VillageVillage VoiceVoice A look at the Hall of Fame Village and what it means to the community Free Darrick Boord - History in Public Spaces - Dr. Leslie Heaphy - Kent State University Spring 2017 On the horizon A look at what’s coming to the Hall of Fame Image courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Fame A rendering of the proposed Johnson Controls Pro Football Hall of Fame Village. Grand plans see Hall as ‘most inspiring place on earth’ By DARRICK BOORD ent, is in the middle of not only the expected to have an impact of more seum, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Kent State University largest undertaking in its history, than $15 billion over 25 years, ac- Stadium, four-star Hilton hotel and The Professional Football Hall but one of the largest projects of cording to a study by Convention conference center, National Foot- of Fame has big plans for the near any kind ever attempted in Ohio. Sports and Leisure. First proposed ball and Youth Sports Complex, future. The Johnson Controls Pro Football in 2014, the Village consists of nine Main Street Hall of Fame Village, The Hall, dedicated to the greats Hall of Fame Village is an ap- major components, including the Center for Excellence, Performance of American football past and pres- proximately $600 million project Pro Football Hall of Fame Mu- See HORIZON, Page 3 Village to Neighbors want to know what’s in store for them By DARRICK BOORD excitement as much of the rest of the tion from officials – not just from the have huge Kent State University city and county. Hall, but from local governments and Neighbors in the immediate vicin- Two residents of Clarendon Street, other agencies as well. economic ity of the Pro Football Hall of Fame just up from most of the construction “They’re not being up front with and the proposed Hall of Fame vil- and activity at the Hall, are upset at us,” said Rocio Strohmeyer. “I mean, impact lage don’t all share the same sense of what they see as a lack of communica- See NEIGHBORS, Page 7 By DARRICK BOORD Kent State University The Johnson Controls Meet the HOF Village’s key players Pro Football Hall of Fame Village is antici- By Canton Repository staff pated to have a tremen- Reprinted with permission from The Repository, June 6, 2015 dous economic impact not only on Canton, but It’s taken a village to craft on all of Stark County the framework for a Pro and the Northeast Ohio Football Hall of Fame at- region. traction. “I think that is a the Individuals and orga- most influential devel- nizations from public and opment in decades in private sectors, and local our region,” said Ally- and global companies, have son Bussey, president of signed on to participate Visit Canton – formerly in a massive overhaul of the Stark County Con- the land surrounding the vention and Visitor’s Hall of Fame. Leaders have Bureau. “When is the lauded it as a boon to the last time someone has local economy. invested over $600 So who are the prospec- million into anything? tive players with Hall of Upon completion, the Fame Village? Hall of Fame Village THE POWERHOUSE will drive billions of dol- Photo courtesy of Pro Football Hall of Fame The 6-foot-9 president lars of impact by people The Hall of Fame Village Master Plan team includes, from left, David Baker, President of and executive director of who do not live or work the Pro Football Hall of Fame; Stuart Lichter, President and Chairman of Industrial Re- the Pro Football Hall of See IMPACT, Page 6 alty Group; Bill Krueger, Principal of Convention Sports and Leisure; and Dennis Saunier, See PLAYERS, Page 3 President and CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. Page 2 Village Voice - Darrick Boord - History in Public Spaces - Dr. Leslie Heaphy - Kent State University Spring 2017 Naming rights deal shows value of values By TODD PORTER Reprinted with permission from A behind-the-scenes look at how Hall of Fame The Repository, Nov, 20, 2016 CANTON — On Aug. 10, the temperature in Stark County ticked Village and Johnson Controls came together above 90 degrees. It was humid, Fame Village project, a mixed-used company. It enhanced it. Hall. It wasn’t just IRG. It was all too, as David Baker waited to board sports entertainment facility with “It’s karma,” said Saunier, who three of us really connected in the a private jet sent to Akron-Canton nine components, that could en- is good friends with Baker. “If you process. I came back on that air- Airport. It was a flight that could sure dreams become reality. Baker do the right things, right things will