Five spectator sports to enjoy this spring and summer
There’s nothing quite like cheering on your favourite team in your own hometown. Sitting in the stands among fellow fans is a national pastime and an excellent way to connect with your community.
While hockey may come to mind as a favourite spectator sport, why stop there? From rodeo and judo to watching Calgary’s brand-new professional women’s soccer team—the Calgary Wild FC—there are plenty of ways to keep the fan energy going.
Here are five ways to expand your horizons and support local and international athletes as they compete in their respective sports this spring and summer.
Cheer for the Wild
Soccer fans rejoice! Calgary is finally welcoming its very own professional women’s team, Calgary Wild FC, as part of Canada’s newly formed Northern Super League (NSL). Founded by Diana Matheson, a former member (and two-time Olympic medalist) of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team, the NSL is getting ready to make history with the launch of its inaugural season.
The league consists of six teams—Calgary Wild FC will be competing against teams in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver for the chance to make it to the championship match. Home games will be played at McMahon Stadium, and the season kicks off in April.
Root for the Stamps
We can’t talk about spectator sports without mentioning one of North America’s favourites—football. The race for the 112th Grey Cup begins on June 7, when the Calgary Stampeders go up against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the first home game at McMahon Stadium.
Stampeders fans are serious about their role in the game, which is why the annual Fan Fest welcomes football fanatics onto the field before to celebrate the start of the season. This event, usually held in May, boasts several fan-centric activities, from getting a photo with the Grey Cup to having autographs signed by your favourite players.
Discover the Joys of Judo
While team sports can be incredibly fun to watch, one-on-one sporting events can be just as exciting. This year, fans of judo can witness martial artists at their best as Calgary plays host to the 2025 Open National Judo Championships.
From May 15 to 18, Canada’s top judo talent will be front-and-centre at the city’s iconic Olympic Oval as athletes from around the country compete for gold in their respective divisions. Tickets are available for spectators who want to learn more about the sport or cheer on their favourite judoka.
Embrace Your Inner Cowboy
Locals and tourists alike love to take in the exciting events at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo, from bull riding and barrel racing to bareback, saddle bronc and more. This year, the Stampede runs from July 4 to 13, but, in addition to “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” Calgary and its surrounding areas have a number of other spring and summer rodeo events to check out.
The Guy Weadick Pro Rodeo in High River, named after Stampede founder George Guy Weadick, runs from June 20 to 22 and unofficially ushers in the start of rodeo season. Next comes the Airdrie Pro Rodeo, which runs from June 27 to July 1 and features both professional and junior events. Finally, if you’re still looking for more rodeo fun after Stampede has come and gone, head to the Cochrane Classic Bull Riding event on July 27 for a final thrilling showdown.
Bring on the Badminton
It’s not every day that we Calgarians have a large group of international racket sport athletes in our midst. But this July, badminton players from far and wide will be coming to the city to compete in the YONEX Canada Open 2025. The tournament is part of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour, where Super 500 players compete for prize money totalling $475,000, which gets divided among winners. The competition is fierce and the stakes are high.
From July 1 to 6, prestigious singles and doubles players will be competing at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport, and there will be plenty of available tickets for Calgarians to cheer on their favourite players while escaping the heat of the summer sun.
Become the Player!
If you’re looking to start, or get back into, playing a sport, Calgary has several social and minor competitive leagues in just about any activity you can think of, from rugby and hockey to soccer, kickball, beach volleyball and more. Whether you want to play for health or find new friends, the Calgary Sport & Social Club has loads of teams you can join to graduate from spectator to player.
