2012 ENSHRINEMENT FESTIVAL PRESS KIT WWW.PROFOOTBALLHOFEF.COM INSIDE THIS PRESS KIT Welcome Letter Credential Pick-Up & Media Check-in Instructions Media Policies for the Enshrinement Festival 2012 Festival Event Schedule Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival History Enshrinement Festival Timeline Image Library with Contact Sheet 2012 Enshrinement Festival Guide with Enshrinee Bios Hot Air Balloon FAQs Balloon Classic Invitational History Drum Corps Competitor Fact Sheet Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival NEWS RELEASES WELCOME! Welcome to Canton! Thank you for your interest in the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival – A One of a Kind Celebration! – presented by the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Each year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival is happy to welcome media from across the nation. The staff and a volunteer team of more than 4,200 are prepared to accommodate your needs to the best of our ability. Although some requests may not be possible, the staff will do their very best to help you meet your story or photographic needs. There are many things to see and do during your stay in Canton for our 49th anniversary. Inside this Press Kit, you’ll find information to help make your stay more exciting. Our city overflows with heroes and history; please let our staff know if you would like more information about what Canton has to offer. Thank you, and enjoy the Enshrinement Festival! Sincerely, Joanne K. Murray, Director Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival MEDIA CONTACTS Jess Bennett Monique Thompson Director of Marketing Events & Media Assistant 330.417.7715 330.313.5940 [email protected] [email protected] CREDENTIAL PICK-UP & CHECK-IN INSTRUCTIONS All media personnel will be required to display Enshrinement Festival-issued credentials at all times. Please reference the event-specific credential pick-up instructions below: BALLOON CLASSIC / JACKSON-BELDEN FOOD FEST General Event Coverage / Evening Launches Friday, July 20 & Saturday, July 21 - MUST check-in for field access between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Fri. Kent State Stark / Stark State College, 6000 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton, Ohio Pick-up credentials and field wrist bands at the Public Service Announcer’s Tent near the field entrance. FASHION SHOW LUNCHEON Friday, Aug. 3 - check-in at 11 a.m. Canton Memorial Civic Center, 1101 Market Avenue N, Canton, Ohio Pick-up credentials at the media check-in in the vestibule on the Southeast corner of the building near Section #11. ENSHRINEES DINNER Friday, Aug. 3 - check-in by 6:30 p.m. Canton Memorial Civic Center, 1101 Market Avenue N, Canton, Ohio Pick-up credentials at the media check-in in the vestibule on the Southeast corner of the building near Section #11. TIMKEN GRAND PARADE Saturday, Aug. 4 Pick-up credentials on Friday, Aug. 3 at the Canton Memorial Civic Center between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. There will be no on site check-in for the Timken Grand Parade the day of the event. Please pick-up credentials at the media check-in center location at the Civic Center (see Fashion Show Luncheon or Enshrinee Dinner events for details) or call (330) 458-2071 to coordinate pickup. ENSHRINEES GAMEDAY ROUND TABLE Sunday, Aug. 5 - check-in at 12 p.m. Canton Memorial Civic Center, 1101 Market Avenue N, Canton, Ohio Pick-up credentials at the media check-in in the vestibule on the Southeast corner of the building near Section #11. DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION Monday, Aug. 6 at 6:30 p.m. Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, 1 Paul Brown Drive SE, Massillon, Ohio Pick-up credentials at will-call at the main entrance of the west side of the stadium. FESTIVAL MEDIA POLICIES BALLOON CLASSIC: POLICIES & PERMITTED AREAS Members of the media who wish to have access to the field for photographs and to speak with pilots and crew may do so only after obtaining a wrist-band and signing a waiver. INDOOR EVENTS: DESIGNATED SEATING & PERMITTED AREAS FOR MEDIA Upon arrival to Indoor Enshrinement Festival events that require media credentials, all media personnel will be escorted to designated seating and must remain in that area, or in the designated “Media Center,” located adjacent to the Media Check-in table in the ticket lobby of the Canton Memorial Civic Center. Access to the Civic Center’s floor will be limited and all members of the media must be escorted by a member of the media relations staff when accessing the Civic Center floor. **Photographers are encouraged to bring appropriate lenses to achieve the desired shots. During the Civic Center events, photographers will be provided access to the stage perimeter at designated times. Media relations staff will coordinate this access. PARADE: POLICIES & PERMITTED AREAS FOR MEDIA Media are not permitted in the television viewing area during the parade. Media personnel are asked NOT to obstruct the progress of the parade at any time and NOT to approach parade units and participants on the street during the parade. The parade must remain forward-moving at all times. CIVIC CENTER MEDIA CENTER & AUDIO VISUAL A MEDIA CENTER will be provided at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. Limited