I don't understand why the city of Canton would be incapable of building a hotel of this caliber?  I personally always thought that the location of the Hall of Fame in a residential neighborhood was sort of endearing and intimate.  During Hall of Fame week it was fun to ride my bike through and see all of the parties throughout the neighborhood.  At this point, the Hall of Fame owns many of the homes and has plans to demolish them for the Hall of Fame Village.  I actually am worried that the Hall will be so much of a city in itself that there will be very little reason for tourists to venture away from it.

 

The Hall of Fame is in Canton for one reason, because football was born here. 

I'd be very surprised if something of this caliber design actually gets built here. Having spent a little bit of time in Canton and at the HOF, this project seems beyond the means and capabilities of the town.

 

Pretty silly thing to say.

Glad to see some progressive architecture catching on in NE Ohio between this and nuCLEus.

I'd be very surprised if something of this caliber design actually gets built here. Having spent a little bit of time in Canton and at the HOF, this project seems beyond the means and capabilities of the town.

 

Pretty silly thing to say.

 

That's the kind of reasoning and attitude as to why nothing similar has been done.

I mean, am I wrong though? Canton is in a very bleak condition, and I saw very little new construction in the city at all, let alone new construction of this caliber of high design and scale. Even the Hall itself was kind of rundown and unimpressive from the outside, imo. It's not a knock on Canton- just being real. Very few cities with Canton's population and economic condition would be able to pull anything like this off. If it happens, great, but I won't hold my breath.

Its not like the city is trying to bring in a splashy hotel in to juice things up. If that were the case I'd agree with your sentiment. This is part of a massive half billion dollar+ commitment from the NFL.  They are the ones deciding how this will look.  They want to change the tired feel of the HOF.

  I see no reason that Northeast Ohio can't handle building this hotel either. There are many futuristic buildings with challenging metal work that have been built in the last 10 years. Just not in Canton. 

  I expect very little if any concern from Canton residents about the hotel design.

I mean, am I wrong though? Canton is in a very bleak condition, and I saw very little new construction in the city at all, let alone new construction of this caliber of high design and scale. Even the Hall itself was kind of rundown and unimpressive from the outside, imo. It's not a knock on Canton- just being real. Very few cities with Canton's population and economic condition would be able to pull anything like this off. If it happens, great, but I won't hold my breath.

 

Yes, you are wrong.

I usually agree with jeremyck01 and not edale, but Canton is a mess. When a megachurch is the only replacement for Hoover, one of your city's signature employers, and supermarkets are either vacant or filled with churches too, it doesn't say much for your city's economy. The promise of the Marcelus/Utica oil/gas miracle has thus far failed to replace many of the manufacturing jobs that have left in the past 30-40 years.

 

Other than the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton doesn't have much left except some great small colleges so young people can move to more vibrant cities that have decent jobs. So yes, this hotel really is an anomaly for Canton in recent decades.

I don't usually comment but just enjoy the updates on various projects around NE Ohio. In this case, having grown up in Massillon and experiencing the best and worst of a manufacturing economy, I can agree that the scope of this project is an anomaly and can only survive with a lot of outside money. The middle class of these cities (similar to Warren, Youngstown, etc.) has pretty much disappeared with the loss of steel and supporting businesses. What is left is a struggling lower class, lower educated population that could not move when the rest of the folks who were able to move left decades ago. There still is some old money left and a small entrepreneur class that support the arts, the medical and legal fields, and small colleges. The ones who remain are fiercely loyal to sports but may not have the disposable income to support this project over the long term. I hope the NFL is prepared to continuously pump money into it for years to come. 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there some wealth and stability in Canton's suburbs? Particularly to the north (i.e. Jackson)? Are these people employed in Akron?

New rendering for the hotel at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton.

 

This hotel rendering kind of reminds me of the VA building on E.105th in Cleveland, just cooler!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there some wealth and stability in Canton's suburbs? Particularly to the north (i.e. Jackson)? Are these people employed in Akron?

Or at Diebold, Timken, Smuckers, Fresh Mark, etc. and that's just the big companies.  While not a thriving and growing economy it's not completely lifeless.  That's like asking where all the people in any affluent Cleveland suburb work. 

