College Football Hall of Fame Relocation to Atlanta Making Great Strides

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The project to relocate the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta is making significant progress towards realizing the goal of creating a new immersive and interactive attraction that will celebrate the college football game day experience in a way never before seen.

“This new home of college football will be a true celebration of the sport, evoking all the emotions of the game day experience.”

Atlanta Hall Management, Inc. – the newly formed non-profit created to oversee the construction and management of the new facility – today made a number of announcements related to its continuing progress.

“We’ve achieved an incredible amount in planning what will be a highly entertaining, engaging and memorable attraction,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Hall Management and Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. “This new home of college football will be a true celebration of the sport, evoking all the emotions of the game day experience.”

First among those was the selection of two finalist sites still under consideration for the new facility. Both sites are located in downtown Atlanta in close proximity to Centennial Olympic Park and the city’s core of museums and attractions, including the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.

The first finalist site, owned by InterPark, encompasses 34,000 square feet and is located at the corner of Harris St. and Centennial Olympic Park Drive. The site is currently being used as a parking lot.

The second finalist site, owned by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, is a 2.7-acre parking lot adjacent to Hall A of the Georgia World Congress Center convention complex, one-half block south of Centennial Olympic Park.

“We literally looked at dozens of possible sites to narrow it down to these two,” Stokan said. “Each site has its unique benefits and both will offer exciting opportunities for the grand opening of the new College Football Hall of Fame in March 2013.”

Atlanta Hall Management (AHM) is continuing to vet the two sites and is expected to make a final selection later this year with construction of the 50,000 square-foot, $50 million facility expected to be completed in March 2013.

AHM’s final agreement with the National Football Foundation, which was signed in July, provides an official license and empowers AHM to oversee all aspects of the project and provides rights to use the name “College Football Hall of Fame.”

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the amount of progress our partners in Atlanta have achieved,” said Steve Hatchell, National Football Foundation president and CEO. “Together, we have assembled a team of experts in every discipline necessary to deliver on the vision we all share for the new College Football Hall of Fame.”

Fundraising efforts continue to progress ahead of expectations. AHM announced that $31.5 million of the estimated $50 million has already been committed to the project.

Current financial commitments include $10 million in general obligation bonds from the State of Georgia, $5 million from the Chick-fil-A Bowl, $5 million from Chick-fil-A, Inc., $2.5 million from Coca-Cola, $1 million from the City of Atlanta’s ADA Economic Development Fund and up to $8 million in cash netting from $25 million in new market tax credits through the Atlanta Development Authority.

“With the funding currently in place, our goal to open the new College Football Hall of Fame is off to an incredibly positive start. We haven’t even gone into the marketplace with our sponsorship packages yet,” Stokan said. “The reality is that this will be a very attractive and dynamic asset for companies looking for a solid return on their investment.”

In addition to its cash commitment, Atlanta-based Coca-Cola has also committed several million dollars in marketing assets including Web, digital media and cross-promotional activities.

Chick-fil-A was the first company to commit as a corporate partner in the project, adding the Hall to its current college football sponsorships anchored by the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. “We identified the College Football Hall of Fame early as a ‘can’t-miss’ opportunity,” said Steve Robinson, chief marketing officer for Chick-fil-A. “It fits perfectly into our portfolio of college sports properties because college fans have the high level of passion and loyalty we’re looking for.”

With the construction phase of the project expected to begin in August 2011, AHM disclosed its development team consisting of architects, real estate developer/program managers and exhibit designers.

TVS Design of Atlanta will serve as lead architects as a part of a joint venture with Turner Associates of Atlanta. Cousins Properties and Gude Management, another Atlanta-based joint venture, will perform the roles of developer and program manager. Gallagher and Associates of Washington D.C. will design the exhibit experience and work closely with TVS Design and Turner Associates to achieve an integrated look and feel with the building architecture.

During the approximate two-year construction process, the College Football Hall of Fame project will generate an estimated $91 million in economic impact for Georgia, while creating an estimated 884 jobs in metro Atlanta and will generate an estimated $4.9 million in state taxes for Georgia. The construction phase is also expected to generate $1.8 million in city tax revenue for Atlanta a study commissioned by Central Atlanta Progress stated.

“This will be a huge financial windfall for Atlanta and Georgia at a time when no one else is creating jobs,” Stokan said. “It will also provide a new tax revenue stream at a time when state sales tax revenues have declined.”

