Grand Opening Kicking off with the SCTP nationals, the 107-year-old Grand American opened in its new location in Sparta, Ill., last week. The new $50 million, 1,500-acre World Shooting and Recreational Complex is expected to be an economic boon for southern Illinois, with the annual Grand being the facility's largest draw. The Associated Press, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Chicago Tribune all provided coverage from the event, while the Illinois Southern helped put to rest any potential misconceptions with an editorial titled, "Guns plus the public doesn't equal danger." St. Louis-area television stations also provided coverage. View a televised report from KSDK's Steve Jankowski.