McMahon Stadium

History and construction

An early proposal for a facility near Victoria Park in 1954 gained little traction. By 1957, plans were announced for a 20,000-seat stadium near the University of Alberta (Calgary) campus, but public financing fell through. On January 1, 1960, Stampeders general manager Jim Finks, commentator Eric Bishop, and columnist Gorde Hunter successfully approached local oilmen Frank and George McMahon to finance the project. The McMahon brothers donated $300,000 and guaranteed the remaining construction costs, leading the University Board of Governors to name the stadium in their honour in August 1960.

Designed by architect Peter Rule and built by Burns and Dutton Concrete and Construction Company, groundbreaking occurred on April 4, 1960. The pre-cast concrete structure was completed in just 103 days at a cost of $1.05 million. Contractor Red Dutton famously paid George McMahon $1,500 in one-dollar bills after winning a bet that the project would finish on time. The original stadium incorporated bleachers and the scoreboard from the old Mewata Stadium and opened with a capacity of 19,536, though it was designed for future expansion. The inaugural game on August 15, 1960, saw the Stampeders lose 38-23 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, with George McMahon performing the ceremonial kickoff.

The stadium underwent several expansions to accommodate growing demand and major events. The first addition in 1967 added 2,600 seats, followed by 3,500 seats in 1973. A $1.125 million expansion in 1975 increased capacity to 32,454 in time for the 63rd Grey Cup. Further work in 1978 cost $4.5 million. The most significant renovation came in 1987 at a cost of $17 million, adding 11,000 theatre-style seats and raising capacity to 38,205 for the 1988 Winter Olympics. The university acquired full ownership of the stadium and land in 1985 after the original financing was retired and a land exchange with the City of Calgary was finalized.

Stadium operations and seating

McMahon Stadium is operated by the non-profit McMahon Stadium Society, incorporated in 1960 to manage, improve, and operate the facility for sports and recreation. The society's membership includes two appointees from the University of Calgary, the City of Calgary's Commissioner of Finance and Commissioner of Planning and Community Services, and two other members appointed by these four. Originally, the McMahon brothers held these two additional seats until their financial guarantee was retired in 1973. The society operates under leases and a four-year, three-month agreement with the City of Calgary approved on January 7, 2007.

With permanent seating for 35,650, McMahon Stadium is the fifth-largest stadium in Canada. Its capacity has fluctuated through renovations aimed at modernizing the fan experience. In 2001 and 2005, luxury boxes replaced upper-deck bleacher seating, reducing capacity first to 37,317 and then to the current 35,650. In 2007, Stampeders president Ted Hellard proposed a further reduction of about 4,200 seats to add more luxury boxes, funded by personal seat licenses. For major events like Grey Cup games, temporary bleachers are installed in the end zones, which allowed for a football attendance record of 46,020 at the 97th Grey Cup in 2009.

Playing surface and facilities

The stadium's playing field has seen significant technological evolution. From its opening in 1960 until 1975, McMahon Stadium featured a natural grass surface. Concerns that increased use by professional, amateur, and recreational teams would damage the grass led to the installation of AstroTurf in 1975. This first-generation artificial turf was replaced in 2006 with a more advanced, infilled FieldTurf system. The FieldTurf surface has since been replaced twice, in 2014 and again in 2025, to maintain a high-quality, durable playing field for its numerous tenant teams and events.

The stadium's location and infrastructure support its multi-use role. Situated between downtown Calgary and the University of Calgary, it is directly served by the Banff Trail C-Train station, providing easy access for spectators. The facility includes skyboxes added in 1993 and 2000, which contributed to the reduction in overall seating capacity. The design by Peter Rule utilized pre-cast concrete, allowing for rapid construction and providing a foundation that has supported numerous expansions over six decades to host events ranging from football games to Olympic ceremonies.

Major sporting events

McMahon Stadium has been the site of countless significant football games since its opening. Beyond serving as the enduring home of the Calgary Stampeders, it has hosted the Grey Cup championship six times: in 1975, 1993, 2000, 2009, 2019, and is scheduled to host again in 2026. The stadium also held the CFL All-Star Game in 1972 and 1978. Its record football attendance was set at the 97th Grey Cup in 2009, when 46,020 fans watched the Montreal Alouettes face the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The venue has also hosted international rugby union, including a 2025 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup match where Canada defeated the United States 34-20 before a crowd of 11,587.

The stadium's most famous non-football event was serving as the open-air ice rink for the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic on February 20, 2011, where the Calgary Flames hosted the Montreal Canadiens. Its largest and most globally televised events were the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympics. For these ceremonies, extensive temporary seating was erected, allowing a record 60,000 spectators to fill the stadium. This expansion was part of the major $17 million renovation completed in 1987 specifically to prepare for the Olympic Games.

• First game: August 15, 1960 (CFL: Winnipeg 38, Calgary 23).
• Grey Cup hosted: 1975, 1993, 2000, 2009, 2019, 2026 (scheduled).
• CFL All-Star Games: 1972, 1978.
• 2011 NHL Heritage Classic: Calgary Flames vs. Montreal Canadiens.
• 1988 Winter Olympics: Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
• International rugby: Canada vs. USA (34-20) on August 22, 2025.