The College Football Hall of Fame relocation project was originally spearheaded by the Chick-fil-A Bowl, in partnership with the National Football Foundation. Representatives from the two organizations first announced plans to relocate the Hall to Atlanta from its current home in South Bend, Ind. last September.

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Atlanta Braves to honor Tom Glavine with Braves Hall of Fame induction and number retirement on Aug. 6

The Atlanta Braves will pay tribute to their former pitcher Tom Glavine on Friday, August 6 by inducting him into the Braves Hall of Fame and retiring his uniform number. The induction will take place at a special luncheon and the uniform number retirement will occur in a pre-game ceremony that night before the Braves take on the San Francisco Giants.

"Tom has been, and continues to be, a very special part of the Atlanta Braves organization," said Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz. "There's no greater honor than inducting him into our Hall of Fame and making sure his Braves uniform number 47 is retired and finds its rightful place alongside other great Braves Hall of Famers."

Glavine's number 47 will be the seventh Braves uniform number to be retired, joining Hank Aaron (44), Eddie Mathews (41), Dale Murphy (3), Phil Niekro (35), Warren Spahn (21) and Greg Maddux (31). The Braves also retired the number 42 along with all Major League Baseball teams to honor Jackie Robinson.

Glavine, who is currently a special assistant to team president John Schuerholz and is also a broadcaster on some Braves radio and TV broadcasts, spent 19 years in the Braves organization. He was drafted by the Braves in 1984 and was with the team through the 2002 season before he was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. After five seasons with the Mets, Glavine returned to the Braves in 2008.

He ranks 21st on the Major League Baseball's career victory list, with 305, and he ranks fourth for most wins by a left-handed pitcher behind Warren Spahn, Steve Carlton and Eddie Plank. In 518 starts for the Braves, Glavine compiled a 244-147 record with a 3.41 ERA.

Glavine won the National League Cy Young Award in 1991 and again in 1998. In 1995 he was named the World Series MVP after going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in the Braves' championship win over the Cleveland Indians.

He will join Hank Aaron, Bill Bartholomay, Lew Burdette, Skip Caray, Del Crandall, Ralph Garr, Tommy Holmes, Ernie Johnson, David Justice, Herman Long, Bill Lucas, Greg Maddux, Eddie Mathews, Dale Murphy, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, John Sain, Paul Snyder, Warren Spahn, Ted Turner, and Pete Van Wieren in the Braves Hall of Fame.

Tickets are available for the August 6 game at www.braves.com/tickets, the Braves ticket office at Turner Field, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or at any Ticketmaster outlet.

The location for the Hall of Fame luncheon is still to be determined, but for information regarding tickets fans can call 404-614-2310.

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Two Mercerians Among Seven in 2010 Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Induction Class

Two Mercerians were among the seven individuals announced Thursday as the new inductions into the the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. The Honors Court met on Thursday and selected Al Ciraldo, Edward Everett, Ernie Johnson, Sam Mitchell, Larry Rakestraw, Ronald Simmons and Suzanne Yoculan as the Hall of Fame Class of 2010. These seven individuals were chosen from an eligible pool of 252 nominees as those men and women who best exemplify the tradition of sports excellence in the State of Georgia.

“Georgia is truly blessed to have such a wide array of talented people in the world of sports,” said GSHF Executive Director Jacquelyn Decell. “It is our privilege each year to be able to give voice to the citizens of our state in congratulating our inductees on a job well done.”

The 2010 Induction Class highlights the broad range of sports in which Georgia’s athletes excel. The class includes two broadcasters, a golfer, a basketball player, a multi-sport athlete, a football player, and a gymnastics coach. The combined careers of those selected span six decades.

Sam Mitchell was a two-year starter on the basketball team at Columbus (Ga.) High School where he earned All-City honors. From there, he went on to lead Mercer University to the TAAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 1985, and he remains Mercer’s all-time leading scorer with 1,986 points. Mitchell played professionally in Canada and France before joining the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989. He is second only to Kevin Garnett in all-time scoring and rebounding in Timberwolves’ franchise history. As head coach of the Toronto Raptors, Mitchell was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2007.

Edward Everett is a native of Macon where he attended both Lanier High School and Mercer University. Everett began winning golf tournaments at the age of 11 in 1955 at the Macon Junior Tournament and continued to win tournaments as an amateur and professional for more than 40 years. Among his many tournament victories are the Rose City Open in 1973, 1975, and 1976; the Perry Classic in 1990; the Georgia Senior Open in 1997 and 2000; and the National PGA Senior Club Professional Championship in 1997.

