Sports Hall of Fame coming to Calgary

Joel Kom and Kim Guttormson, with files from Rick Donkers and Renata D'Aliesio, Calgary Herald, Calgary Herald

Calgary's passion for sport and its reputation for community and corporate involvement has helped swing a deal to bring Canada's Sports Hall of Fame to the city.

Supporters will now embark on a campaign to raise $50 million to build a new facility at Canada Olympic Park and establish an endowment fund, but they took time Tuesday to bask in their success.

"There's a sense of pride and prestige in being home to a national icon," said Marco De Iaco, Tourism Calgary's vice-president of sport, culture and major events.

Guy Huntingford, CEO of the Calgary Olympic Development Association, said the 53-year-old institution will fit perfectly with CODA's plans to build an arena complex and office space for Hockey Canada and Skate Canada.

"It's certainly CODA's position that we're building a centre of sports excellence out there," Huntingford said of the COP site.

"This coincides with what we're already doing."

"There's a lot of synergies there. It'll not only be a tourism attraction, but a premier sports attraction," said Huntingford.

Grade 6 students touring Olympic Hall at COP on Tuesday were excited about the prospect of more sporting history available in the city.

"It's pretty amazing because kids get to go see some Hall of Famers and stuff. It will be good," Michael Pasco said.

Calgary beat out Toronto to become the hall's permanent home, with land secured, 58 letters of support from foundations and corporations and a grand plan to incorporate the building into the former Olympic site.

Doug Mitchell, chairman of the Calgary Sports Tourism Authority, said the city's volunteer reputation also helped.

"We're very good at giving back," he said, "and we'll give new life to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, as well."

The hall has been homeless for almost three years, removed from its location at Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition to make way for a soccer stadium.

Sheryn Posen, the hall's chief operating officer, said a permanent location will allow the hall to begin updating exhibits to better showcase the artifacts in its collection, which include George Chuvalo's boxing gloves and the skate blades Barbara Ann Scott used to win Olympic gold in 1948.

"I remember seeing a father showing his daughter skates from decades ago; you can see how far we've come and changed," she said. "The building will be state-of-the-art, with top technology and interactive exhibits. We wanted somewhere that had good prominence."

The building will cost an estimated $30 million. The next job will be coming up with detailed plans for the new hall of fame -- and how to pay for it.

Huntingford said he's hopeful the province's role in the bid process -- Culture and Community Spirit Minister Lindsay Blackett helped make the pitch Monday -- will translate into some funding.

Blackett said it will, but he's uncertain how much.

"To have a national hall of fame, a national museum, in Alberta is great. It gives us a chance to show Canadians what we will do on behalf of the rest of Canada," he said.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier said he is pleased Calgary was successful and that the city will work with CODA and the Calgary Sports Tourism Authority "to ensure the facility gets built." Funding, he expects, will come from all three levels of government and the corporate world.

Mitchell said the current economic uncertainty could make it more difficult to raise tens of millions, "but this isn't something we need to put together in the next two, three months. I think it will be all right in the long-term."

Blackett hopes the successful hall of fame bid is a sign of more to come.

Calgary and Edmonton are both vying for the National Portrait Gallery and the province has promised $40 million if either city is chosen.

Bronconnier said the city is still waiting to hear from the federal government which portrait gallery bid from across the country is successful.

The sports hall of fame and CODA would like to see the new building built in conjunction with expansion plans for COP, with an opening date of 2011 or 2012.

Source: canada.com

The Calgary Herald 2008