Cowboys nightclub could have new home

CALGARY – The iconic Calgary nightclub Cowboys may have found a new home – and it’s on some prime real estate in the city.

On Friday, officials announced the bar will now be a part of the current Stampede Casino. The Big Sky Showroom will be renovated and expanded to accommodate the Cowboys Dance Hall, including plans for a mezzanine level to be added to the room.

The Calgary Stampede has signed a contract with Paul Vickers’ company Penny Lane Entertainment to manage its Stampede Casino.

Penny Lane will be responsible for all the food, beverage and entertainment in the facility while the Stampede will control the gaming.

“For out-of-town visitors, Cowboys is a well-known entertainment brand and a great tourism draw that will benefit the City of Calgary – it’s great news that Cowboys will be back up and running in Calgary,” says Randy Williams, president of Tourism Calgary.

Other non-gaming areas will also become home to some well known Penny Lane operations, including the Zen 8 restaurant and a sports bar to be announced.

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Everyone involved in the project is hoping the new entertainment facilities will bring new jobs and tourism revenue to the city.

But area residents are worried about rowdiness and property damage when the bar lets out.

“Obviously this is concerning because I want to make sure that my residents and my constituents are being heart and their voices are being properly represented,” says area Councillor John Mar.

The Stampede says they have plans to control that.

“I think what is upon us and Cowboys is to prove to the city that in fact we have looked after any issues in the past and that this will be a different operation, a more exciting operation” says Warren Connell, VP of Park Development.

Cowboys originally opened in 1996, but moved from its original location at Fifth Street and Ninth Avenue S.W. to make way for an office tower in 2007.

It took over the former Coyotes bar location at 11th Avenue and Olympic Way temporarily but had to move to make way for an underpass being built to connect Olympic Way to the East Village.

Once the necessary approvals are granted by the City of Calgary and Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, Cowboys should be ready to go for this year’s Stampede. The

With files from the Calgary Herald