First off N. Canton is a bit different from Canton. Hoover was in N. Canton. But there are several large employers still in Canton area. The main ones would be the hospitals, but also Diebold (also in N Canton) and Timken. I just saw a nice employee event for Timken at punch bowl social on a Tuesday night. A hundred employees or so were dressed in matching bowling shirts in Timken orange there. That sounds like they are doing pretty well.

  Besides Jackson there is also Hills and Dales and Lake Cable for communities that are a little more upscale.

  i like checking out Canton brewing company. Its in the middle of the downtown by the galleries and other bars and restaurants. It is surprisingly active with pedestrians when I've been there.  A place I'm meaning to get to is Geravasi winery an upscale series of restaurants with great landscaping outside of downtown. Check out their website to be blown away.

  With it being the county seat and having the McKinley monument and museum, there are enough things to be able to handle an upscale hotel.

I'm sure there are people here who know more about economic development and the economy of Canton than I do...  but I'm pretty sure if this is not being marketed to the people of  Canton  for it's success...  and I'm sure the people of NEO will support it...    the NFL is a national brand and this is a tourist attraction that will become more attractive to tourists....  also, it may spur other development...

I usually agree with jeremyck01 and not edale, but Canton is a mess. When a megachurch is the only replacement for Hoover, one of your city's signature employers, and supermarkets are either vacant or filled with churches too, it doesn't say much for your city's economy. The promise of the Marcelus/Utica oil/gas miracle has thus far failed to replace many of the manufacturing jobs that have left in the past 30-40 years.

 

Other than the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton doesn't have much left except some great small colleges so young people can move to more vibrant cities that have decent jobs. So yes, this hotel really is an anomaly for Canton in recent decades.

 

Please name some other cities where a major employer has moved and the city has miraculously found a new company to move in with the same number of jobs an tax base.

All of America will be waiting for your response.

I'm sure there are people here who know more about economic development and the economy of Canton than I do...  but I'm pretty sure if this is not being marketed to the people of  Canton  for it's success...  and I'm sure the people of NEO will support it...    the NFL is a national brand and this is a tourist attraction that will become more attractive to tourists....  also, it may spur other development...

 

Exactly, they are creating a national / international destination. Kind of like saying Disney World doesn't work because it's in the middle of nowhere.

^ Lol yeah the NFL HOF is nothing like Disneyland/world, and it never will be. I think it's great that the NFL is investing a lot of money in Canton, and I certainly think the HOF could and should result in spin-off development, as there currently is literally none to speak of. It's also a good thing to think and dream big, and I think this proposal does that. But at some point, you have to be realistic. Canton is a relatively small city, with an abysmal economy. The roads are some of the worst I've ever seen in America, and many of the neighborhoods are incredibly bombed out. The city is working with a consultant just to try to figure out how it can best stop the bleeding and allocate resources to maintain the sections of the city that are functioning.

 

IMO, the NFL should invest it's money in making the HOF a real showpiece, and upgrading the entire facility and the grounds around it. They should build structured parking, install new signage, and maybe even hire a notable architect to design a new wing or facade for the hall. Adding the practice fields and overhauling the current stadium would also be nice, and I'm not opposed to a hotel there at all. But to expect a very large and strikingly contemporary designed hotel at the HOF site, which as I said before is situated between a freeway and a neighborhood of small single family homes, is unrealistic. There's just nothing else in town that's even approaches this in terms of scale or design. If the Hall were in Cleveland, then yes, I absolutely think such a design would be appropriate and plausible, because there are many contemporary buildings there, and there is a much larger tourism industry in place. As of now, who is really doing an over night in Canton just to see the HOF? Is there really such a market for luxury accommodations in Canton that's currently going unmet? I stayed at the McKinley Grand when I visited (for work) which was supposedly the nicest hotel in town, and it was very dated inside, and the exterior was hideous. To go from that to what is rendered above would be like skipping from fifth grade to senior year of high school. I could see a moderately scaled, fairly conventionally designed hotel- maybe a Hilton, Hyatt, or Mariott- but beyond that, I just don't see it.