Al Ciraldo was born in Akron, Ohio but spent 43 years as the play-by-play announcer for Georgia Tech football and basketball games beginning in 1954. Over his career he called 416 football games and 1,030 basketball games for the Yellow Jackets including Georgia Tech’s 1990 Citrus Bowl victory over Nebraska and the basketball team’s Final Four appearance the same year. Ciraldo’s signature kickoff call, “Toe meets leather”, remains famous throughout college football.

Ernie Johnson grew up in Vermont before becoming a pitcher for the Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves, and Baltimore Orioles. Johnson’s greatest contribution to baseball came as the iconic voice of the Atlanta Braves from 1966–1999. Named Georgia Sportscaster of the Year in 1977, 1983, and 1986, he also won three regional Emmy Awards in 1993, 1995, and 1997. Johnson was elected to the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame in 2001.

Larry Rakestraw is a native of Atlanta where he attended West Fulton High School. At West Fulton, he was a four year letterman in baseball and football and a three year letterman on the basketball team. In 1959 he was named to the All-State Football Team and was selected as the Back of the Year by the Atlanta Touchdown Club. As a baseball player and football player at the University of Georgia, Rakestraw was named MVP of the baseball team in 1961 and threw for 407 yards against Miami in 1963 to break the NCAA record for passing yards at that time. He went on to play professional football for the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons and has won numerous amateur golf tournaments since his retirement from the NFL.

Ronald Simmons was born in Perry and led Warner Robins High School to the state and national championships in 1976 as a defensive lineman. He played college football at Florida State and has been credited by Bobby Bowden as one of the key players in beginning the long run of success for the Seminoles. Simmons was a Consensus All-American at FSU in 1979 and 1980 and finished his career with 25 sacks and 44 tackles for a loss. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 1981 NFL draft, he chose to play in the USFL and later became a professional wrestler.

Suzanne Yoculan led the University of Georgia’s Women’s Gymnastics Team to one of the greatest runs of success in any sport in NCAA history. Over her 26 year career, the Gym Dogs won 16 SEC titles and 10 NCAA titles including five consecutive national championships from 2005-2009. Yoculan coached 37 gymnasts that won NCAA individual championships and 58 gymnasts that garnered a total of 306 All-America honors. She was named National Coach of the Year five times and SEC Coach of the Year eight times. Yoculan retired from coaching in 2009 with a career record of 836-117-7.

The 2010 Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in Macon in February.

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Atlanta Braves to honor Greg Maddux

The Atlanta Braves will honor their former pitcher Greg Maddux on Friday, July 17 by inducting him into the Braves Hall of Fame and retiring his uniform number. The induction will take place at a special luncheon and the uniform number retirement will occur in a pre-game ceremony that night before the Braves take on the New York Mets.

"Greg is such a large and important part of this organization and his contributions to this team are immeasurable," said Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz. "We feel this is a great way to honor him and to thank him for his years here in Atlanta."

Maddux's number 31 will be the sixth Braves uniform number to be retired, joining Hank Aaron (44), Eddie Mathews (41), Dale Murphy (3), Phil Niekro (35) and Warren Spahn (21). The Braves also retired the number 42 along with all teams in Major League Baseball to honor Jackie Robinson.

The recently retired Maddux spent 11 seasons with the Braves beginning in 1993, and was a member of the 1995 World Championship team. He was named the National League Cy Young Award winner four times, winning in four straight years from 1992-1995 - the first pitcher to win the award in four consecutive seasons.

With 355 career wins, Maddux ranks eighth on Major League Baseball's all-time wins list. He collected his 18th Gold Glove Award in 2008 - a Major League record.

He will join Hank Aaron, Bill Bartholomay, Lew Burdette, Skip Caray, Del Crandall, Ralph Garr, Tommy Holmes, Ernie Johnson, David Justice, Herman Long, Bill Lucas, Eddie Mathews, Dale Murphy, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, John Sain, Paul Snyder, Warren Spahn, Ted Turner, and Pete Van Wieren in the Braves Hall of Fame.

Tickets are available for the July 17 game at Braves.com/tickets, the Braves ticket office at Turner Field, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or at all Ticketmaster outlets.

For information about tickets to the Hall of Fame luncheon call 404-614-2310.

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Braves Hall of Fame Member Pete Van Wieren Announces his Retirem

Pete Van Wieren, a member of the Braves Hall of Fame has announced his retirement, ending his 33 years as a play-by-play broadcaster for the Atlanta Braves. He spent this past season doing radio exclusively for 94.9 the Bull, 640 WGST and the Braves Radio Network, but had been a part of the Braves broadcasts on TBS for many of those 33 years.

