Why are so few teams developing halls of fame and museums? For one thing, some of the “younger” clubs in the league may not see the need to build these facilities because they don’t have the historical equity built up to justify the investment, said Joe Horrigan, executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Even for teams with storied traditions, they may think there’s no end in sight with regard to continuously updating the facility, which can turn into a costly venture.
“That’s a problem for all of us,” said Horrigan, who has discussions “all the time” with teams considering whether to build these venues. He would not identify those clubs but said the Pro Football Hall is available for consulting on projects and lending artifacts.
Horrigan, in his 41st year in Canton, said some teams may think it’s better to recognize their greatest players through a ring of honor in the seating bowl, which is common across the NFL.
Plus, “the stadiums of today have such immensely powerful fan experiences. Does it really make sense to have a hall of fame?” he said.