plane thinking, ‘These are exactly make a big difference for the Hall and Lichter have long said the happen. When you think it’s your the type of people we want to be in of Fame Village development. project would need outside capital. darkest hour, there’s light at the a world-class project with.’” At 6-foot-9 and nearly 400 They scored their biggest win to end of the tunnel. I think it shows “To have partners of this qual- pounds, Baker, the president of the date in Milwaukee on a hot sum- when things happen and you’re ity at the table with us is incredibly Pro Football Hall of Fame, wasn’t mer day. man enough to step up and take important,” Lichter said. feeling the heat — literally or figu- “We started thinking about nam- responsibility, people respect that.” Soon, Johnson Controls and Hall ratively. He was, however, facing ing rights probably eight months Johnson Controls is a contract- of Fame Village signed an exclusiv- his first real crisis as the Hall’s ago,” Baker said. ing company whose reputation is ity agreement. That meant the Hall leader. His past, present and future only as good as the integrity behind would not negotiate naming rights met at a crossroads as the corpo- How it came together the work it produces. with any other company through rate jet, sent by Johnson Controls, The Hall of Fame retained the “Deeply ingrained in our culture September. taxied down the runway. representation of Premier Ventures is the measure of a person’s char- “We weren’t sure we wanted to Three days earlier, Baker had to seek a naming-rights partner. acter, and their integrity is not seen have that exclusivity because there stood before a national television Jeff Marks, president and co- in the best of times, it’s measured were some others interested,” audience and announced the can- founder of Premier, visited Canton at the worst of times,” Metcalf- Baker said. “When we flew out cellation of the Hall of Fame Game. in August for this Kupres said. “It’s there, I wasn’t sure if this was a A mistake in field-paint prepara- year’s enshrine- “If you do the how we deal with three-year deal or 18 years. I didn’t tion caused the turf to be ruled ment. tough challenges know if this was naming a build- unplayable. Marks’ company right things, right and tough decisions ing or naming the Village. ... I went As media outlets from Canton was retained to things will happen. and how we man- there thinking there was probably to New York focused on the previ- find like-minded age relationships a sexier partner out there. When ous two days, Baker’s attention, partners with the When you think it’s and expectations I came back, I looked to Stu and as he stood on the tarmac waiting Hall of Fame. The your darkest hour, and make choices said, ‘These guys are the perfect for the plane, was on the future of perfect partner was around the right partner for us. They believe the Hall of Fame Village, a nearly $600 located 480 miles there’s light at the things. That defines same things we believe.’ million development that could away, about halfway end of the tunnel the measure of the “As I look at this agreement, I reshape the economic landscape of up the west coast of people we work with think it’s going to be very good for Stark County. Lake Michigan. ... When things and the opportuni- the greater community. They have Baker and Stuart Lichter, presi- Eric Bechtel is happen and you’re ties we pursue.” an interest in tying in the rest of dent and chairman of Industrial founder and presi- “That set off the the city.” Realty Group, were about to fly dent of IdeaQuest, man enough to right tone that we to Wisconsin for one of the most a company similar step up and take were dealing with a Working through details important meetings of their profes- to Premier. Johnson wonderful compa- It took about 16 weeks to get the sional careers. The Hall of Fame Controls retained responsibility, ny,” Lichter said. deal signed. It is a complicated 187- and IRG formed a development IdeaQuest because people respect “The way David page contract. partnership that has become Hall it was interested in and his team han- Lindesmith, in charge of spon- of Fame Village. expanding its brand that.” dled that situation sorships and Gold Jacket relations They were heading to Milwaukee marketing beyond — it was an unfor- for the Hall, landed the biggest for an initial meeting with Johnson ‑Dennis Saunier, CEO, Canton tunate situation and business-to-busi- Regional Chamber of Commerce contract of her career. George Controls CEO Alex Molinaroli and ness consumers.