Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Location: 58 Jackson St. West, Hamilton, Ontario
![[IMAGE]](hall.h3.jpg)
In
1962, the City of Hamilton under Mayor Lloyd D. Jackson's direction petitioned the
Canadian Football League (CFL) for the privilege of housing the Canadian Football Hall of
Fame. After Mayor Jackson's successful presentation, the CFL awarded the city the right to
build the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Since there was no building to store the CFL's memorabilia, the Hamilton Parks Board made an old residence near the Civic Stadium, now known as Ivor Wynne Stadium temporarily available. The items were displayed for the public until a few months later, when the Parks Board informed the CFL the building had been sold to the Hamilton Board of Education for the construction of a new secondary school. Therefore, a new building to store the historic football memorabilia needed to be found.
After 1962, many proposals were presented suggesting the final location of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Seven years later, the City of Hamilton and the CFL decided to use the land beside City Hall and the Hamilton Public Library on Main Street West in downtown Hamilton. There were many obstacles to building on the site. The first of many problems was that the land actually belonged to the Hamilton Public Library and they were proposing to expand their facilities. However, they were willing to incorporate the Hall of Fame into their new structure. The CFL did not concur with the Library's plans as they felt the Canadian Football Hall of Fame should have its own identity and building. Thus, the city continued to look for other alternatives. The city proposed to purchase the land behind the rear of the old library, but the Hamilton Public Library said it would charge $500,000 unless the city guaranteed a site in the new square under suitable leasing terms. Once an agreement was made with the library, fund-raising for the project began. Ralph Cooper Construction Ltd agreed to build the Hall of Fame at a discount due to the historical importance of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
The fund-raising campaign officially started in 1968. The building was to be modern with large glass windows, steel beams and marble floors. The total cost of the building was expected to reach $400,000. In 1972, the building was completed and the grand opening of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame was held during the Grey Cup weekend. This was particularly fortunate since Hamilton was hosting the Grey Cup.
Visitors to the Hall of Fame were numerous immediately following the official opening. However, during the first year of operation, attendance dropped off drastically. The Hall of Fame lost $30,000 in its first year in the new location. The decrease in visitors was attributed to a lack of local interest and the competition of other historical sites in Hamilton-Wentworth. The City of Hamilton approved the construction of a sign that would clearly point out where the Football Hall of Fame was located in an effort to increase business. According to the Hamilton Spectator, attendance levels in 1973 averaged approximately two to three people an hour. In 1979, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame attempted to improve attendance by allowing any Canadian professional or amateur football player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame also attempted to achieve recognition by participating in other events such as 1987 Vancouver parade. Ironically, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame won first for the best float. These efforts promoted the Hall of Fame and made it a more identifiable cultural site.
In 1996, the Hall of Fame proposed $1,000,000 in renovations for the interior and exterior of the building which was to be completed within 5 months. The renovations were expected to take place following the 1996 Grey Cup which was hosted by Hamilton. Even though the renovations have not begun, plans are still in place for the remodelling. In fact, the Facility Director, Janice Smith envisions a more interactive Hall of Fame and wants to change the image of the building. Although attendance has been poor in the past, there has been an 47% increase in attendance from approximately 6360 visitors in 1994 to 12,000 visitors in 1995. Smith anticipates the attendance will increase to 25,000 people annually.
Since 1963, the Hall of Fame has collected equipment and artifacts which have accumulated into a collection that contains over 30,000 different football related items from the early 1900's to the present. Over the years, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame has held many special events including special visits by professional football players and exhibits.
Today the Canadian Football Hall of Fame has a lot to offer including colour slides of retired players, television tapes of memorable plays, push button computers with Canadian football trivia, photographs of each Grey Cup game since 1909, instructional diagrams of football plays, displays of new and old equipment, and a 100 seat theatre where previous Grey Cups movies are shown. The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is invaluable resource for Canadian football history and is a significant part of Hamilton culture and heritage.
References:
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame Scrapbook. Vol. 1 and 2, Special
Collections, HPL.
Central Library Scrapbook. Vol. 1, Special Collections, HPL.
George, Bill, and LarrySmith. Canadian Football Hall of Fame: sir itur ad astra.
Dofasco.
Links:
Canadian Football League - Canadian
Football Hall of Fame
Offical Hamilton Tiger-Cats Homepage
