CTrain to the Calgary Saddledome
Two CTrain stations are one block from the Saddledome: Erlton/Stampede on the south side, Victoria Park/Stampede on the north. Both are Red Line stops. From most of the city, the train gets you to your seat faster than driving and parking would.
The two stations
Erlton/Stampede Station is on the south side of the Saddledome, one block away. It's the better choice if you're seated in sections 100 to 109 (south-side lower bowl) or 200 to 211 (south-side middle). The walk from the platform to the building's south entrance is about three minutes.
Victoria Park/Stampede Station is on the north side of the Saddledome, also one block away. Better for sections 110 to 118 (north-side lower bowl), 212 to 222 (north-side middle), and most upper-bowl sections. Walk to the north entrance is about three minutes.
Both stations are on the Red Line, which runs north to Tuscany and south to Somerset/Bridlewood. The Blue Line does not directly serve the Saddledome; if you're coming from the northwest (Brentwood, Dalhousie, Crowfoot) or far east (Saddletowne, Martindale), you'll transfer downtown.
From the suburbs
The Red Line connects to the Park & Ride lots at:
- Tuscany (north end): free parking, 25-minute ride to Erlton.
- Somerset/Bridlewood (south end): free parking, 30-minute ride to Erlton.
- Anderson: paid parking, 12-minute ride to Erlton.
- Brentwood: paid parking on Blue Line; transfer downtown.
Free parking at Tuscany and Somerset is often a better deal than $30 paid parking at the Saddledome. Adding the CTrain time and walking time, total commute is comparable, often shorter, especially after the event when parking-lot exits are bottlenecked.
Frequencies
Weekday peak hours: trains every 5 to 8 minutes. Off-peak: every 10 to 12 minutes. After a major event at the Saddledome, Calgary Transit adds extra train frequency on the Red Line, typically every 4 minutes for about 30 minutes after the building empties. The platforms at Erlton and Victoria Park are designed to handle the post-event volume; the system clears 19,000 fans in roughly 25 to 30 minutes.
Fares
Single fare: $3.80 (2026 pricing). Day pass: $11.80. Both available via the Calgary Transit app, at vending machines at every station, or at attended booths at downtown stations. The day pass is worth it if you're round-tripping for an event; it covers your trip out and back, plus any other transit during the day.
The Free Fare Zone runs along 7th Avenue downtown, from Downtown West/Kerby to City Hall. If your trip is entirely within that zone, you don't need a ticket. The Saddledome stations are not in the free zone; you do need a ticket to ride to or from Erlton or Victoria Park.
The post-game CTrain experience
If you've never taken the CTrain back from a major Saddledome event, expect a packed platform and an energetic crowd. The platforms feel full but they move fast. The trains are often standing-room-only for the first ten minutes after a game ends, then quickly clear as fans diffuse to their home stations.
For Flames playoff games, especially during the C of Red era, the post-game train was an extension of the building. Fans sang Flames songs. Strangers high-fived. The energy from the building came home with everyone. That tradition continued during the 2022 playoff run and will probably get a final wave during the building's last 2026 to 2027 season.
From Calgary International Airport
The CTrain does not yet directly connect the airport. The Green Line LRT, planned for years, is finally under construction with a 2027 partial-opening target. Until then, you can take the Route 100 bus from the airport to the McKnight-Westwinds station (about 30 minutes), then transfer to the CTrain (about 35 minutes to downtown, then transfer to the Red Line south to Erlton).
For visitors flying in for a Saddledome event, a taxi or rideshare from the airport is typically the easier option, around $40 to $50.
Accessibility
Both Erlton and Victoria Park stations are fully accessible, with elevators, ramped platforms, and audible announcements. Calgary Transit also operates Calgary Access Calgary for door-to-door accessible transit. Bookings are made in advance through Access Calgary.