"This is something my family and I have been thinking about the last couple of years," said Van Wieren. "It's simply a desire to live my life without the restrictions of a baseball schedule. I want to thank the Braves, my broadcast partners and especially the fans for their support over the years."

Since joining the Braves network in 1975, "The Professor" as he is known throughout baseball, has also covered the Atlanta Flames of the National Hockey League, the Hawks and the Atlanta Falcons NFL pre-season football. He also served as a sports reporter for CNN and served as a play-by-play announcer on TBS's Big Ten Conference college football games.

"This is a monumental moment in Braves history and a sad one for me personally," said Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz. "Pete has been in our homes and in our lives as one of the great Braves voices, and we will sorely miss him. We wish him many years of good health and happiness in his retirement after 33 years as a beloved and admired voice of the Atlanta Braves."

In 2006, Van Wieren won the Georgia Sportscaster of the Year Award from the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association, marking the 10th time he won the honor (1980, 1988-95, 2006). He was dubbed Atlanta's Favorite Sportscaster in 1977 by the Atlanta Journal.

In 2004, he was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame, along with fellow announcer Skip Caray, who passed away this past August. In 2000, Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell declared July 30th "Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren Day" in honor of their 25 years of broadcasting Braves games.

Prior to joining Turner, he began his broadcasting career working as the play-by-play man for the Tidewater Tides of the International League for two years. He has also broadcast hockey, college and professional basketball and college and professional football. He also has been a sportscaster for WDHO-TV, Toledo, Ohio; WNBF-AM/FM/TV and WINR-AM/TV, both in Binghamton, NY; WPRW-AM/FM, Manassas, Va.; and WEER-AM/FM, Warrenton, Va.

Van Wieren, who was born in Rochester, NY, attended Cornell University. He and his wife Elaine live in Alpharetta, Ga. They have two children, Steven and Jon.

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Braves Museum and Hall of Fame Announces Offseason Specials, Including 'Free Admission Day' on November 15

This offseason, baseball fans will have the opportunity to explore the rich history of the Braves franchise and see behind-the-scenes areas of Turner Field during special monthly promotions at the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame. Monthly specials will begin with "Free Admission Day" on November 15, when fans of all ages will enjoy free admission and tours all day.

Offseason Specials at the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame

November 15, 2008: "Free Admission Day"
On Saturday, November 15, the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame will offer free admission during normal museum hours from 10 AM - 2 PM. Tours of the stadium, normally $12 for adults, $7 for children, and $10 for groups of 20 or more, will also be free on November 15th. Tours leave on the hour starting daily Monday-Saturday at 10:00 AM, with the last tour leaving at 2:00 PM.

December 1- 22, 2008: "A Toy for a Tour"
Children 13 and under who bring a new, unwrapped toy will receive free admission to the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame and a complimentary tour of Turner Field December 1-22. The Atlanta Braves Foundation will donate the toys to children's charities for distribution to those in need during the holiday season.

February 1-28, 2008: Black History Month education initiative
In an effort to encourage youth to learn about the many achievements of African Americans in baseball, children 13 and under who read a book about the Negro Leagues, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, or any African American contributors to the sport, will receive complimentary admission to the Braves Museum and a free tour of Turner Field.

Students can bring in the book they read or a note with the name and author of the book from their teacher or librarian on school letterhead, Monday-Saturday during Black History Month.

The Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum & Hall of Fame features more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team's history from its beginnings in Boston (1871-1952) to Milwaukee (1953-65) to Atlanta (1966-present).

This educational and entertaining destination is open year-round and is the starting point of one hour guided tours of Turner Field. Tours take fans through behind-the-scenes areas of the ballpark including the press box and broadcast booths, and give fans the opportunity to sit in the Braves dugout and see their favorite players' lockers in the Braves clubhouse. Other stops along the tour include Sky Field, a luxury suite, the SunTrust Club, and the Braves Museum store.

The Braves Museum and Hall of Fame is open Monday - Saturday during the offseason from 10 AM - 2 PM, with Turner Field tours leaving on the hour. The museum will be closed November 27 - Thanksgiving Day, December 23 - January 2, and January 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Turner Field tours, including admission to the Braves museum, are $12 for adults, $7 for children 13 and under, and $10 for groups of 20 or more.

Free parking is available during the offseason in the Turner Field Green Lot, on the corner of Hank Aaron Drive and Ralph David Abernathy Avenue.

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