Concerts and other events

Beyond sports, McMahon Stadium has a rich history as a concert venue, hosting major tours across multiple decades. One of its earliest and most legendary concerts was the Festival Express tour in 1970, which featured an eclectic lineup including the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and the New Riders of the Purple Sage. The stadium was a stop on the Lilith Fair tours in 1997, 1998, and again in 2010. Hard rock and heavy metal have also been represented, with Ozzy Osbourne's Monsters of Rock performing on July 26, 2008. A scheduled concert by ZZ Top and Aerosmith on August 13, 2009, was cancelled due to an injury to Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler.

The stadium has also been used for a diverse array of other gatherings and productions. In 1981, it hosted a large Billy Graham Crusade. During a 1990 visit, Queen Elizabeth II conducted an inspection of the Canadian Army at the facility. The action sports show Nitro Circus Live came to the stadium in 2017. The stadium has also been used as a film location. A scene for the 2001 movie Rat Race, featuring Cuba Gooding Jr. and involving a coin toss, was filmed before a Calgary Stampeders game on September 4, 2000.

Tenant teams and community use

McMahon Stadium is a vital community asset, providing a home field for a wide range of football organizations. Its primary tenant is the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, who moved from Mewata Stadium upon McMahon's opening. The University of Calgary Dinos football team is a long-standing occupant. The stadium also hosts junior and amateur football, including the Calgary Colts of the Canadian Junior Football League and the Calgary Gators and Calgary Wolfpack of the Alberta Football League. Most recently, it became the home for Calgary Wild FC of the women's Northern Super League, demonstrating its ongoing relevance to the city's sporting landscape.

The stadium's design and operational model emphasize shared use and public benefit. Its original financing model, with private guarantees from the McMahon brothers, allowed for rapid construction without direct city or provincial funding. The creation of the McMahon Stadium Society ensured dedicated management focused on maintaining and improving the facility for the community. This multi-tenant approach maximizes the stadium's utility, ensuring it is actively used by athletes from the professional level down to community youth programs, fulfilling its mandate as a centre for sports and recreation.

Attendance and capacity records

The capacity of McMahon Stadium has changed dramatically over its history, reflecting renovations and the demands of specific events. From an original capacity of 19,536 in 1960, it grew through a series of expansions to a peak of 38,205 in 1988. The addition of luxury boxes in 1993 and 2000 subsequently reduced the permanent seat count. The current official permanent seating capacity is 35,650. However, for major events, temporary bleachers have been used to significantly increase capacity, most notably for the 1988 Olympic ceremonies.

The stadium's all-time highest recorded attendance was 60,000 spectators for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympics. For football, the record is 46,020, set at the 97th Grey Cup game in 2009. The 81st Grey Cup in 1993 also drew a large temporary crowd of approximately 50,000. These figures highlight the stadium's ability to transform for Canada's biggest sporting spectacles. The table below outlines key capacity milestones throughout the stadium's history.

Questions about McMahon Stadium

Who owns and operates McMahon Stadium?

McMahon Stadium is owned by the University of Calgary. It is operated by the McMahon Stadium Society, a non-profit society incorporated in Alberta in 1960. The society's mandate is to operate, improve, and manage the stadium and its facilities for sports, recreation, and other community purposes. Its board includes appointees from the university and the City of Calgary.

What is the seating capacity of McMahon Stadium?

The permanent seating capacity of McMahon Stadium is 35,650, making it the fifth-largest stadium in Canada. This number has changed over time due to renovations. The stadium's peak permanent capacity was 38,205 after the 1987 expansion. For special events like Grey Cup games, temporary bleachers are added in the end zones, which have allowed attendances as high as 46,020 for football and 60,000 for the 1988 Olympic ceremonies.

What teams play their home games at McMahon Stadium?

McMahon Stadium is the home field for several football teams. The primary tenant is the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders. It also hosts the University of Calgary Dinos, the Calgary Colts of the Canadian Junior Football League, the Calgary Gators and Calgary Wolfpack of the Alberta Football League, and Calgary Wild FC of the women's Northern Super League. This multi-tenant use makes it a central hub for football in the city.

What major non-football events have been held at McMahon Stadium?

Beyond football, McMahon Stadium has hosted several landmark events. It was the site of the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1988 Winter Olympics. It served as an outdoor ice rink for the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic between the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens. The stadium has also held major concerts like the Festival Express tour in 1970, Lilith Fair, and a Billy Graham Crusade in 1981.

When was McMahon Stadium built and how was it funded?

McMahon Stadium was built over 103 days in 1960, with groundbreaking on April 4 and opening on August 15. The construction cost was $1.05 million. After public financing plans failed, funding was secured through a donation and guarantee from Calgary oilmen Frank and George McMahon, who contributed $300,000. The stadium was named in their honour by the University of Calgary's Board of Governors in August 1960.

What type of playing surface does McMahon Stadium have?

McMahon Stadium currently features an infilled artificial FieldTurf surface. It was installed in 2006, replacing the original AstroTurf that had been in place since 1975. The FieldTurf system has been replaced twice to maintain quality, with renewals occurring in 2014 and again in 2025. The switch from natural grass to artificial turf in 1975 was made to accommodate increased use by multiple teams.

Sources and further reading

• McMahon Stadium (Wikipedia)
• McMahon Stadium | Coast Calgary University Area Hotel ... (coasthotels.com)
• McMahon Stadium, Calgary: Capacity & Visitor Guide (meetstadium.com)
• Canada: Calgary explores new stadium as McMahon ... (stadiumdb.com)
• Foothills + McMahon Concept Plan, Engage Calgary (engage.calgary.ca)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.