The 23,000-capacity Tom Benson HOF Stadium officially opened this morning "for a dedication ceremony" and will open again tonight for the HOF game between the Cowboys and Cardinals, according to Alison Matas of the Canton REPOSITORY. The stadium, designed by Dallas-based HKS Architects, was "built in stages in less than two years." Visitors today will "notice two temporary elements -- the east end zone seats and the scoreboard -- which were not planned to be finished this year." The east end zone is "expected to be built by next year's enshrinement festival." Benson Stadium is "one of nine components planned" for the estimated $700M Johnson Controls Pro Football HOF Village development that is under construction on the campus. Site work has "begun for a four-star hotel, and several fields at the National Football and Youth Sports Complex already have opened" (
CANTONREP.com, 8/2). Matas noted this is the "first year the game will be played on a Thursday night." The new construction means guests will have their "choice of watching the game in premium seating, a suite or from a rooftop lounge, in addition to traditional theater-style seats" (
CANTONREP.com, 7/31).
See images of the stadium at AERIALAGENTS.com.
