Stock Show Through the Decades: 1986–1996 The decade from 1986 to 1996 marked another period of transformation for the National Western Stock Show. In 1989, the show secured $30 million dollars of the Denver bond package, where voters agreed to keep the show in Denver and grow it. As a result, the Events Center broke ground in 1992. This would forever change the landscape of the show. Opening in 1995, the Events Center still hosts premier horse shows during the 16 days each year. In 1986, the livestock show grew with the introduction of Junior Market Beef, Lamb, and Swine Shows, along with the Junior Auction of Champions. These programs quickly became cornerstones of the Stock Show experience and remain among our most celebrated traditions today. By 1996, the Stock Show was welcoming more than 600,000 visitors annually and entering a new era of growth that would carry it toward its centennial celebration in 2006. #WeAreTheWest #StockShow #History