Our craftsmen and project managers developed this integrated interactive X1 wall design and turned it into a reality. In order to achieve the grid system on the back wall, we engineered a custom aluminum framing system. This system held both the dual-finish gradient panels into place as well as the lower fabric graphics of the Houston Texans, which are easily interchangeable. The large X1 wall features light box graphics, a custom backlit acrylic logo, and provides fans the opportunity to experience the new X1 Entertainment Operating System on the main monitor. The entire project was completed just in time for the Texans first pre-season home game, and will continue to intrigue football fans in Houston at Super Bowl 51.

The state-of-the-art TSN Theatre is home to a groundbreaking, original 3D film, entitled Stanley’s Game Seven (3D). The film tells the story of the greatest game on earth as it’s never been told before by celebrating the pursuit of the most iconic trophy in sport — The Stanley Cup.

Stanley’s Game Seven combines a stunning mix of original live action, computer generated 3D animation, and classic archival footage of some of the most renowned playoff moments in Stanley Cup history. The 22 minute film plays at the top and half past the hour in the Hockey Hall of Fame’s new TSN Theatre and is included in the price of admission.

The TSN Theatre has 125 comfortable seats set in a tiered theatre-style and the 10 foot high by 25 foot wide high-definition, 3D presentation will have you on the edge of your seat.

Had the outcomes been more favorable, Ray Billows’ legacy in amateur golf might be viewed a bit differently. Billows, instead, is remembered for the championships he didn’t win. Three times, the Wisconsin native and longtime Poughkeepsie, N.Y., resident reached the final match of the U.S. Amateur, only to come up short.

Despite all those close calls, Billows is regarded as one of the finest amateurs of his era. The USGA Golf Museum is celebrating his success with an exhibit entitled Ray Billows – The Cinderella Kid. The memorabilia on display includes the three silver medals he earned in the U.S. Amateur along with contestant badges from his two USA Walker Cup appearances in 1938 at the Old Course at St. Andrews and 1949 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y. World War II disrupted his chance to compete on two additional Walker Cup Teams.

Born in Fond du Lac, Wis., in 1914, Billows learned and fell in love with the game by working as a caddie in Racine, Wis. After high school, a then-18-year-old Billows secured a job with the Western Publishing Company and was transferred to its new facility in Poughkeepsie, where he remained until his retirement in 1969.

In between, the self-taught Billows, who passed away in 2000, continued to play the game, winning the first of his record-seven New York State Amateur titles in 1935 at Winged Foot, making a 10-foot putt on the 37th hole to defeat Jack Creavy in the championship match.

The New York Times dubbed him the “Cinderella Kid” because he arrived at the championship in a beat-up Ford Model T, didn’t have any money to pay for a caddie and, according to the Times,  slept in his car following a qualifying round. Another report had him sleeping on the clubhouse porch, while there’s a report he slept in the locker room. He was later offered room and meals in the clubhouse by two generous Winged Foot members.

Billows qualified for 15 U.S. Amateurs, reaching the final in 1937 at Alderwood Country Club in Portland, Ore.; 1939 at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill.; and 1948 at Memphis (Tenn.) Country Club. The first of those defeats came at the hands of 1933 U.S. Open champion Johnny Goodman. Marvin (Bud) Ward beat him two years later and then after World War II and the resumption of USGA championships, Willie Turnesa beat Billows, 2 and 1, in Memphis.

In his 15 U.S. Amateur appearances, Billows won 74 percent of his matches.

During World War II, Billows was stationed in Utica, N.Y., and during his off-hours, he provided golf instruction to some of the wounded and handicapped patients at Rhoads General Hospital.

In 1940, Billows was invited to his second Masters (he also competed in 1939) following his runner-up finish in the previous year’s U.S. Amateur. In his first Masters appearance in 1939, Billows played a practice round with nine-time USGA champion and club co-founder Bob Jones and he later wrote to him, expressing his appreciation of the opportunity. Jones later wrote back to Billows and during the third round of the 1940 Masters, Billows aced the par-3 16th hole with an 8-iron.

The ball used to make the hole-in-one, and the typed and signed letter from Jones to Billows, is part of the exhibit, a gift from Barbara and Roy Tilles.

Upon his retirement from competitive golf, Billows was inducted into the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame in 1967, the Dutchess (N.Y.) County Golf Hall of Fame in 1993 and the New York State Golf Hall of Fame in 2012. In addition to his seven New York State Amateur titles, Billows won five Jess Sweetser Cups, the Milwaukee Open, the Metropolitan Open, Eastern Amateur, and was a 14-time Dutchess Golf Club champion.