^ Lol yeah the NFL HOF is nothing like Disneyland/world, and it never will be. I think it's great that the NFL is investing a lot of money in Canton, and I certainly think the HOF could and should result in spin-off development, as there currently is literally none to speak of. It's also a good thing to think and dream big, and I think this proposal does that. But at some point, you have to be realistic. Canton is a relatively small city, with an abysmal economy. The roads are some of the worst I've ever seen in America, and many of the neighborhoods are incredibly bombed out. The city is working with a consultant just to try to figure out how it can best stop the bleeding and allocate resources to maintain the sections of the city that are functioning.

 

IMO, the NFL should invest it's money in making the HOF a real showpiece, and upgrading the entire facility and the grounds around it. They should build structured parking, install new signage, and maybe even hire a notable architect to design a new wing or facade for the hall. Adding the practice fields and overhauling the current stadium would also be nice, and I'm not opposed to a hotel there at all. But to expect a very large and strikingly contemporary designed hotel at the HOF site, which as I said before is situated between a freeway and a neighborhood of small single family homes, is unrealistic. There's just nothing else in town that's even approaches this in terms of scale or design. If the Hall were in Cleveland, then yes, I absolutely think such a design would be appropriate and plausible, because there are many contemporary buildings there, and there is a much larger tourism industry in place. As of now, who is really doing an over night in Canton just to see the HOF? Is there really such a market for luxury accommodations in Canton that's currently going unmet? I stayed at the McKinley Grand when I visited (for work) which was supposedly the nicest hotel in town, and it was very dated inside, and the exterior was hideous. To go from that to what is rendered above would be like skipping from fifth grade to senior year of high school. I could see a moderately scaled, fairly conventionally designed hotel- maybe a Hilton, Hyatt, or Mariott- but beyond that, I just don't see it.

.

 

You clearly haven't kept up with this project. You think they are going to build that hotel in a vacuum? This project encompasses a major expansion and renovation of the HOF. There will literally be an entire sports community built up around the HOF. All of the things you mentioned that you would do are already planned. I suggest you looks to the posts earlier in this thread that clearly spell out what the vision for the HOF is.

 

You can't jump into the middle of a thread after having seen one image and know what you are talking about without some context.

Or at Diebold, Timken, Smuckers, Fresh Mark, etc. and that's just the big companies.  While not a thriving and growing economy it's not completely lifeless.  That's like asking where all the people in any affluent Cleveland suburb work. 

 

Thank you for the information, I did not intend for my question to come off as disrespectful if that's what you were thinking. I just do not know much about Canton or its major employers these days.

^ Lol yeah the NFL HOF is nothing like Disneyland/world, and it never will be. I think it's great that the NFL is investing a lot of money in Canton, and I certainly think the HOF could and should result in spin-off development, as there currently is literally none to speak of. It's also a good thing to think and dream big, and I think this proposal does that. But at some point, you have to be realistic. Canton is a relatively small city, with an abysmal economy. The roads are some of the worst I've ever seen in America, and many of the neighborhoods are incredibly bombed out. The city is working with a consultant just to try to figure out how it can best stop the bleeding and allocate resources to maintain the sections of the city that are functioning.

 

IMO, the NFL should invest it's money in making the HOF a real showpiece, and upgrading the entire facility and the grounds around it. They should build structured parking, install new signage, and maybe even hire a notable architect to design a new wing or facade for the hall. Adding the practice fields and overhauling the current stadium would also be nice, and I'm not opposed to a hotel there at all. But to expect a very large and strikingly contemporary designed hotel at the HOF site, which as I said before is situated between a freeway and a neighborhood of small single family homes, is unrealistic. There's just nothing else in town that's even approaches this in terms of scale or design. If the Hall were in Cleveland, then yes, I absolutely think such a design would be appropriate and plausible, because there are many contemporary buildings there, and there is a much larger tourism industry in place. As of now, who is really doing an over night in Canton just to see the HOF? Is there really such a market for luxury accommodations in Canton that's currently going unmet? I stayed at the McKinley Grand when I visited (for work) which was supposedly the nicest hotel in town, and it was very dated inside, and the exterior was hideous. To go from that to what is rendered above would be like skipping from fifth grade to senior year of high school. I could see a moderately scaled, fairly conventionally designed hotel- maybe a Hilton, Hyatt, or Mariott- but beyond that, I just don't see it.

