Let’s Talk Brand & Reputation - Page 110

Hallsy's Toupee · #**2181** Posted **Jul 4, 2025, 9:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hardhatdan

Stampede isn't a corporate event but definition, it's a rodeo and fair. It is highly attended by corporations who over the years have bought into the branding and the social aspect of it (plus the week of white collar people not really working, unless drinking is working) adding a whole bunch of party tents and events.

Edmonton has tons of well attended events, none that are highly attended by corporations, because the corporate head office community (white collar people who could get paid for a week to drink as work) here is pretty small and has been for decades. It just is what it is and reflects the different corporate trajectories of the two cities since the 1980s.

The Stampede is vastly overrated if you ask me. It's just a big money grab, with glad-handing politicians hobnobbing with the old boys club. I have friends in Calgary who either stay home or avoid the city altogether.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket252

I agree. We need to stick with something and promote the heck out of it.

My suggestion is Edmonton Northern Exposition or Great Northern Exposition- GNE.

We are the largest Northern City in Canada. Why not sell it all we can.

I agree. Besides a fair (which needs to be relocated from Northlands to Louise McKinney Park and the convention centre), let's have a big parade, headlining performers, pancake breakfasts in the downtown core and the like, and tie it in with the Taste of Edmonton.

Rocket252 · #**2182** Posted **Jul 4, 2025, 10:10 PM**

^ The stampede has also faced a backlash with animal deaths during the chuckwagon races. So far it has not limited its program or popularity.

Base · #**2183** Posted **Jul 5, 2025, 1:06 AM**

Northtoberfest

Harrison · #**2184** Posted **Jul 5, 2025, 5:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket252

I agree. We need to stick with something and promote the heck out of it.

My suggestion is Edmonton Northern Exposition or Great Northern Exposition- GNE.

We are the largest Northern City in Canada. Why not sell it all we can.

GNE is already taken by the ‘northerly’ town of Stayner, Ontario! lol

https://www.greatnorthernex.com/

itom 987 · #**2185** Posted **Jul 5, 2025, 3:54 PM**

Edmonton Energy Days

Track and field competitions, field hockey playoffs, Music raves, electric, gas, steam, hydrogen and coal run engine demonstrations and competitions and parade. Vehicle races (cars, trucks, ebikes, lawnmowers, you name it) And of course, midway.

We had a good thing going with Champ Car 10 years ago, lets bring it back and build on it. Edmonton is an industrial city a festival like this is an excellent fit.

Hallsy's Toupee · #**2186** Posted **Jul 5, 2025, 5:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harrison

GNE is already taken by the ‘northerly’ town of Stayner, Ontario! lol

https://www.greatnorthernex.com/

Where the hell is Stayner?

There's always the NNE (Northern National Exhibition). Edmonton should get off their ass and trademark it before another city gets to it first.

Coldrsx · #**2187** Posted **Jul 6, 2025, 6:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by itom 987

Edmonton Energy Days

Track and field competitions, field hockey playoffs, Music raves, electric, gas, steam, hydrogen and coal run engine demonstrations and competitions and parade. Vehicle races (cars, trucks, ebikes, lawnmowers, you name it) And of course, midway.

We had a good thing going with Champ Car 10 years ago, lets bring it back and build on it. Edmonton is an industrial city a festival like this is an excellent fit.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http...CBEQjRxqFwoTCNjtwpHJp44DFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

EdmTrekker · #**2188** Posted **Jul 6, 2025, 3:46 PM**

My thoughts: We need to build on what we are a Great Plains city. Our geography won't change but our culture has and we celebrate some of that now with Heritage Days which is a huge success. We might leverage that into something bigger and more encompassing. Preferably annual but could be bi-annual. Calgary uses Stampede to broadly mean cowboy culture with side shows and a midway etc. We need a concise theme as well.

Edmonton Great Plains Exposition ... Festival...Celebration...Exploration. It could feature Heritage Days, PBR and Rodeo, Champ Car, World Class Triathlon etc. but that might be too many separate events and not be focused enough to attract international visitors.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Plains

ChatGTP: "Edmonton is considered a Great Plains city. It is located in the Canadian Prairies, which are part of the larger Great Plains region of North America. Specifically, Edmonton is within the Interior Plains and the Aspen Parkland region, which transitions between the prairies and the boreal forest."