David Shefter is a senior staff writer for the USGA. Email him at [email protected].

Minnesota Vikings fans can now experience the team’s past and present in a 10,000-square-foot interactive space inside the new U.S. Bank Stadium. Designed and fabricated by Dimensional Innovations, the Vikings Voyage provides fans with a dynamic experience that is free for fans of all ages.

“As an organization, we constantly look to innovate and provide the best fan experience possible, and our approach was no different with the addition of the Vikings Voyage,” said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf. “The Voyage brings fans together, allowing them to engage with their family and friends while celebrating Vikings history.”

Within the innovative space, fans will have the opportunity to participate in combine-themed events, including catching passes while wearing a virtual reality Vikings helmet, running a shuttle drill against a current Vikings player’s pace, and hitting a tackling sled that measures impact force. The space allows fans to track scores and compete against others at the various stations by wearing bracelets connected to the RFID system.

“We came to DI to help us develop how this could be a mix of your traditional hall of fame experience – something that’s got the artifacts and memorabilia, but also something that can be fun and interactive for fans of all ages,” said Jenny Haag, Senior Manager of Stadium Partnership for the Minnesota Vikings.

Along with competitive games, the Voyage includes a full-size ship hull that features a 30-foot projection screen displaying historic and modern-day Vikings footage. Fans can also learn about the history of the Vikings uniform and pads through a transparent organic light-emitting diode (OLED) uniform interactive – the first of its kind in an NFL stadium – that will showcase changes in equipment and materials over the course of the franchise’s history. Vikings legends were also brought to life within the space. The enormity of Cris Carter’s incredible receiving record is captured by hanging 1,000 chrome footballs from the ceiling in a visually stunning display. Fans can also sit right beside the Purple People Eaters, providing a great photo opportunity for fans of all ages. And ‘Lore of the North’ features nostalgic and iconic elements from the teams’ history that are carefully displayed with photos and graphics to tell their story.

“DI is thrilled to be involved with the project, and it gave us the opportunity to showcase so many of our capabilities: design, fabrication, innovation, technology and more. But the real excitement is seeing fans using and enjoying the space,” Brent Haag, Account Director for Dimensional Innovations Sports Practice.

For more information, please contact Quincy Morris of Dimensional Innovations at 913.617.3494 or qmorris@dimin. Dimensional Innovations specializes in designing and building immersive fan experiences and has worked with numerous MLB, NFL, NBA, MLS and NHL teams.

About Dimensional Innovations

We are DI. We are a curious and creative bunch of people who believe in good, old-fashioned
American craftsmanship.

Combine a team of graphic designers and brand strategists with filmmakers and architects, then take interior, interactive and environmental designers and connect them to a team of digital engineers, throw in an innovation lab, then bolt on a 70,000 square-foot modern workshop where we can build just about anything and, well, you’ve got us. We are like an idea factory, with an actual factory inside.

Together, we are designers, makers and innovators of world-class experiences, places and products. And we make you look remarkably good. www.dimin.com

Knoxville, TN – The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (WBHOF) Board of Directors is introducing a new timeline for the selection to the WBHOF, one of the most prestigious honors in basketball.  The WBHOF Board of Directors chartered a new direction and timeline to elevate exposure, increase media interest in the Hall and the future incoming classes, and add transparency and excitement to this well-deserved honor.  This timeline will provide opportunities to showcase each class with a greater level of recognition.  The timeline for the Class of 2017 follows:

• Jan 16, 2017: Announce 12 finalists for the Class of 2017:

This is the first time the WBHOF Board of Directors will announce finalists prior to selection of the six-member class. Press release will come from the WBHOF. ESPN will deliver the news on air.

• Feb 13, 2017: Announce the six-member Class of 2017:

Press release will come from the WBHOF. ESPN will deliver the news on the air on Feb 12 or Feb 13.

• April, 2017: Introduce Class of 2017 at Women’s Final Four in Dallas:

The Class of 2017 will be introduced at a date to be determined at the 2017 Women’s Final Four in Dallas.  Media opportunity to interview the Class of 2017 at the Women’s Final Four will be provided. Press release will come from the WBHOF. After the Women’s Final Four and prior to Induction on June 10, 2017, Josh Sullivan, Director of Basketball Operations, will be the primary contact for the WBHOF and assist your efforts to coordinate interviews with the Class of 2017.

• June 10, 2017: Induction of Class of 2017:

The Class of 2017 will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame on June 10, 2017 in Knoxville, TN. More information will be available regarding tickets and sponsorship opportunities at a later date.

Please direct media inquiries about the selection timeline to Josh Sullivan. The mission of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is to “honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future” of women’s basketball.

