Spruce Meadows

History and Development

Construction of Spruce Meadows began in 1973 on land owned by the Southern family, with the facility officially opening in 1975. The first equestrian tournament was held the following year in 1976, establishing the venue's core purpose. Originally situated several kilometres outside Calgary, the facility has seen significant urban development encroach upon its borders, with residential neighbourhoods like Bridlewood and Somerset now adjacent. In a 2011 municipal boundary adjustment, Spruce Meadows ceased to be within the City of Calgary and became part of the Municipal District of Foothills through a land swap. The Southern family successfully lobbied in the late 1990s to rename the adjacent stretch of Highway 22X to Spruce Meadows Trail. Today, the complex is an all-season operation, hosting not only sports but also conventions, trade shows, and a wide array of public events throughout the year.

Equestrian Centre and Tournaments

Spruce Meadows is globally recognized as a premier equestrian venue, specializing in show jumping and dressage events. The facility has a stable capacity for 1,000 horses and operates its own Hanoverian horse breeding, training, and sales program. A popular public engagement initiative is the annual "Name the Foal" contest, where three foals are selected to be named by the public, with profiles often featured during televised tournaments. The competition calendar is divided into indoor and outdoor series, with the eight indoor tournaments known as the 'Nakoda Series' tailored for developing junior and amateur riders. The outdoor season is highlighted by the 'Summer Series', a five-week tour of international competitions, and culminates in the prestigious CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament each September.

The 2026 'Masters' is scheduled for September 9 to 13 and features the $5 million CPKC 'International', presented by Rolex, which is part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. The facility's excellence was formally recognized when it was named the number one show jumping facility in the world for the 2001-02 and 2003-04 seasons. The sporting highlights of the outdoor season include the CSI 'National' tournament, which begins the Summer Series, followed by the CSI 'Continental', the CSI 'Pan American', and the CSI 'North American' in July. These events attract hundreds of elite athletes and horses from dozens of nations, solidifying Spruce Meadows' status on the international equestrian circuit.

Cavalry FC and ATCO Field

In May 2018, Spruce Meadows expanded its sporting portfolio significantly when it was granted a franchise in the newly formed Canadian Premier League (CPL). The club, Cavalry FC, is owned by Spruce Meadows Sports and Entertainment and began play in 2019. A modular soccer stadium was constructed on the site of the "Meadows on the Green" jumping ring, designed to continue hosting equestrian events when not in use for soccer. Known as ATCO Field for sponsorship reasons during soccer matches, the stadium opened on May 4, 2019, with Cavalry FC securing a 2-1 victory over York 9 FC in its inaugural match. The stadium's final configuration features a 4,500-seat covered grandstand on the east side, with an additional 1,500 seats split between the north and south ends of the pitch, bringing total matchday capacity to 6,000.

The modular design allows for potential future expansion. This venture marked a major diversification for Spruce Meadows, integrating professional soccer into its longstanding equestrian and event operations and creating a year-round sports destination. The stadium construction began in late December 2018, with the grandstand capacity updated to 4,500 seats in late January 2019. The field was specifically designed to accommodate both rectangular soccer pitches and equestrian jumping courses, demonstrating the facility's multi-purpose functionality.

Annual Events and Public Programming

Beyond elite sport, Spruce Meadows serves as a major community hub with a packed calendar of public events. The facility is open 365 days a year and hosts approximately 500,000 visitors annually. A major part of its winter programming is the Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market, which set attendance records in 2025 with over 100,000 visitors. Due to popular demand, the 2026 market will expand to four weekends for the first time, adding dates from December 4 to 6. Another seasonal highlight is the Enchanted Festival of Lights, powered by ATCO Energy, which adds to the winter festivities.

The venue also hosts a diverse concert series and themed festivals. The 'Live & Intimate Indoor Concert Series' returns for its third year in 2026 with a lineup including Brothers Osborne, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, and Arkells. New for 2026 is 'Prairie Prost: Oktoberfest at Spruce Meadows', a German beer hall-inspired event scheduled for Saturday, September 26 in the Equi-Plex. The facility also produces its own television content, including the show-jumping series Spruce Meadows Chronicles, which is broadcast to over 100 countries. Additional specials and programs are created by the venue's in-house television production facility.

• Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market (Weekends in November and December 2026).
• Enchanted Festival of Lights (Powered by ATCO Energy).
• Live & Intimate Indoor Concert Series (Third year in 2026).
• Prairie Prost: Oktoberfest (September 26, 2026).
• Adults-Only Nights (November 13-15 and 20-22, 2026).
• Name the Foal Contest (Annual public engagement).

Operations and Sustainability

Spruce Meadows operates as a comprehensive sport and entertainment enterprise under the leadership of president and CEO Linda Southern-Heathcott, a former Olympian who competed for Canada at the 1996 Atlanta Games. The facility includes a television production unit that creates broadcast content for its events. In recent initiatives, Spruce Meadows has partnered with WM to advance sustainability across its sport, entertainment, and community experiences. The organization also actively warns the public about fraudulent ticket listings and vendor applications, directing patrons to use only its official channels for purchases. The office is typically open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with hours extended on tournament and event days.

For major equestrian events like the CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters', live streaming and on-demand viewing are available through platforms such as ClipMyHorse.TV. This allows a global audience to follow the competitions. Spruce Meadows has a television production facility that produces the Spruce Meadows Chronicles series, which is broadcast to over 100 countries. The facility is open for visitors 365 days a year and hosts conventions and trade shows alongside its sporting events. Spruce Meadows is working with WM to advance sustainability across sport, entertainment, and community experiences. This diverse operational model helps maintain its world-class status.

2026 Tournament Schedule and Highlights

The 2026 calendar at Spruce Meadows features a full slate of international competitions and new public events. The equestrian 'Summer Series' is scheduled to begin on June 30 and run through July 5, featuring more than 450 riders from 26 nations. This series leads into the pinnacle event, the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows 'Masters', scheduled for September 9 to 13, 2026. The following table outlines key dates and events for the 2026 season, which includes both sporting and festival programming designed to attract a broad audience.

The 'Masters' tournament remains the centrepiece, with its Grand Prix being part of the prestigious Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. The 2026 edition will feature the CPKC 'International', presented by Rolex, with a $5 million purse. Alongside these sporting events, new public programming like the Adults-Only Nights in November and the expanded Christmas Market demonstrate the facility's ongoing evolution as a versatile entertainment destination. The 2026 Summer Tournaments are expected to draw large crowds, continuing the venue's tradition of hosting world-class sport in a distinctive setting near the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Key Facts and Figures

Spruce Meadows is a 505 acre equestrian and sports facility near Calgary, Alberta. It hosts 500,000 visitors annually and has stable capacity for 1,000 horses. The facility holds six major outdoor tournaments and eight indoor tournaments each year. It was named the number one show jumping facility in the world in 2001-02 and 2003-04. The soccer stadium within the complex, ATCO Field, has a capacity of 6,000 seats. Construction on the facility began in 1973, and it opened in 1975.

• Land Area: 505 acres (2.04 km²).
• Annual Visitor Count: Approximately 500,000.
• Stable Horse Capacity: 1,000 horses.
• Soccer Stadium Capacity: 6,000 seats (ATCO Field).
• Year-Round Operation: Open 365 days a year.
• World Ranking: Number one show jumping facility (2001-02 and 2003-04).
• Television Reach: Spruce Meadows Chronicles broadcast to over 100 countries.
• Summer Series Riders (2026): More than 450 riders from 26 nations.

Questions about Spruce Meadows

Where is Spruce Meadows located?

Spruce Meadows is a multi purpose sports facility located near Calgary, Alberta. It is situated adjacent to the residential neighbourhoods of Bridlewood and Somerset. The stretch of highway running north of the facility is named Spruce Meadows Trail. Effective January 1, 2011, Spruce Meadows ceased to be within the City of Calgary in a deal with the Municipal District of Foothills.

What is Spruce Meadows most famous for?

Spruce Meadows is world-renowned as a premier equestrian show jumping facility. It hosts six major outdoor and eight indoor tournaments annually, with the CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' Tournament in September being its most prestigious event. The facility has been named the number one show jumping venue in the world twice, in 2001-02 and 2003-04. It is also famous for its Hanoverian horse breeding program and the public "Name the Foal" contest.

What soccer team plays at Spruce Meadows?

Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League plays at Spruce Meadows. The team is owned by Spruce Meadows Sports and Entertainment. They play in a 6,000 seat stadium known as ATCO Field for sponsorship reasons during soccer use. The stadium is built on the Meadows on the Green ring within the facility and opened in May 2019.

When did Spruce Meadows open?

Construction of Spruce Meadows began in 1973. The facility opened in 1975. The first equestrian tournament was held in 1976. It was built by the Southern family, and the current president and CEO is Linda Southern-Heathcott.

What major events can I attend at Spruce Meadows?

Beyond equestrian tournaments, Spruce Meadows hosts a wide array of public events year-round. Major annual attractions include the Spruce Meadows International Christmas Market, the Enchanted Festival of Lights, and the 'Live & Intimate Indoor Concert Series'. New for 2026 are Adults-Only Nights in November and 'Prairie Prost: Oktoberfest' on September 26. The facility also hosts conventions, trade shows, and community events.

How can I watch Spruce Meadows tournaments?

Spruce Meadows tournaments are broadcast internationally. The facility produces its own television series, Spruce Meadows Chronicles, which airs in over 100 countries. Major events like the CSIO Spruce Meadows 'Masters' are also available via live stream and on-demand viewing through platforms like ClipMyHorse.TV. Selected events have been televised by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in the past.

Sources and further reading

• Spruce Meadows (Wikipedia)
• Spruce Meadows | Home (sprucemeadows.com)
• CSIO5* Spruce Meadows Masters - 2026 (clipmyhorse.tv)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-27.