 

Clearly overlooking a lot of information. Let me help you out since it doesn't seem that you've read what is only one page back:

 

Longer-range plans include restaurants, retail, youth football fields and even residential units for retired NFL players, the paper said. The hotel's the key piece in efforts to bring the NFL Draft to Canton in 2019, the paper said,...

 

The analogy to Disney is to reflect the idea that the HOF has nothing to do with the City of Canton. The idea is to create an all inclusive attraction. Potentially you would not leave the site while you stay. You would probably never venture into Downtown Canton. Fly into the airport. Take the 5 minute ride to the HOF Village and then leave.

^ Lol yeah the NFL HOF is nothing like Disneyland/world, and it never will be. I think it's great that the NFL is investing a lot of money in Canton, and I certainly think the HOF could and should result in spin-off development, as there currently is literally none to speak of. It's also a good thing to think and dream big, and I think this proposal does that. But at some point, you have to be realistic. Canton is a relatively small city, with an abysmal economy. The roads are some of the worst I've ever seen in America, and many of the neighborhoods are incredibly bombed out. The city is working with a consultant just to try to figure out how it can best stop the bleeding and allocate resources to maintain the sections of the city that are functioning.

 

IMO, the NFL should invest it's money in making the HOF a real showpiece, and upgrading the entire facility and the grounds around it. They should build structured parking, install new signage, and maybe even hire a notable architect to design a new wing or facade for the hall. Adding the practice fields and overhauling the current stadium would also be nice, and I'm not opposed to a hotel there at all. But to expect a very large and strikingly contemporary designed hotel at the HOF site, which as I said before is situated between a freeway and a neighborhood of small single family homes, is unrealistic. There's just nothing else in town that's even approaches this in terms of scale or design. If the Hall were in Cleveland, then yes, I absolutely think such a design would be appropriate and plausible, because there are many contemporary buildings there, and there is a much larger tourism industry in place. As of now, who is really doing an over night in Canton just to see the HOF? Is there really such a market for luxury accommodations in Canton that's currently going unmet? I stayed at the McKinley Grand when I visited (for work) which was supposedly the nicest hotel in town, and it was very dated inside, and the exterior was hideous. To go from that to what is rendered above would be like skipping from fifth grade to senior year of high school. I could see a moderately scaled, fairly conventionally designed hotel- maybe a Hilton, Hyatt, or Mariott- but beyond that, I just don't see it.

 

Your assessment of the Canton area is really not all that accurate or even fair.  Canton is not a big city and I don't think anyone on here said otherwise.  But it is also not some tiny little hamlet.  The metro is over 400,000 and add in the Akron metro and you are at about 1.1 million.  Canton to Akron is only about 20 minutes in normal traffic and there really is no break in development between the two metros anymore.  There is plenty of money still in the Canton Metro.  Here is the current list of residential real estate for sale in the Canton area which is more than decent for a city and metro the size of Canton.  http://www.cutlerhomes.com/listings/query.php?property_category=1&qsIntelligent=&state=39&county=151&radarea=1&pricemin=&pricemax=&bedrooms=&bedmore=1&bath_full=&bath_thre=1&garages=&garages_alt=1&sqfoot_low=&sqfoot_high=&acres=&acres_h=&yb_l=&yb_h=&stories=&reducedpricedays=7&vtycount=2&pastdays=&qsversion=2

 

Downtown Canton is much improved over the last 10-15 years.  The Onesto Hotel has been completely restored into higher end condos and it is full.  The adjacent Bliss Tower is currently being converted into higher end condos by the same developer.  The condos will be more contemporary in that building.  That building will also be full when complete.  Downtown Canton's up and coming restaurant and art scene is doing very well.  Much better than expected.  All the naysayers are being proven wrong again and again when it comes to downtown Canton.     

