The Green Point Common, on which the new 2010 stadium is being built, was originally much larger than what remains today, and included most of the land between the sea and Signal Hill, stretching from the city centre towards Sea Point.

It was known by the Dutch settlers as de Waterplaats (the Foreshore) during the 18th century. It had a shallow, seasonal vlei, which once hosted sailing regattas. This was filled in during the early 20th century.

In 1923, the Union government granted the land to Cape Town for sports fields and general public recreation purposes. A large portion of the land has been leased to sports clubs.

Past uses of the Common include horse racing, and the old Seagulls Restaurant (the present McDonald's building) was the original course stand. It also housed a prisoner of war camp during the South African War.

The old stadium hosted many major athletic and other sporting events, while the golf course has occupied its part of the Common for over a century. A public participation process is underway with a series of public meetings across Cape Town on the proposed redevelopment of the Common into a sports and recreation precinct with a park and pedestrian walkways.