Six years ago the National Football Foundation (NFF) partnered with Atlanta Hall Management, Inc. to build a new location for the College Football Hall of Fame. The Hall was relocated from South Bend, Indiana to downtown Atlanta and the grand opening of the attraction was August 23, 2014. The Hall, located near Centennial Olympic Park and the CNN Center, measures 94,256 square feet, which includes a 45-yard indoor football field and 50,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Aerial view of Centennial Olympic Park and the College Football Hall of Fame from 20-story SkyView Atlanta Ferris wheel. Atlanta, GA.
Visitors to the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience can purchase a ticket called an “All-Access Pass.” When registering your ticket at The Quad, you type-in your name, e-mail address, and favorite college football team. In my case, it is the Arkansas Razorbacks. At that moment your personalized, interactive experience begins because “The pass has an embedded RFID chip that ‘communicates’ with the exhibits, causing a favorite team’s helmet to light up on the three-story helmet wall and providing team-specific content along the way.”
A light went on in the Arkansas Razorbacks’ helmet after registering All-Access Pass at the College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta, GA
The Quad has a Steve Penley mural on one side and the Helmet Wall on another. It is Penley’s “largest painting to date,” and, according to Penley, “The 30 foot x 36 foot mural captures the spirit and energy of the great athletes, coaches, grand pageantry and storied traditions of college football.”
Steve Penley’s 30 foot x 36 foot mural at the College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta, GA
The three-story Helmet Wall features helmets from all 768 college football teams.
Three-story Helmet Wall at the College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta, GA
Moving to the second floor, I was greeted by a staff member who, it turns out, is Terry LeCount, former University of Florida Quarterback and NFL Wide Receiver for the 49ers and Vikings.
Terry LeCount, former University of Florida QB and WR for 49ers and Vikings, at the College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta, GA
LeCount and I talked football for a while and then he took me over to a display in the Coca-Cola Fans’ Game Day area that featured an Arkansas Razorback Hog Hat from 1990 as well as a replica of former University of Alabama Coach Bear Bryant’s signature Hounds-tooth hat.
Arkansas Razorbacks’ Hog Hat and replica of Bear Bryant’s Hounds-tooth hat at College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta, GA
Not only does the Coca-Cola Fans’ Game Day gallery feature tributes to fans, mascots, cheerleaders, coaches and traditions, it also houses the College GameDay desk. As the Hall notes, “One of the centerpieces of the gallery is the interactive ESPN College GameDay Desk Built by The Home Depot. Here, fans will be able to virtually join ESPN analysts Chris Fowler and Desmond Howard at the iconic College GameDay desk to try out their best ‘not so fast my friend’ as they pick the winner of the marquee game.” The marquee game I was given to analyze was a match-up between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the LSU Tigers. Naturally, I picked the Hogs to be the clear victors in this game. At first, I appeared on the screen as myself, but later my head was transformed into that of the Razorbacks’ mascot.
Kay Mathews/Arkansas Razorbacks’ mascot at ESPN College GameDay desk. College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta, GA
LeCount urged me to go to the Game Day Theater and view the feature film “The Game of Your Life” and to make my way to Level 3, which spotlights the work of the National Football Foundation and is home to the Hall of Fame Exhibit. The former QB called the play and I ran the route, first to the theater and then to Level 3.
As the Hall states, “Spotlighting the mission and work of the National Football Foundation, the meaningful stories of the men who emerged from their playing days to be leaders in our communities are shared through interactive displays and immersive features” that are found in the Chick-fil-A Building Leaders gallery on Level 3.
Chick-fil-A Building Leaders gallery featuring mission and work of National Football Foundation at the College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta, GA
The Hall of Fame is truly a personalized, one-of-a-kind experience. Upon entering, one of the 10 augmented reality displays recognized me by name and presented Hall of Famers from the University of Arkansas including Defensive End Billy Ray Smith, Jr. and Coach Frank Broyles. The greatest of the great in college football are celebrated here. “Approximately 900 players and 200 coaches have been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame,” according to the Hall. “Approximately 5.06 million people have played college football, with only 0.02% becoming Hall of Famers.”
Inside the Hall of Fame where personalized display featured University of Arkansas inductees like Coach Frank Broyles. College Football Hall of Fame. Atlanta, GA
Appropriately, the College Football Hall of Fame recently received a 2015 Muse Award for “Interpretive Interactive Installations” from the American Alliance of Museums. The “All-Access Pass” won the Bronze, and visitors to the Hall will assuredly have a golden experience of a lifetime.
