The departure of the Cowboys Dance Hall is the latest blow to Calgary's nightlife, which has been waning as conglomerates tighten their grip on the market, and younger people confront affordability concerns and increasingly turn away from late-night partying, according to one expert. "The closing of Cowboys Dance Hall marks the end of an era, and we are grateful for the long-standing relationship we have shared with Penny Lane Entertainment," said the Calgary Stampede, which owns the building. "I'm interested to see how the dance hall and the casino operations transition to potentially different operators, or even different events and operators on site," he said. The news also drew wistful comments from social media users who shared memories of the dance hall, a fixture for 30 years. As a result, artists promoted by Live Nation end up performing at venues owned by the firm, excluding local bars.