 

Another developer is at least proposing and looking into a new highrise for downtown Canton that would be Canton's tallest (16-20 floor range).  Whether or not it happens is unknown but the Hall of Fame development is having a very big affect on the area and will almost certainly result in further development, including in the downtown area, if all goes as planned.

 

As to the HOF hotel you are skeptical about being built.  The design is the final design, ground is scheduled to break in late summer-early fall.  It is almost certainly going to be built. 

Someone from Cincinnati is getting on Canton's case for building something they think is over the top for the city, but the riverfront in Cincinnati is filled with some or the worst architecture I have seen for a new build in a prominent area anywhere in the country.  If people should be skeptical a smaller city like Canton could support this, same could be said for Cincinnati.

 

Canton is not Flint, Michigan.  There are a lot of things going for it and it's been relatively stable.  "Worst roads in the country." Ha! Get out a little more.  I wasn't exactly impressed with the road quality in Cincy, either.

I agree - some of these comments are typical for folks who have never walked the streets of Canton. Let alone visit it. I bet most don't realize that the American Professional Football Association began in Canton in 1920 - and is the forerunner to the NFL. That's why the museum is in Canton. The museum also receives over 208,000 visitors per year. By comparison, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in downtown Cleveland receives 441,000 visitors in a much more high profile venue and location. (Both are excellent venues, FWIW.)

 

Canton is hardly a dying city. While it's population has declined, it has not drastically declined like some other cities (although the 9% dip in the last decade is worrisome). It still boasts 73,000 residents, hardly tiny.

 

It has plenty of heavy industry around. Republic Steel still employs well over 1,000 at its Canton Works. (The actual steelmaking production ended decades ago and those furnaces have long been torn down.) Timken employs over 1,000 in its northside facility. There are several refineries and petro industries on the west side that employ over 2,000. In many other cities, these industries have been replaced with shopping centers, sprawl, and service-oriented businesses; I'm glad Canton hasn't gone down that road and has a robust blue-collar workforce.

 

So Canton doesn't have endless cookie-cutter apartment complexes sprouting up at every corner. So Canton doesn't have "world class" parks built with questionable and illegally-sourced funds (I'm looking at you, Cincinnati's Smale Park). So Canton doesn't have a downtown full of retail and boutique shops (like practically every Ohio city). But it does have some great downtown breweries, amazing restaurants, some great local shops, fantastic architecture, beautiful and well-maintained neighborhoods, and a lot of potential. And best yet, the old engine plant south of downtown is being redeveloped into a great mixed-use concept.

 

And the roads are terrible? Have you never driven in the snow belt? I take it that the roads of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Detroit, Rochester, New York City, et. al. are fantastic? Hardly.

 

Stop in and say hi to Canton, rather than driving by it on the freeways and making questionable comments.

^ Lol yeah the NFL HOF is nothing like Disneyland/world, and it never will be. I think it's great that the NFL is investing a lot of money in Canton, and I certainly think the HOF could and should result in spin-off development, as there currently is literally none to speak of. It's also a good thing to think and dream big, and I think this proposal does that. But at some point, you have to be realistic. Canton is a relatively small city, with an abysmal economy. The roads are some of the worst I've ever seen in America, and many of the neighborhoods are incredibly bombed out. The city is working with a consultant just to try to figure out how it can best stop the bleeding and allocate resources to maintain the sections of the city that are functioning.

 

IMO, the NFL should invest it's money in making the HOF a real showpiece, and upgrading the entire facility and the grounds around it. They should build structured parking, install new signage, and maybe even hire a notable architect to design a new wing or facade for the hall. Adding the practice fields and overhauling the current stadium would also be nice, and I'm not opposed to a hotel there at all. But to expect a very large and strikingly contemporary designed hotel at the HOF site, which as I said before is situated between a freeway and a neighborhood of small single family homes, is unrealistic. There's just nothing else in town that's even approaches this in terms of scale or design. If the Hall were in Cleveland, then yes, I absolutely think such a design would be appropriate and plausible, because there are many contemporary buildings there, and there is a much larger tourism industry in place. As of now, who is really doing an over night in Canton just to see the HOF? Is there really such a market for luxury accommodations in Canton that's currently going unmet? I stayed at the McKinley Grand when I visited (for work) which was supposedly the nicest hotel in town, and it was very dated inside, and the exterior was hideous. To go from that to what is rendered above would be like skipping from fifth grade to senior year of high school. I could see a moderately scaled, fairly conventionally designed hotel- maybe a Hilton, Hyatt, or Mariott- but beyond that, I just don't see it.

