The Pro Football HOF is expanding its campus into a HOF Village, and a CSL Int'l report estimates the expansion will cost $476M, according to a front-page piece by Todd Porter of the Canton REPOSITORY. The HOF BOT has "entered into a letter of intent" with California-based Industrial Realty Group to "be the master developer." Financing is "expected to be a joint public-private venture." A provision inserted into the state budget bill would "allow for a tourism development district (up to 200 acres) to be created in Stark County to raise public money that funds the completion of the project." Private investment is "expected to make up the majority of the funding." IRG President & Chair Stuart Lichter added, "I think the project will be bigger than ($476M). ... Some of the initial estimates might be low.” Lichter added that he "doesn’t anticipate a problem securing partners and financing." Meanwhile, Porter noted project leaders "have cautioned" that renderings of HOF Village "are just that." IRG also has projected $80M for Tom Benson HOF Stadium, of which $10M was donated by Saints Owner Tom Benson, and $10M "came from state funding." About 76% of the $476M "will be dedicated" to three projects -- $80M for the stadium, $127M for a hotel and $157M for the HOF NFL Experience. Porter noted HOF President & Exec Dir David Baker and the design team "believe the addition of interactive rides ... will drive guests to Canton." One example would be the "ability to strap fans into a small ride and make them feel like they are parachuting into the stadium of their choice and delivering the game ball to a favorite player." CSL Principal Bill Krueger said, "The big goal of the master plan is to create a destination where that visit turns into a multiday visit” (Canton REPOSITORY, 5/19). ESPN.com's Pat McManamon noted the "goal is to finish the project in time" for the NFL's 100th anniversary in '20 (ESPN.com, 5/19).
IF YOU WISH UPON A STAR...: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Kris Hudson notes the HOF "plans to dip into Walt Disney's playbook to build a sports version" of the Disney theme parks. But whether fans "will flock" there in the "same numbers that Mickey Mouse fans travel to Walt Disney World ... isn't a sure bet." Visitors to Disney parks "can stay at hotels, eat at restaurants and shop on-site," something the HOF "wants to do." Meanwhile, Baker said that "most details remain to be determined" on a proposed residential component, "to be called Legends Landing." Whether it will "be for-sale condominiums or rental apartments will depend partly on which development partner builds that portion of the campus." It is "envisioned to include assisted-living units for elderly and disabled players." Baker said that the units "won’t be restricted to NFL retirees, 'but they will have the priority'" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/20).
MASTER CLASS: The REPOSITORY's Porter in a front-page piece reports the HOF, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Stark County Convention & Visitors Bureau and IRG "have combined to pay" for nearly $1M in studies to develop the master plan. Another "piece of the financial puzzle could come from a provision inserted into the state budget bill." That bill is "in the Senate and if passed would create a tourism development district" on the HOF's campus. Meanwhile, part of the "driving force" behind a four-star hotel and 35,000-square-foot conference center on the HOF grounds "is to attract" the '19 NFL Draft. Baker said, “That is our Super Bowl" (Canton REPOSITORY, 5/20).