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (KSHOF) inducted the members of the Class of 2016 on Sunday, October 2^nd in Wichita.

The KSHOF Class of 2016 consists of twelve members: former Kansas State University baseball player and Washburn University baseball’s career coaching wins leader Steve Anson; 1961 first-team All-American University of Kansas basketball player and three-time NBA All-Star Bill Bridges; Topeka native and forty-eight year broadcaster of the Fort Hays State Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and University of Kansas Bob Davis; two-time Big 8/Big 12 Conference Player of the Year at the University of Kansas and three-time WNBA All-Star Tamecka Dixon; two-time University of Kansas track All-American and four-minute miler Bill Dotson of Concordia; two-time University of Kansas pole vault All-American and U.S. Olympian Scott Huffman from Quinter; Cheney native and three-time national football coach of the year Jerry Kill; fourteen-time track All-American and two-time National Champion at Emporia State University Deandra Doubrava-McBride of Scott City; 1993 Kansas State University All-American football player and three-time All-Big 8 selection Jaime Mendez III; Wichita native and first African-American high school basketball coach in Wichita public schools Lafayette Norwood; four-time Kansas State University All-American and four-time Olympian Austra Skujytė; and first African-American athlete to letter in athletics at Pittsburg State University and three-time Negro League World Series champion George Sweatt from Humboldt. Steve Anson, Bill Bridges, and George Sweatt, will all be honored posthumously.

The induction ceremony was held on Sunday, October 2, 2016, in Wichita. The twelve-person class raises the total number of Kansas Sports Hall of Fame inductees to 260. The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is in its 55^th year of operation.

DENVER – Led by Champ Bailey, Dante Bichette and Jeremy Bloom, the selection Committee of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame voted six individuals to be inducted at the 53rd annual banquet April 27, at the Denver Marriott City Center.

Joining Bailey of the Denver Broncos, Bichette of the Colorado Rockies and multi-sport athlete Jeremy Bloom of the University of Colorado at Boulder as April inductees are Hashim Kahn, Maurice “Stringy” Ervin and John Wooten when the Class of 2017 was selected today. The selection committee will pick the 2016 Athletes-of-the-Year at a January 2017 meeting as the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame recognizes collegiate, high school, Olympic/Pro athletes at the Denver Marriott City Center banquet.

Champ Bailey spent the last 10 years of a brilliant 15 year NFL career as a member of the Denver Broncos. The University of Georgia standout was drafted in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. In 2004, he was traded to the Denver Broncos, who released him in early 2014 following Super Bowl XLVIII. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints shortly after, but was released before the start of the regular season.

Bailey was selected to 12 Pro Bowls, the most for any cornerback, and is widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history.  In 2012, Bailey was named an All-Pro for the 7th time of his career and was selected to the 2013 Pro Bowl. In 215 NFL regular-season games, Bailey had 909 total tackles (812 unassisted) with 52 interceptions (464 return yards).

Bailey was chosen for the Broncos 50th Anniversary team by the Denver community and during the 2012 offseason, Bailey was named the 48th-best player in the NFL by the league’s network, NFL Network.

Dante Bichette was a member of the inaugural Rockies team that began play in Major League Baseball in 1993 and he now joins fellow “Blake Street Bombers” Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga, and Vinny Castilla in the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.

A four-time All-Star as a member of the Colorado Rockies (1994, 1995, 1996, 1998) and Silver Slugger Award winner in 1995, Bichette finished his career with a .299 batting average (226th all-time) along with 274 home runs and 1,141 runs-batted-in for 1,704 games.  On April 7, 1993 he hit the first home-run in Rockies history, a solo shot off of New York Mets pitcher Bret Saberhagen.  Bichette also hit his first home run at the newly-constructed Coors Field, a 14th-inning smash against the Mets that secured an opening day victory for the Rockies in 1995.  He had his best season in 1995, coming very close to the Triple Crown with a .340 batting average, 40 home runs and 128 RBIs and barely lost the MVP voting to the Cincinnati Reds’ Barry Larkin.  During his seven-season career with the Rockies, Bichette batted .316 with 201 home runs and 826 runs-batted-in for 1,018 games.  Bichette’s batting average with the Rockies is tied for fourth all-time with Galarraga as the pair is listed behind Larry Walker (.334), Todd Helton (.320) and Matt Holliday (.319).

A Colorado native born in Loveland, Jeremy Bloom helped lead both his high school football and track teams to state championships. After high school, he became a multi-sport athlete in football at the University of Colorado at Boulder and on the ski hill as a World Class mogul skier. He was a three-time World Champion, two-time Olympian, 11-time World Cup gold medalist and the youngest male snow skier to ever be inducted into the United States Skiing Hall of Fame. In 2005, he won a record six straight World Cup events, the most in a single season in the sport’s history.