.

 

You clearly haven't kept up with this project. You think they are going to build that hotel in a vacuum? This project encompasses a major expansion and renovation of the HOF. There will literally be an entire sports community built up around the HOF. All of the things you mentioned that you would do are already planned. I suggest you looks to the posts earlier in this thread that clearly spell out what the vision for the HOF is.

 

You can't jump into the middle of a thread after having seen one image and know what you are talking about without some context.

 

I don't mean to harp on the poster that is getting torn into a little here, but not only are those things planned, they are in full swing. Just a couple quick notes.

 

I live and work in Cleveland during the week, but I drive down to Canton to visit every weekend (right past the HoF each drive). The half of the stadium closest to the Hall has already been torn down and rebuilt this year, and it actually melds into the HoF now, as they used the same type of stone from the facade of the main Hall rotunda building as a facade for the stadium and brought it into the Hall (it's beginning to look very nice and like it was designed as a cohesive unit); the other half of the stadium reconstruction will commence after this upcoming football season ends. The youth practice fields are essentially complete with brand new field turf; they also are looking quite good. Again, not to harp, but they aren't just planned; rather full-on in the works as we type these posts. The construction will certainly continue.

Someone from Cincinnati is getting on Canton's case for building something they think is over the top for the city, but the riverfront in Cincinnati is filled with some or the worst architecture I have seen for a new build in a prominent area anywhere in the country.  If people should be skeptical a smaller city like Canton could support this, same could be said for Cincinnati.

 

That actually kind of demonstrates my point. It took years for anything to get built in Cincinnati's riverfront, and that is a location that is between 2 professional sports stadiums, a Smithsonian affiliated museum (Underground RR Freedom Center), an arena, and the Reds HOF and Museum. Not to mention it's a few blocks from a CBD that is home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other Ohio city. Similarly, Cleveland is just now seeing some retail development along North Coast Harbor, and that's an area that is home to the Rock Hall, Great Lakes Science Center, Browns Stadium, and again, blocks away from a big and healthy downtown. If these cities have struggled to attract development, let alone striking, architecturally impressive development near their tourist destinations. Why should Canton expect any better?

 

Is it not surprising that there is literally NO spin off development around the hall currently? I thought there would at least be some restaurants or a small retail strip by the Hall, but there is nothing of the sort.

 

Guess we'll see how this development shakes out.

Because the NFL and HOF have decided that what they had before- the original museum, the original stadium, and grounds around it, simply weren't enough. They're deciding to expand to keep up with the times and have people spend more money/time there.

The north side of the stadium is nearing completion (the nearest side in the photo).  Here is the latest on what the south, east and west sides of the stadium will look like.  The  north part of the stadium is where the stage will be located for inductions so the rest of the stadium is much larger for viewing the inductions and for potential concerts and other events. 

 

Hey buck1974, where did you get that very cool graphic of the south stands?  I've never seen that view with new press boxes before.

Hey buck1974, where did you get that very cool graphic of the south stands?  I've never seen that view with new press boxes before.

 

It is from a Canton McKinley High School Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/cantonmckinleycom/photos/a.919593701429764.1073741828.393430577379415/1029094247146375/?type=1&theater

Newest rendering for the stadium with the hotel in the background.

