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NFL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
Where?
Pro Football Hall of Fame
2121 George Halas Drive North West
Canton, OH 44708
When?
Beginning of August every year.
Significance:
Canton, Ohio, is the birthplace of the National Football League. Ralph Hay, the owner of the Canton Bulldogs, huddled together with fellow football team owners to establish a professional football league on September 17, 1920. The league, then called the American Professional Football Association, had been in existence for nearly forty years when demand began to grow for a place to honor the hard-working athletes who helped establish the league as a powerhouse. It needed a home, and where else but the place the NFL was born?
After lobbying efforts by residents and dignitaries in Canton to host the Hall of Fame and over two years of planning, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 11, 1962. A little over one year later, on September 7, 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame was officially opened.
Those enshrined NFL legends are selected by a thirty-nine-member committee, called the Board of Selectors, composed of sportswriters from around the country, six at-large delegates, and one representative from the Pro Football Writers of America. Coaches retired for any length of time and players out of the game for at least five years are eligible. The Board meets the day before the Super Bowl and selects the next class of enshrinees.
Every year since its opening, football legends flock to Canton to be inducted into the hallowed Hall. Fans crowd the area and crane their necks to get a glimpse of their favorite gridiron stars from childhood. While there are many exciting events over the ten-day celebration every August, the main event is the Enshrinement Ceremony. The stars of the past give memorable speeches and a few tears are shed. Super Bowls and Pro Bowls aside, this is a true celebration of professional football history.
Who attends?
Major sports fans and fellow teammates who want to support the football legends being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
How to get there?
The Hall is located at Exit 107A (Fulton Road) off I-77. That intersects many major highways just a few minutes from Canton.
Tickets:
For secondary ticket access, consider:
GoTickets, Inc.
2345 Waukegan Road, Suite 140
Bannockburn, IL 60015-1552
Toll-Free: 1-800-775-1617
Fax: (919) 481-9101
E-mail: sales@gotickets.com
www.gotickets.comAccommodations:
Fairfield Inn
5285 Broadmoor Circle Northwest
Canton, OH 44709
Phone: (330) 493-7373
Fax: (330) 493-7373
Toll-Free: 1-800-228-2800
www.marriott.comNote: Conveniently located just eight minutes from the Hall of Fame.
Courtyard Canton
4375 Metro Circle Northwest
North Canton, OH 44720
Phone: (330) 494-6494
Fax: (330) 494-7129
Toll-Free: 1-877-TOP-ROOM
www.courtyardcanton.comNote: Close to the Hall of Fame, amusement parks, cultural and entertainment centers, and the Harry London Chocolate Factory.
Glenmoor Country Club
4191 Glenmoor Road Northwest
Canton, OH 44718
Phone: (330) 966-3600
Fax: (330) 966-3611
www.glenmoorcc.comNote: You will be farther from the Hall, but you will be treated to a more resort/retreat atmosphere.
On-Site Hospitality and Events: The Ribs Burnoff takes place over three days to accommodate the large crowd of football fans and barbecue lovers. The event has expanded year after year, so get there early.
Travel Packages:
If you are going to travel to this event, I would recommend using a reliable company to work with you on making the necessary arrangements. The suppliers listed in this book have solid references and are by far the most trusted in the business. Below are some of the organizations to try for this Top 100 Must See Sporting Event. Always need a tailgate with football!
Premiere Corporate Events
14 Penn Plaza, Suite 925
New York, NY 10122
Phone: (212) 695-9480
Fax: (212) 564-8098
Toll-Free: 1-877-621-5243
E-mail: requests@tseworld.com
www.tseworld.comwww.pcevents.comPremiere Sports Travel
201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 205
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 481-9511
Fax: (919) 481-1337
Toll-Free: 1-800-924-9993
E-mail: sales@sportstravel.com
www.sportstravel.comDining:
Taggarts Ice Cream Parlor
1401 Fulton Road Northwest
Canton, OH 44703
Phone: (330) 452-6844
Note: Considered to be one of the best kept secrets in Canton. Homemade ice cream for the football fan with a sweet tooth.
Peter Shears
Note: A location in the basement of a historical business gives this local restaurant a cozy ambience.
Angello’s
4905 West Tuscarawas Avenue
Canton, OH 44708
Phone: (330) 477-1486
Note: Customize your pizza any way you want it. From the type of crust to the toppings, you ask, they’ll make it.
Big City Chophouse
Note: Large, hand-selected cuts of meat charbroiled to your liking. Authentic Italian dishes are served as well.
Airport:
Akron Canton Airport
Sports Travel Insider’s Edge:
Best way to watch the action:
If it’s football action you crave, check out the NFL Hall of Fame Game, a pre-season matchup between two teams. Past games have included the Saints versus the Steelers, Raiders versus the Eagles, Bears versus the Dolphins, and the Broncos versus the Redskins.
Best place to get up close:
Talk to a travel provider listed in the Travel Package Section about a Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement package that includes a lot of add-on options. In addition to the Enshrinement Ceremony, you can attend the Enshrinees Dinner, Enshrinees Game-Day Roundtable, the Hall of Fame Game, and Fan Tailgate Parties.
Best travel tip:
Get there during the week before the induction ceremony. Many activities are going on around Canton, including Drum Corps International competitions and Food Festivals. There is fun and festivities for the entire family.
Notable Quotes:
“I should have gone to the Hall of Fame before I stepped on a football field of any kind. It would have given me that much more appreciation for the game.”—MICHAEL IRVIN, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver
“Today, I’m here to tell my family, my coaches, my teammates, and my friends that I lived the life that I had imagined. I advanced confidently in the direction of my dreams and today, with many of you present, we have come here to Canton, Ohio, to celebrate and to share this great honor on what I consider to be football’s most hallowed ground.”—RON YARY, former NFL offensive tackle
Relevant Websites: