New noise rules for Stampede music tents spark job, lineup concerns

The City of Calgary's new noise regulations for Stampede week music tents have triggered sharp pushback from festival operators who say the rules will force layoffs and eliminate local talent opportunities.

After receiving more than 200 noise complaints last year — 125 of them from the Cowboys tent at the newly renamed Cowboys Park in the west end of downtown — the city issued new noise restrictions in a June 15 letter to festival operators. The rules require outdoor concert noise not to exceed 65 A-weighted decibels after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. On weeknights, noise must not exceed 50 A-weighted decibels between midnight and 12:30 a.m., with speakers turned off by 12:30 a.m.

Paul Vickers, CEO of Penny Lane Entertainment, which owns Cowboys Dance Hall and the Cowboys Music Festival, said the decibel limits are unrealistic for live music and inconsistent with outdoor performance venues elsewhere in the city. "For context, the permitted noise levels are comparable to those found in a busy office," Vickers said. The tighter restrictions will force the festival to begin earlier, meaning some scheduled opening acts — predominantly local musicians — will be cut. Vickers estimates more than 250 seasonal jobs will be eliminated.

Ward 1 Coun. Kim Tyers criticized the city for making the changes "with zero consultation with city councillors or proper engagement with the impacted festivals." She warned the decision could damage Calgary's reputation as a music destination and cost jobs in the entertainment sector.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas said he supports the noise caps and weekday end times, noting that downtown residents deserve quiet after midnight on weeknights. He said the city notified groups like Cowboys in February.

Some residents living near the site support the rules. Rebecca Mayhew, who lives across the Bow River from the Cowboys tent, said her children's beds "were vibrating" from the music. Cowboys Music Festival kicks off July 3.