The Pro Football HOF is "moving forward with plans to reshape the campus into a Hall of Fame Village that is likely to entice the NFL to hold more events," including the NFL Draft, according to Todd Porter of the CANTON REPOSITORY. The expansion will be the HOF's "largest project in its history." Plans call for a "four-star hotel, a conference center and other buildings." The hotel and conference center are seen as a "driving piece to the village concept aimed at attracting" the '19 NFL Draft, ahead of the league's 100th season. The concept "started with the renovation of Fawcett Stadium," set to "begin next fall." Plans also call for "youth football fields, a center for athletic performance and safety, an academy of excellence to serve corporate partners, as well as retail, thematic restaurants and a mixed-use residential area for Hall of Famers and NFL legends." California-based Industrial Realty Group President & Chair Stuart Lichter "has partnered with the Hall" on the project. HOF BOT Chair Randy Hunt said that the next step in the process "is to bring together partners to create a funding stream to make the concept a reality" (CANTON REPOSITORY, 11/12). BLOOMBERG NEWS' Mason Levinson reports the state of Ohio "already has pledged" $10M to renovate Fawcett Stadium, and the HOF also has "received pledges from corporate foundations." HOF President & Exec Dir David Baker said that the venue has "identified sources for about three-quarters of the money for the first phase, and each of the initiatives within the overall project could have their own funding sources." Baker added that he "didn’t know whether any loans would be necessary." Levinson notes the capacity of a planned residence for "football legends who have special needs," called Legends Landing, "hasn't been determined yet" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 11/12).
