We've put together an invitation tool kit with important tips, our venue logos and great images to kick-start your creative side and to get your guests into the spirit!
1. START WITH A GREAT HEADLINE
Back in the saddle!
Buckle down and join us...
Let er' rip!
Have fun deciding on how to get the attention of your guests by using words that set the tone for the kind of hosting you plan on doing.
2. TELL THEM WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING
You are inviting guests to either the afternoon or evening performance. The afternoon rodeo experience is the same in all venues, but the evening has a bit of a different twist depending on the venue.
Infield Suites
Calgary Stampede Rodeo
Cowboys Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races & Relay Races
ranahans, 30X Saloon and The Lazy S
Calgary Stampede Rodeo
Evening Show (Cowboys Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races, Relay Races & Bell Grandstand Show)
3. LET THEM KNOW WHERE THEY WILL BE GOING
We are at Stampede Park, not the grounds. We are the Calgary Stampede, also referred to as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!
Our venues have specific names and some have unique ways they are expressed when written. Be sure to call the venues by the correct name. It will help your guests find their way through directional signage when they arrive.
Infield Suites
ranahans (always with a lowercase r)
30X Saloon
The Lazy S (always with uppercase The)
4. LET THEM KNOW THE DATE
Include your date in the format Day of the Week, Month, Day, Year.
Example: Friday, July 7, 2023
5. TIMES
Include the time of your event and whether it is for the Calgary Stampede Rodeo, Cowboys Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races & Relay Races or Evening Show.
Infield Suites
12:00 p.m. for the 1:30 p.m. start of the Calgary Stampede Rodeo
6:30 p.m. for the 7:45 p.m. start of the Cowboys Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races & Relay Races
ranahans, 30X Saloon and The Lazy S
11:30 a.m. for the 1:30 p.m. start of the Calgary Stampede Rodeo
6:00 p.m. for the 7:45 p.m. start of the Evening Show (Cowboys Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races, Relay Races & Bell Grandstand Show)
6. DIRECTIONS
Guests may be coming from out of town or are unfamiliar with our venues and locations. To ensure your guests are able to find their way, include the full venue name and directions. If you have arranged for parking, be sure to include those details.
Infield Suites
Guests can access the Infield Grandstand by entering GMC Stadium through the main doors on the west side of the courtyard and proceeding to the tarmac outside the east side. Guests cross the track from the north or south side of the tarmac. Follow the signage to get to the Infield Suite location with the suite number indicated on the digital ticket. Access is by walking only from Stampede Park entrance gates.
ranahans
ranahans is located in GMC Stadium on the third level at the north end. Access is by walking only from Stampede Park entrance gates.
Main and private dining guests who hold a ticket will access the venue through the well-marked private entrance to the ranahans lobby between the north and main entrance from the GMC Stadium courtyard. They will be escorted to a private elevator and taken directly to the third level.
ranahans Lounge + Patio
guests will access the venue through the entrance (red awning) beside the north doors of the GMC Stadium courtyard and proceed up the escalator to the third level to enter ranahans on the north side of the venue.
30X Saloon
30X Saloon is located in GMC Stadium on the main level at the south end. Guests should access GMC Stadium by using the doors at the south end. Access is by walking only from Stampede Park entrance gates.
The Lazy S
The Lazy S is located in GMC Stadium on the fourth level at the north end. Access for all guests is through the entrance (red awning) beside the north doors of the GMC Stadium courtyard. The escalator is taken to the fourth level. Access is by walking only from Stampede Park entrance gates.
7. DRESS CODE
To avoid access issues when your guests arrive, please make sure you include the dress code directly in the invitation.
WESTERN or BUSINESS CASUAL
Guests must adhere to the venue dress code at all times.
Please wear pants or jeans in good repair, skirts and dresses of reasonable length.
Items that DO NOT meet our dress code include: ball caps, athletic wear, shorts or rompers and ripped or torn jeans and shorts.
In order to protect the integrity of the venue, management reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of dress and refuse entry if necessary.
8. RSVP
Don’t forget to include your RSVP details for your guest and a deadline as to when you would like to hear back from them.
9. Add photos
Choose a great photo to add something special to your invite. Nothing spells it out like a photo!