After a brief collegiate career at the University of Colorado (2002-2003) where he caught 24 passes (19.1 average per catch, two touchdowns) while returning 47 punts (13.5 average per return, two touchdowns) and 25 kickoffs (25.1 average, one touchdown), Bloom was picked in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.  He was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League for the Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In January 2008, Bloom founded the Wish of a Lifetime (WOL) Charity, which grants lifelong wishes to 80, 90, & 100+ year old people (Seniorwish.org). In April 2010, Bloom co-founded the marketing software company Integrate. The company has raised over $20M of venture capital from Comcast, Foundry Group and Liberty Global. Forbes Magazine called Bloom one of the 30 most influential people in technology under the age of 30 and in 2013 Bloom was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Hashim Khan, the world’s most famous and probably the world’s greatest squash player in history, came from Peshawar, Pakistan and burst into prominence in his mid-thirties by winning the 1951 British Open. He won three U.S. Opens and three Tournament of Champions titles, as well as six more British Opens. In 1960, he emigrated from Pakistan to the U.S., first settling in Detroit and thirteen years later moving to Denver.  He is largely responsible for the growth of the sport in Colorado and across the United States.

Kahn taught and coached numerous young people into World and Collegiate Champions on the courts at the Denver Athletic Club in downtown Denver. He was also the patriarch of the legendary Khan family dynasty. His brother Azam, his brother-in-law Roshan and his nephew Mohibullah were dominant in the 1960s, and Roshan’s son Jahangir was the world’s best in the 1980s. He was inducted into the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame in its inaugural class of 2000. Khan passed away in 2014 at the age of 100.

Maurice “Stringy” Ervin was born and raised in Littleton where he attended high school and was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball).  As a senior, he quarterbacked Littleton to the state football title, the first in any sport in the school’s history.  During the same academic year, he led LHS to a State Championship in basketball.

His career as a teacher and coach started in 1965 at Highland High School and then he moved to Littleton in 1968. He would retire from teaching in 1998 after 33 years and from coaching in 2014 after 49 years. During 46 years of coaching both boys and girls swimming and diving, he tallied a dual meet record of 533‐177‐7; coached 40 individual state champions, 21 state champion relays, 26 individual All-Americans, and 18 All-American relays; won 12 State Championships with another six runner-up finishes; was the Colorado High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year six times; won the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s award for Swimming Coach of the Year and has been nominated for that award a total of four times; he is currently nominated for the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame and is a member of the Colorado High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and a member of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

John B. Wooten was just the fifth player in Colorado history to earn All-America honors, the first lineman to do so when he was honored in 1958.  A three-year letterman at guard (1956-1957-1958), the American Football Coaches Association named him an All-American his senior year, after he had earned first-team all-Big Seven accolades as a junior the previous year.  He was described as a quick, agile tackle that provided bone-crushing lead blocks in helping to make Colorado one of the top offensive teams of his day (and also played tackle on defense).  One of the first two African-American varsity football players at CU (with Frank Clarke), in 1989, he was selected as a first-team member of CU’s All-Century Team.

A fifth round draft pick by Cleveland in the 1959 NFL Draft, he had a stellar NFL career as he played nine seasons (136 games) with the Browns and one with Washington, attaining All-Pro status in his Cleveland days.  He went on to have a long career in NFL administration with Dallas, Philadelphia and Baltimore; he was in player personnel from 1975 to 1989, and was named director of pro personnel in 1989, a position he held for three years.  After one year in the NFL office, where he created player programs in continuing education and financial planning among several innovations, he returned to the front office with Philadelphia (1992-97) and the Baltimore (1998-2003) as a personnel executive; with the Eagles, he was one of the first to hold the title of Vice President of Player Personnel.

Inducted in 2004 into the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame, Wooten was named in May 2012 for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Tickets are $200 each and Sponsor tables start at $2,500. For additional ticket and table information, please telephone the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (www.coloradosports.org, 720/258-3535). The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is located at Gate 1 on the west side of Sports Authority Field at Mile High at 1701 Bryant Street in Denver.

Since its inception in 1965, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame has inducted 240 individuals prior to Tuesday’s selection meeting. The first class of inductees featured Earl “Dutch” Clark, Jack Dempsey and former Supreme Court justice Byron “Whizzer” White. Vinny Castilla, Milan Hejduk, Ralph Simpson, Rhonda Blanford-Green, Jim Danley and Jim Toupal were inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame this past April.