It was an explosion of glee and tongue-wagging enthusiasm at the Saddledome last night.

The Rolling Stones made their first stop in Calgary and their loyal fans were willing to do just about anything to see their favourite rock stars.

"We got offered $2,000 for our tickets," said Cassandra Laurion, 12. "There is no way we would sell them.

"Hello, this is the last tour."

Whether this is the Stones' last tour or not, Laurion could not contain her excitement.

She and her cousin Courtney Charnock, 14, were frolicking around the grounds screaming for the band at every turn.

The mania outside the Saddledome wasn't limited to the teenagers.

"It's my dream to go to this concert," said Desiree Roberts, 40. "I've been waiting 25 years for this."

Roberts is also thrilled to be sharing what she calls a once-in-a lifetime chance with her daughter.

"It's a great experience to have both generations go together," she said.

"It's an opportunity you can't pass up. I hope one day she can tell my grandchildren that we went to The Stones together."

Sharing a Stones experience as father and son was so important to Don McCallum and his son Josh, they were willing to pay more than face value for their tickets.

"It cost me $550 for two tickets," said the elder McCallum. "It's the Stones! How often do you get to see the Stones?"

Some turned the event into a family reunion of sorts.

"It's reciprocity," says Curtis Ponton, sporting a colourful Stones tie.

"When I lived in California my brother came down and we went to see The Stones together. So this time, I came up from El Paso (Texas) and he got tickets. This is my fifth time seeing them."

Contest winner Adam Livingstone and his friend Laura Maclean's excitement to see the concert was mixed with nerves because afterwards, they were going back stage to meet the "greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world."

"I have been in shock for the last two days," Maclean said.

"I am not sure what I am going to say. I am very nervous and overwhelmed."

Livingstone wasn't worried about what he was going to say to the Stones, he was just hoping to get the band to sign one of their old records for him.