access to Wi-Fi Internet access will be available. A multimedia box with audio and visual access is available in the arena at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. TICKETED EVENTS/FOOD AND BEVERAGE Except for light refreshments, food and beverage service will not be provided for media personnel. Media representatives are welcome to purchase ticket(s) for food and beverage events by calling the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival ticket manager at (330) 458-2048. Requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. PARKING Regrettably, we are unable to provide a designated area for media parking during the events. Parking is available in the Cultural Center for the Arts parking deck, adjacent to the Canton Memorial Civic Center, or at nearby surface lots for a nominal fee. Early arrival is suggested, as traffic does become congested. **Due to facility construction and safety logistics, satellite trucks cannot be accommodated at Canton Memorial Civic Center. FESTIVAL MEDIA POLICIES CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS You must be on assignment by an accredited media outlet to be considered for credentials. As is consistent with NFL policy, and due to space limitations, we cannot credential Web sites that are not affiliated with a news organization or an NFL broadcast partner. Individuals picking up their credentials will be required to show a photo ID. An assignment letter from a recognized media outlet will be required for requests from freelancer writers and photographers. Credentials will be issued in the name of the person identified on the application. Media/photographic equipment may be subject to search by Enshrinement Festival security personnel. Credentials are not transferable, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Committee reserves the right to limit and or reject any request at its discretion. This information is provided to help ensure your media needs are met and that your experience in Canton is an enjoyable one. Thank you for your interest in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival! DISCLAIMER Audio, video, photographic, and/or any other devices used for reproducing images and sounds of said events are prohibited without express consent from Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival (Festival) in the way of media credentials or other specific authorization. Use of such credentials is limited to accredited media and others as specifically approved by Festival. Further, credentials are offered to the media for the sole purpose of reporting the events and depicting the same through written, audio, video, photographic media. All secondary, non-editorial, or commercial use of video, audio, photographic recordings, or other materials obtained through the use of media credentials is expressly prohibited. 2012 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE BALLOON CLASSIC/JACKSON-BELDEN FOOD FEST & FIREWORKS Friday, July 20, 6 a.m. and 4 – 11:30 p.m., Saturday, July 21, 6 a.m. and 4 – 11:30 p.m., Sunday, July 22, 6 a.m. Kent State University at Stark & Stark State College Campuses CONCERT AND FIREWORKS Saturday, July 28, 6 p.m., Downtown Canton, Cornerstone Square 2-MILE AND 5-MILE RACES Sunday, July 29, 8 a.m., Pro Football Hall of Fame COMMUNITY PARADE Sunday, July 29, 2:30 p.m. Downtown Canton RIBS BURNOFF Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, August 1- 3, 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily, Stark County Fairgrounds FIRST PLAY 2012 Thursday, August 2, 10 a.m., Downtown Canton to the Pro Football Hall of Fame DEDICATION OF RALPH WILSON, JR. PRO FOOTBALL RESEARCH & PRESERVATION CENTER GRAND OPENING OF EXPANDED PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Friday, August 3, 10:00 a.m., Pro Football Hall of Fame FASHION SHOW LUNCHEON Friday, August 3, 11:30 a.m., Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center CLASS OF 2012 MEDIA AVAILABILITY (PRESS CONFERENCE) Friday, August 3, 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. Main Lobby, McKinley High School ENSHRINEES’ GOLD JACKET DINNER Friday, August 3, 5:15 p.m., Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center FRIDAY NIGHT RECEPTION AT THE HALL OF FAME Friday, August 3, 6 p.m., Pro Football Hall of Fame TIMKEN GRAND PARADE Saturday, August 4, 8 a.m., Downtown Canton MOUNTED MEMORIES AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS Saturday, August 4, Noon, Pro Football Hall of Fame ENSHRINEMENT CELEBRATION FAN PARTY Saturday, August 4, 4 to 6 p.m., Pro Football Hall of Fame CLASS OF 2012 ENSHRINEMENT Saturday, August 4, 7 p.m., Fawcett Stadium ENSHRINEES GAMEDAY ROUNDTABLE Sunday, August 5, 12:30 p.m., Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center CLASS OF 2012 AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS Sunday, August 5, 3 p.m., Pro Football Hall of Fame FAN APPRECIATION TAILGATE PARTY Sunday, August 5, 5 to 7 p.m., Pro Football Hall of Fame DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION Monday, August 6, 6:30 p.m., Paul Brown Tiger Stadium HALL OF FAME & FESTIVAL HISTORY THE HALL AND FESTIVAL THEN … On September 17, 1920, a group of men gathered in downtown Canton, Ohio, at the Hupmobile showroom of Ralph Hay, owner of the hometown Bulldogs; the building is now known as the Frank T.