Category Archives: Public News

The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) presented Daytona Beach, FL native Preston Root with its Legacy Award during its annual conference hosted by the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America September 26-28, 2023. Root is the fifth recipient of the award, which ISHA created in 2018 to recognize an individual or organization located in the geographical area of the annual conference in order to provide an opportunity for the host to honor a local sports heritage contributor.

Root grew up in the shadows of Daytona International Speedway. Born in 1962 across the street from the Speedway at Halifax Health, he and his family have lived in Daytona Beach for three generations. Preston spent 32 years in the Root family’s heritage business Root Glass Company that designed, patented and manufactured the Original Coca-Cola bottle in 1915 and was a radio broadcaster for MRN Radio, The Voice of NASCAR.

He has been a part of successful broadcast teams at most of the NASCAR venues and the largest events in motorsports, including the Daytona 500, The Brickyard 400, Mobil 1 Sebring 12 Hours and 24 Hours of Le Mans. He retired in 2017 and a year later returned to the Root Families Heritage business as Chairman of the Family Board of Directors to assist in a successional transition. Root also serves on the Board of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Root’s service to the community spans four decades. He has been recognized by The ARC of Florida as Volunteer of the Year, the Community Foundation of Volusia & Flagler’s Davidson Award winner for outstanding community service and Chairman’s Council for the YMCA. Preston is also the longest serving member of the Root Family Foundation, established in 1984.

Preston has been married to Lynn for 27 years and they have a daughter Scenic (yes, Scenic Root) who is a teacher. A Nationally Certified EMT, Preston is also a SCUBA instructor. The only hobby Preston ever listed is auto racing.

“Few have done more for motorsports both locally and nationally, publicly and behind the scenes, than Preston Root,” said Motorsports Hall of Fame of America President George Levy. “He’s been a broadcast race reporter and co-anchor. He’s sponsored race teams. He’s helped support racers in need and played a vital role in a range of motorsports and broader civic organizations, including the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.”

About ISHA

The International Sports Heritage Association is a non-profit membership organization incorporated in 1971.  The mission of ISHA is to educate, promote and support organizations and individuals engaged in the celebration of sports heritage.  ISHA includes nearly 150 regular members from countries such as China, New Zealand, England, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States.  In addition, corporations and individuals participate in and contribute to the growth of ISHA as Associate Members.   For more information about ISHA, visit www.sportsheritage.org.

Moment Factory is thrilled by the warm welcome we have experienced as a new member of the ISHA community and look forward to meeting everyone in Daytona!

Since 2001, Moment Factory has been honored to collaborate on creating immersive, interactive multimedia experience platforms that engage fans with past and present stories of some of sport’s leading institutions-from leagues, teams and athletes to major events, venues and sports-tech pioneers and sponsors. Our repertoire includes permanent and pop-up projects that deploy augmented sport experiences and hall-of-fame exhibitions and attractions into venues ranging from arenas and stadia to stand-alone team museums and merchandise spaces to urban public spaces. On the events side, Moment Factory has helped create some of sport history’s newest memories, amplifying games, ceremonies, all-star/skills events and more.

Upcoming and past collaborations include :

The Messi Immersive Experience

Olympic Agora, Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics

Vancouver Canucks Hall Of Heroes Interactive Exhibits

As Canada’s only national museum of sport, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame has achieved a momentous transformation, redefining our purpose to new heights of inspiration and celebration.

We remain committed to our mission – educating all Canadians on the value, history, and culture of sport in this country – and are proud to expand the ways in which we are doing so, in the classroom, in the community, and in recognizing role models.

We continue to inspire Canadians every year from coast-to-coast-to-coast by focusing on curating experiences, content, and stories that are reaching far beyond our walls and providing us with the opportunity to reach millions across this nation.

The success story of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame lies in its audacious reimagining of purpose. By preserving sports legacy, inspiring future generations, and showcasing the very best of Canadian sporting heritage, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame has secured a prominent place in the hearts of sports enthusiasts nationwide.

To learn more about the tremendous momentum forward review our 2022-2023 Impact Report HERE or watch our Impact Video HERE.  

We are thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity to showcase the remarkable Play Hard, Fight Hard: Sport & The Canadian Military bilingual pop-up travelling exhibit. Displaying fourteen sports played by civilian and military teams that represent athletes from the 1880s to the present day, this exhibit takes you back in time to meet outstanding individuals who left an indelible mark in Canadian sport history.

Allow visitors to explore the transformative impact of the Soldier On program, delve into the origins of the Paralympic Games, and witness the resilience and courage of athletes who participated in the Invictus Games. The exhibit also houses 20 captivating videos, featuring engaging oral histories and remarkable Second World War newsreel footage.

