National
Soccer Hall of Fame Partners with Sports
Museum of America to Create Nation's
First All-Sports Museum
ONEONTA, NY (March
13, 2008) – National Soccer
Hall of Fame President Stephen Baumann announced
a partnership today with the Sports Museum
of America (SmA).
The National
Soccer Hall of Fame now joins over 50 single-sport
Halls of Fame, National Governing Bodies,
Museums and other sports organizations across
North America as a Founding Sports Partner
of the Sports Museum of America (SmA),  www.sportsmuseum.com.
Scheduled to open in New York City in May
2008, SmA is the Nation's first and only
museum to celebrate all sports under one
roof. Filled with original films, state-of-the-art
interactive exhibits/displays and an iconic
collection of memorabilia, SmA will richly
showcase the history, grandeur and significance
of sports in American culture through great
sports' stories of courage, education and
triumph.
According to Baumann,
this exciting new partnership will introduce
a broad new audience to the thrills of soccer. “The
National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum is
proud to partner with the Sports Museum of
America in furtherance of our dedication
to soccer in America,” Steve Baumann,
Hall of Fame President said. “American
soccer continues to extend its impact as
a contributor to the world's game and, of
course, New York is America’s greatest
international city. It is natural that we
join as museums to further the work to energize
participation, inspire excellence, and celebrate
achievement in the world's most popular sport.
We expect our partnership will introduce
many more individuals and families to the
history and uniqueness of the 'beautiful
game'.”
"The Sports
Museum of America is extremely pleased to
have the National Soccer Hall of Fame join
our more than 50 exclusive sports partner
organizations to create the first comprehensive
museum of sports," says Founder and
CEO Philip Schwalb. "Soccer holds a
special place in American sports culture.
We’re a nation filled with soccer moms,
families and kids. We look forward to sharing
soccer’s tremendous legacy -- from past
stars of American soccer like Billy Gonsalves
and Pele to the newest Hall of Fame Players,
Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, to the stars of
tomorrow -- with our millions of visitors.
We’re particularly proud to count Hall
of Famers Julie Foudy and Michelle Akers
and soccer legend Claudio Reyna among our
prestigious Honorary Board. We’ll also
excite our fans about the National Soccer
Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York, and encourage
them to visit there for the ultimate celebration
of soccer."
Under the terms
of the partnership, the National Soccer Hall
of Fame will provide archival soccer materials,
such as the 1973 NASL Championship Trophy,
Michelle Akers Day Proclamation by the State
of Washington and Hall of Famer Alexi Lalas’ New
England Revolution jersey. Other memorabilia
pertaining to the history of soccer and of
interest to the projected one million worldwide
annual visitors to SmA will be sent on a
rotating basis. Likewise, joint promotional
efforts will be undertaken by both partners,
and SmA will make an annual donation to support
the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
In addition to
the artifacts and soccer memorabilia from
the National Soccer Hall of Fame, SmA will
also feature high-profile soccer artifacts
such as Mia Hamm’s World Cup jersey
and the sports bra Brandi Chastain made famous
during the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
SmA is widely
anticipated to be a vibrant new addition
to the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan by
significantly increasing commercial and tourist
activity in the area.
The Mission of the National Soccer Hall
of Fame is to Celebrate the History,
Honor the
Heroes,
Inspire the Youth and Preserve the Legacy
of Soccer in the United States.
Located
in Oneonta, NY, the National Soccer Hall
of Fame opened a new 30,000 sq.ft.,
state-of-the-art multimedia museum in
1999 and is open every day of the year
except
Christmas, New Year’s, and Thanksgiving.
The Hall of Fame tells the story of soccer
in America through artifacts, photographs,
video and written narratives. The main VideoWall
portrays some of the greatest moments and
the greatest goals in soccer history as well
as live soccer action from the World Cup,
MLS, and U.S. Soccer matches. The Hall features
an extensive interactive, youth oriented
Kicks Zone, including a kid-sized indoor
field, where visitors have fun kicking, heading
and playing computer trivia stations and
video soccer games. Unique and rare artifacts
on exhibit range from The Dewar Cup, the
oldest team trophy in U.S. Sport, to the
Women’s World Cup won by the USA in
1999, the uniforms of Pele and Mia Hamm’s,
Kristine Lilly’s golden shoes, NASL
championship rings, and MLS championship
trophies. That and so much more are all at
the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In addition
to the interactive Museum, the National Soccer
Hall of Fame’s 61-acre complex boasts
the Kicks Hall of Fame Museum Store,
a research library, four world-class
soccer
fields and
office/meeting facilities.
The
Sports Museum of America (SmA) is the
nation's first and only all-sports
experience richly showcasing the history,
grandeur and significance of sports
in American culture. Created in exclusive
partnership with over 50 single-sport
Halls of Fame, National Governing Bodies
and other sports organizations across
North America, SmA features amazing
state-of-the-art interactive technologies,
dramatic original films and an iconic
collection of sports memorabilia. SmA
will also be home to the legendary
Heisman Trophy (and annual televised
presentation) and the Billie Jean King
International Women's Sports Center,
including the first Women's Sports
Hall of Fame. Located in New York City
at 26 Broadway (next to the “Charging
Bull” and footsteps from the Statue
of Liberty Ferry), the Sports Museum
of America will open in May 2008. www.sportsmuseum.com
Contacts:
Jack Huckel 607.432.3351 x209 or jack@soccerhall.org
Rubenstein Communications, Inc. – Public
Relations
Alison Hendrie 212.843.8029 or Ahendrie@rubenstein.com
Sports Museum of America
(SmA)
Barbara Pflughaupt 212.837.7962 or Barbara@thesportsmuseum.com
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