, they are ~55cents/each. Basically they pull alot of $$ for those games.