 

Thanks for the rendering buck!  I really wondered where the hotel be located.  I was initially disappointed with the design of the new stadium.  I really liked the large presence of fawcett stadium from the north side.  I'm warming up to the fact that this new stadium will be an improvement over the past.  I really do find the design interesting and am glad to see the height of the new south stands.  I am anxious to see it come together

Hall of Fame Village youth fields get first workout

By Repository staff report

Posted Jun. 19, 2016 at 7:58 PM

 

    CANTON Two national football camps came to Stark County Saturday to train the region's top talent on new youth fields on the campus of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

    Participants of NUC Sports' Ultimate 100 Elite Football Camp and Blue-Grey Football’s Canton Super Regional Circuit were the first players to use the freshly installed fields at the National Football & Youth Sports Complex, located on the Hall of Fame Village campus.

 

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20160619/hall-of-fame-village-youth-fields-get-first-workout

First seats installed at renovated Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

By Repository staff report

Posted Jun. 20, 2016 at 3:03 PM

 

    CANTON: Workers began installing permanent seats Monday in the north stands of the renovated Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

 

    Canton Mayor Tom Bernabei and Hall of Fame Board of Trustees Chairman Randy Hunt visited the stadium Monday to watch the first seats being put in place and to try them out.

 

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20160620/first-seats-installed-at-renovated-tom-benson-hall-of-fame-stadium

Drawing people from Village to a city

Community leaders say downtown Canton could benefit by associating with upgrades underway at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

By Kelly Byer 


Repository staff writer

Posted Jun. 26, 2016 at 6:40 AM

 

    The "how" is incomplete but city leaders say the "why" is evident. Downtown Canton could benefit by associating with upgrades underway at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

    "It is going to be an opportunity for Canton and this region to have its history and its values center stage for the rest of the country, maybe the rest of the world," said David Baker, president and executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

http://www.cantonrep.com/special/20160626/hof-village-chance-to-draw-people-to-downtown-canton

Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame ready to take center stage

By Craig Webb

Beacon Journal staff writer

Published: July 26, 2016 - 07:44 PM | Updated: July 27, 2016 - 07:46 AM

 

CANTON: Hey, Canton, are you ready for some football?

 

The answer from the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a resounding “yes.”

 

Just don’t mind the dust, as the hall of fame is shovel-deep in a multiyear $500 million project to reinvent itself — from within to its appearance from the highway.

 

http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/canton-s-pro-football-hall-of-fame-ready-to-take-center-stage-1.700229#

Welp, this sucks.

 

Hall of Fame Game Called Off

 

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/08/489168726/nfl-hall-of-fame-game-called-off-due-to-congealing-and-rubberized-field-paint

Pro Football Hall of Fame lands naming rights sponsor for $600M 'Disneyland for football' expansion

 

 

A Wisconsin provider of HVAC and other services for commercial buildings is taking a major plunge into sports sponsorship with a multimillion-dollar agreement for the company’s name to appear on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's new $600 million sports and entertainment village and the annual Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend.

 

Terms of the 18-year partnership with Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) were not disclosed. However, the company and the Pro Football Hall of Fame said the agreement ranks in “the top 80 percentile” of sports naming-rights deals, which would put it at more than $3 million per year.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/11/18/pro-football-hall-of-fame-lands-naming-rights.html

Bringing Johnson Controls' smart-city concept to HOF Village

By Alison Matas ©Repository staff writer

Posted Dec 27, 2016 at 6:48 AM

 

Editors' note: Johnson Controls and the Hall of Fame Village have forged a partnership that will bring innovative technology to the Hall's campus in Canton. Johnson Controls also bought naming rights to Hall of Fame Village. The Canton Repository's Alison Matas went to Johnson Controls' U.S. headquarters in Milwaukee to find out what that means and what the Village will look like. This is the first of a two-day series on Johnson Controls.

 

MILWAUKEE A room begins preheating 10 minutes in advance of a scheduled meeting. Motion sensors control lights. Cameras display entrances and exits of buildings as the pictures of the employees coming and going pop up on another screen. Temperatures of individual offices can be viewed from a tablet screen.

 

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20161227/bringing-johnson-controls-smart-city-concept-to-hof-village

Are all the renovations complete?  Or if not, when are they expected to be done? I've been trying to plan a trip out to see the HOF, but wanted to wait till the renovations are finished

Are all the renovations complete?  Or if not, when are they expected to be done? I've been trying to plan a trip out to see the HOF, but wanted to wait till the renovations are finished

 

This isn't going to be done for a couple years. This isn't a renovation, this is a complete overhaul. Lots and lots of new construction.