The City needs to hire some festive planners and brain storm but only after the objectives are agreed upon by Council (what do we want to accomplish and why). Perhaps the research could be funded by the City, GoA and GoC. A major event like the Stampede has Regional support ...maybe this could as well with the help Alberta Tourism.

feepa · #**2189** Posted **Jul 7, 2025, 2:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by itom 987

Edmonton Energy Days

Track and field competitions, field hockey playoffs, Music raves, electric, gas, steam, hydrogen and coal run engine demonstrations and competitions and parade. Vehicle races (cars, trucks, ebikes, lawnmowers, you name it) And of course, midway.

We had a good thing going with Champ Car 10 years ago, lets bring it back and build on it. Edmonton is an industrial city a festival like this is an excellent fit.

read in this voice:

Base · #**2190** Posted **Jul 7, 2025, 10:38 PM**

Whether it's taking something existing and building around it or a new idea and building it up it would take a really concerted effort from the community to rally around something.

I like the idea of investing and attracting something that is well known already and building around it to make it something special.

Could Edmonton make a long term play to pry the Canadian Grand Prix out of Montreal with a massive investment? Race week would bring in a great tourism draw. That feels like a stretch but races move around all the time (I don't see Canada getting 2+ races so would need to get that race).

Harrison · #**2191** Posted **Jul 7, 2025, 10:46 PM**

Getting a major race back would be cool and it's not like the City hasn't supported something like that before with Champ Car and the Indy.

Coldrsx · #**2192** Posted **Jul 8, 2025, 12:35 AM**

F1 is even uncertain in MTL, but certainly would not entertain Edmonton and that's not a shot against Edmonton, simply the alpha class that F1 has its eyes on.

s211 · #**2193** Posted **Jul 9, 2025, 2:43 AM**

Where the heck in Edmonton could you find roads smooth enough for F1?

Hardhatdan · #**2194** Posted **Jul 9, 2025, 3:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

F1 is even uncertain in MTL, but certainly would not entertain Edmonton and that's not a shot against Edmonton, simply the alpha class that F1 has its eyes on.

What's an alpha class?

Coldrsx · #**2195** Posted **Jul 9, 2025, 1:51 PM**

Not alpha cities necessarily but a formula that includes serious $$$, redevelopment plays, celebrities, exposure and key markets.

Sadly, even some of the classic settings are losing out these days due to F1's new direction and greed.

YegFan · #**2196** Posted **Jul 9, 2025, 11:34 PM**

Every sports is following the money. If the likes of Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia are willing to put in money, good on them.

The world is changing and I think we are missing out in my opinion.

The potential to showcase our wealth and our capabilities to the world is getting lost. In the meantime, investment in world class infrastructure projects that would make our cities attractive is non existent l. Our roads are not even paved in most of the city.

Harrison · #**2197** Posted **Jul 10, 2025, 4:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YegFan

Every sports is following the money. If the likes of Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia are willing to put in money, good on them.

The world is changing and I think we are missing out in my opinion.

The potential to showcase our wealth and our capabilities to the world is getting lost. In the meantime, investment in world class infrastructure projects that would make our cities attractive is non existent l. Our roads are not even paved in most of the city.

lol what do you mean?

itom 987 · #**2198** Posted **Jul 10, 2025, 4:31 PM**

The Indy will obviously not be in Edmonton but that shouldn't stop us from hosting alternative races such as ebike and escooter races if no one has done that yet.

YegFan · #**2199** Posted **Jul 10, 2025, 4:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harrison

lol what do you mean?

take a little drive on the whitemud and count the potholes. The whole city needs to be fixed up. It's an embarrassment.

feepa · #**2200** Posted **Jul 10, 2025, 7:07 PM**

LOL the city spends millions of dollars a year on pothole repairs. The point you probably dont get is that we can spend a billion more, and there will still be potholes.

Why?

Clay. Winter. Freeze / Thaw cycles, which we are getting a lot more due to a warming climate.

Nothing to do with lack of maintenance. Not an embarrassment. Lack of understanding by you, sure.