[1] It was also called the Grand Rand Show, when it was held a few weeks outside of Easter in the late 1980s.
[5]: 148 The second show was opened by Paul Kruger on 13 March 1895, at a venue called Milner Park, which is today the site of the University of the Witwatersrand's West Campus.
[5]: 366 The eleven-day show was historically an agricultural exhibition for all South Africans where livestock, poultry, yearlings, farm products and equipment were shown and judged with prizes awarded in the form of gold and silver medals.
[5]: 148 The 1960 show was the site of a failed assassination attempt on Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd, by white farmer David Pratt.
[8] Other items planned for the site included new road connections, railway station and parking.
[8] Architect firm Stucke, Harrison & Partners start the design phase in early 1982.
[8] Con Roux cleared the area from late 1982, Pipeline Construction repositioned the Rand Water main and LTA Showgrounds Limited won the tender to construct the site.