Making downtown Canton ‘an extension’ of Hall of Fame Village

By Alison Matas

Posted Mar 21, 2017 at 9:45 AM Updated Mar 21, 2017 at 9:54 AM

 

CANTON You can't see downtown Canton from the Pro Football Hall of Fame campus.

 

So city leaders are brainstorming ways to encourage out-of-town visitors to make the three-mile trek from Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village to the city center.

 

"We feel it's really important to do what we can to not only connect with the Hall of Fame Village, but in time, hopefully, we can make (downtown) feel like an extension of the Village," said Mike King, who chairs the Downtown Canton Special Improvement District. The district has a special "connectivity" subcommittee dedicated to brainstorming ways to link the locations.

 

http://www.cantonrep.com/special/20170321/making-downtown-canton-an-extension-of-hall-of-fame-village

Canton council OKs HOF Village development plan

Posted Apr 17, 2017 at 10:24 PM Updated Apr 17, 2017 at 10:46 PM

By Kelly Byer

 

The proposed Village consists of 107 acres roughly bordered by Fulton Road NW to the north, Helen Place NW to the south, Interstate 77 to the east, and the avenues of Clarendon, Clearview and Blake NW to the west.

 

The estimated $600 million development includes a renovated stadium, youth sports complex, a hotel, specialized centers and other mixed use development. Most components have an estimated completion date by 2019, with others under construction until 2020.

 

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20170417/canton-council-oks-hof-village-development-plan

As Hall of Fame Village breaks ground Tuesday in Canton, grand vision grows of Disney-esque impact on area

By Jim Mackinnon

Published: April 22, 2017 - 06:37 PM

 

Come Thursday night, devoted Cleveland Browns fans will anxiously watch what their team does with the coveted No. 1 and No. 12 first-round picks in the NFL Draft.

 

Come NFL Draft night in 2019, millions of anxious pro football fans around the nation might have their eyes on Canton to see who their teams will pick out of that year’s crop of top college players.

 

http://www.ohio.com/business/as-hall-of-fame-village-breaks-ground-tuesday-in-canton-grand-vision-grows-of-disney-esque-impact-on-area-1.762221#

New HOF Village hotel to be Curio by Hilton

Posted Apr 25, 2017 at 12:07 PM

By Alison Matas

 

Developers hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday at the site.

 

CANTON The four-star hotel at Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village will be part of the Hilton chain.

 

Developers hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday at Blake Avenue NW and 21st Street NW, where the hotel will be built. The football-themed property is scheduled for a summer 2019 opening and is the third component of the nine-part Village to be constructed.

 

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20170425/new-hof-village-hotel-to-be-curio-by-hilton

That looks... amazing! Holy crap. Canton is finally seeing some growth.

Too bad they took down the hotel cam. I enjoyed checking in when they were building the stadium.

 

Any word on why construction stopped and when things will pick up again?

Construction stopped on the hotel? What is the status of this project?

Too bad they took down the hotel cam. I enjoyed checking in when they were building the stadium.

 

Any word on why construction stopped and when things will pick up again?

You can be all but positive construction has not stopped. They have serious deadlines to meet for each phase. Currently it's the hotel.

 

 

Looks like a new rendering with a huge hulking "snake" along the highway.

 

I love this project.  It's great for Canton and the region.

Too bad they took down the hotel cam. I enjoyed checking in when they were building the stadium.

 

Any word on why construction stopped and when things will pick up again?

You can be all but positive construction has not stopped. They have serious deadlines to meet for each phase. Currently it's the hotel.

 

 

Looks like a new rendering with a huge hulking "snake" along the highway.

 

 

I drove by on Tuesday (northbound 77).  Is most of the construction happening away from the freeway at this point?  I noticed the new stadium more than anything, but didn't want to keep my eyes off the road for too long.  Is that where the hotel and the HOF Village will be located?