The Repository | CantonRep.
com | Sunday, June 26, 2016K9
Key players in the Village project
By Kelly Byer
Repository staff writer
Heres a look at some of the key
players in the $500 million Hall of
Fame Village project:
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The museum opened in 1963 and
has grown from a modest 19,000
square feet to 118,000 square
feet. The largest development, the
Future 50 Project completed for
the Halls 50th anniversary, laid the
foundation for Hall of Fame Village.
David Baker, the Halls presi-
dent and executive director, has
been a driving force coordinat-
ing expansive plans with numerous
partners. The former attorney,
mayor of Irvine, Calif., and Arena
Football League commissioner
came to Canton from Newport
Beach, Calif. Prior to coming to the
Hall, Baker was the managing part-
ner and developer of Union Village,
a health care development project
in Henderson, Nev.
Industrial Realty Group
The California-based devel-
opment company is the master
developer. The company has
worked on the former Hoover com-
plex in North Canton and Goodyear
headquarters in Akron.
In a meeting arranged by city
officials between IRG Chairman
and President Stuart Lichter and
the Halls president, Lichter sug-
gested investing in the Hall and
surrounding area to spur devel-
opment. He put money toward a
feasibility study and began plan-
ning Hall of Fame Village.
The National Football League
The NFL began in 1920 in Canton
under the name American Pro-
fessional Football Association. It
celebrates its centennial in 2020,
and the majority of the Halls plans
are set for completion in 2019 to
potentially attract the NFL Draft
ahead of the leagues 100th season.
NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell has spoken positively of
the Hall of Fame Village and the
Hall of Fame Village
have worked closely with the Hall
of Fame as plans have evolved.
The district and Board of Edu-
cation agreed to lease land to the
Hall, renamed Fawcett Stadium
after New Orleans Saints owner
Tom Benson donated $11 million,
and allowed the Hall to sell beer at
enshrinement events to help fund a
feasibility study.
The school expects to benefit
from the renovated stadium, new
athletic fields and other facilities
and the resulting tax revenue.
The Plain Local School District
also became involved after devel-
opers realized some plans were on
land within the Plain school dis-
trict. They, like Canton, agreed
to a tax agreement that allows the
Hall to divert some property taxes
on improvements made back into
the project.
Other partners
n HKS, the Dallas-based archi-
tects for AT&T Stadium, designed
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
as the projects master architect.
n The local Motter & Meadows
Architects, Fred Olivieri Construc-
REPOSITORY FILE
tion Company and Welty Building
n David Baker, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; Stuart Lichter, president and chairman of Industrial Realty Group; Bill
Company will assist with Hall of
Krueger, a principal at Conventions, Sports & Leisure International; and Dennis Saunier, president and CEO of the Canton Regional Fame Village.
Chamber of Commerce, on May 19, 2015 at the announcement of the Village. n Aultman Hospital has part-
nered with the Hall of Fame for
leagues relationship with the Hall. leadership of Mayor William J. Market Square to draw people the Villages Center for Athletic
New Orleans Saints owner Tom Healy II and Deputy Mayor Fonda downtown. Performance.
Benson went a step further by com- Williams. Newly elected Mayor With the tourist attraction n Legends a hospitality, sales
mitting financial support, giving Thomas Bernabei and Williams expected to bring new jobs and and marketing company that
$10 million for stadium renovations continue to represent the citys tax revenue, several community operates One World Trade Center
and $1 million for Legends Landing, interest as plans progress. organizations have been working Observatory and provides services
a planned assisted living facility. on their own long-range plans. to numerous sports stadiums and
The Hall and Canton City School Canton Regional Chamber of Saunier has helped bring leaders Live Nation venues will design
District, which owns the stadium, Commerce together for periodic meetings in the NFL Experience.
then renamed Fawcett Stadium for The Chamber Foundation gave the past year to identify overlap- n The Crestline Hotel Group will
Benson. $50,000 toward the feasibility ping goals. develop and manage the four-star
The league will celebrate its cen- study and hosted the NFL com- The Canton/Stark County hotel and conference center. Part
tennial season in 2020. Canton is missioner for its annual dinner in Convention & Visitors Bureau, a of the team associated with Cres-
among cities that have applied to 2015, and Dallas Cowboys owner division of the chamber, also con- tline is Hall of Famer Bruce Smith,
host the 2019 NFL Draft. Jerry Jones for the dinner this past tributed $50,000 for the feasibility whose Bruce Smith Enterprise LLC
spring. study and is working with the Hall has partnered with other Crestline
City of Canton The chambers president and of Fame. hotels.
The mayor and 13-member coun- CEO, Dennis Saunier, has credited n TSAV (Technical Services
cil granted the Hall of Fame Village the Hall of Fame Village for inspir- School districts Audio Visual) is providing a plan for
$5 million in anticipation of bene- ing other plans. Hes advocated With a large portion of develop- technical infrastructure to enhance
fitting from the development. for more connections between the ment taking place on Canton City theguest experience at the Village.
The project began under the city and Hall as well as renovating School District property, officials
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