Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame

[SteelTown]

Hamilton sports hall of fame?
City athletic giants at morning announcement

November 23, 2009
Garry McKay
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/677781
The creation of a Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame is expected to be announced today.

A news conference has been called for 11 a.m. at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and organizers are calling it a celebration of the history of sports in Hamilton, with a major announcement scheduled to be made.

Brian Lewis, chairperson of the organizing committee, declined to say what the announcement would be, but The Spectator has learned it is anticipated to be the creation of Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame.

A number of luminaries from the city's sports history including Harry Howell, John McGrane, Paula Schnurr, Sue Palmer-Komar, Ric Nattress, Cecelia Carter-Smith, Bill Friday, Angelo Mosca, Bob Krouse and Mel Laforme are scheduled to be in attendance.

[SteelTown]

There was talk years ago about relocating the Canadian Football Hall of Fame to the Lister Block.

So perhaps locate the Sports Hall of Fame to the Lister Block?

[SteelTown]

Sports hall of fame for Hamilton
City athletic giants at morning announcement

November 23, 2009
Garry McKay
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/677781
This city is finally going to have a place to honour its greatest athletes.

Beginning next spring, the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame will begin inducting the folks who’ve represented this town in athletics over the years. The project, which was announced at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame yesterday, will start as an online hall with hopes of finding a physical home soon.

Dozens of sports stars of the past attended the announcement, making it a living preview of what the place will probably look like someday.

“It’s about time we start to recognize the great sports legacies that are in our community,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

For more information, log onto hamiltonsportshalloffame.com

[SteelTown]

So where do you think they should locate to?

Lister Block?
95 King St East?
Forgot the name of the place, it's on King St North facing Gore Park and next to HSBC building. I think at one time it had a Napoleon statue in front of the building. It's abandon right now. Would fit in nicely with the the Gore Park Master Plan.
Treble Hall?
Main floor of City Centre where it's currently our City Hall, could fit in nicely with the new York Boulevard streetscape.

[realcity]

My money is Lister.... but where? on the ground floor? it would occupy ALL the retail space.

I would like to see it on a parking lot in a new building.

[SteelTown]

I rather have the place fill up a vacant spot before building new at a parking lot.

[SteelTown]

The mayor suggested having it at the Pan American stadium.

[SteelTown]

City sports hall is born
Living in cyberspace, but could find a home at Pan Am stadium

November 24, 2009
John Kernaghan
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/678345

Hamilton's Sports Hall of Fame, which launched yesterday as an online entity, is a prime candidate for physical space at the city's Pan Am stadium, said some supporters.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said the new hall, along with the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and other interests, could be packaged together in the stadium "to make something spectacular" at the facility to be built for the 2015 Games.

The city is expecting a report in February outlining business cases for several stadium sites.

Eisenberger favours the west harbour site near Bay and Barton streets.

"What better place than the stadium site?" seconded Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP for Hamilton Mountain. "This Hall of Fame is the icing on the cake."

But the sports hall's chair, Brian Lewis, said the nascent organization would wait until it saw the kind of public accessibility the recommended site offers.

Meantime, football Hall of Fame executive director Mark DeNobile said the hall's board is considering the new stadium option, also with accessibility as a key aspect.

In a ceremony at the football Hall of Fame, Lewis introduced the Hamilton sports hall as a mission to celebrate the athletes and officials "who have achieved the highest standard of excellence while representing Hamilton."

He said the organizing board of directors is ready to accept selection committee nominations immediately. Nominations can be sent to info@hamiltonsportshalloffame.com.

The organizing board is also looking for patrons to support the early stages of the hall.

A selection committee will be unveiled by the end of January, nominations called for in February, inaugural nominees named in April and an inductions ceremony held in June.

Lewis said the Pan Am stadium presents a unique opportunity but noted the hall is looking at temporary space at the renovated City Hall and a mobile exhibition to take to schools and community groups.

The football hall's theatre was bursting yesterday with stars from many sports such as Ticat legend Angelo Mosca, Olympic and pro soccer standout John McGrane and two-time Olympians Sue Palmer-Komar and Josh McGuire, who competed in cycling and fencing, respectively.

"This is long overdue," said McGrane. "There are so many great Hamilton people in sports who should be honoured. Just to be mentioned with them is incredible for me."

He says a stadium location makes great sense to house the hall.

[realcity]

I like the idea being down near the PanAm Stadium. Maybe some of the critical mass will help the poor empty Marine Discovery Centre.... with two museums.