We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to host this exciting exhibit at 3 week intervals at your sport hall of fame or museum from January to August 2024. With the exhibit’s bilingual nature, visitors from diverse backgrounds can immerse themselves in the compelling stories of courage and dedication.

We understand the logistical challenges museums might face in hosting exhibits, and we’ve got you covered! Take advantage of possible complimentary transportation offered to most Canadian locations by our major transportation partner, making it easier for you to share this exceptional experience with your community.

Honour the legacy of extraordinary athletes and the impact of sports on Canadian military history. Reserve your spot today and let these captivating stories inspire generations to come! Contact us to discuss hosting opportunities or visit | Play Hard, Fight Hard Travelling Exhibits (sportshall.ca) to learn more.

[Photo: (L-R) Joe DiPenta, John Kehoe, Sara-Lynne Knockwood, and Bill Robinson at the 2023 NSSHF Inductee media conference.]

The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame was pleased to announce its 2023 inductee class on June 5th. Four athletes, one team and two builders will be celebrated for their outstanding contributions to Nova Scotia sport.

The athletes who will be enshrined are Stanley Cup and Calder Cup winner Joe DiPenta, 3-time North American Indigenous Games Gold Medalist and 2006 Open World Taekwondo champion Sara-Lynne Knockwood, former Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team member Suzanne Gerrior, and 3-time AUS MVP and 1973 Vanier Cup Champion Bill Robinson. The Hall will also welcome the 1993 Acadia Axemen CIAU Championship-winning men’s hockey team. In the builder category, legendary women’s soccer coach John Kehoe and long-time sport journalist/promoter/volunteer Joel Jacobson will be inducted.

Sara-Lynne Knockwood was just inducted as the first athlete in the North American Indigenous Games Hall of Honours, and she is also the first woman to be enshrined in the Mi’kmaq Sports Hall of Fa

ame’s former CEO, beginning as the NSSHF’s first paid employee and leading the organization for 34 years before retiring in 2017.

Induction Night 2023 will take place on Saturday, November 25 at 7pm, at the Lighthouse Arts Centre in Halifax.

For the 23rd consecutive year, the ceremony will be hosted by Hall of Fame CEO and CBC broadcaster Bruce Rainnie, and, thanks to a continuing partnership with Eastlink Community TV, this will be the fourth year that the ceremony will be broadcast live and streamed online.

Tickets are available for purchase online through Eventbrite and nsshf.com.

The International Sports Heritage Association’s (ISHA) conference travel grant application is now available with the deadline for submission coming up on Monday, August 21. Travel grants of up to $1,000 each; and an international travel grant of up to $2,000 will be available. The grants are supported through the ISHA Founder’s Fund.

The ISHA board of directors approved four conference travel grants available to members in good standing. Each is worth up to $1,000. These grants are available for institution members. Members living outside Canada and the United States of America can apply for a travel grant of up to $2,000.

The deadline for the conference registration and travel grants is Monday, August 21, 2023. Decisions are expected to be made in a few days following the deadline. The application is available online on the ISHA website here. Please email completed applications to [email protected] and [email protected].

The annual ISHA Conference will be held September 27-28 at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Daytona, Florida.

The Founder’s Fund raises money to support ISHA grants through initiatives such as the silent auction, t-shirt sales, a raffle and individual or corporate donations.

Questions about the grants and the application process can be directed to Kent Sturman, ISHA Grant’s Chairman at [email protected].

The ISHA Founder’s Fund provides travel grants to members to attend the Conference as well as Special Projects Grants to assist members with exhibits, collections projects and other museum programs in their efforts to fulfill their missions. One of the main fund-raising efforts for the fund, is a silent auction held during the Conference, September 27 and 28, 2023. The committee is soliciting items for the silent auction.

Popular items that are successful in the auction include, packages or experiences; autographed memorabilia; gift certificates/cards; and logo merchandise from your institution. The Founder’s Fund appreciates all contributions so anything that members can donate will help the committee reach their fund-raising goals.

If members can donate an item, please send a ISHA Silent Auction Form, a photograph of the item and the approximate value to: Kent Sturman at [email protected].

If you need to ship your item to the conference, please use the following shipping address and ship your items to arrive by Monday, September 25, 2023.

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
c/o Rhonda Geib
1801 W International Speedway Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Bidding will begin when the conference opens on Wednesday, Sept. 27 and the auction will close Thursday evening during the Evening of Champions banquet. You can also support the Founder’s Fund by bidding in the auction while you are at the Conference.

Questions, ideas, and additional information can be directed to Kent Sturman, at [email protected].

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory recently underwent its first gallery renovation in nearly 15 years. The renovation includes a revamped Bat Vault, where guests can marvel at the more than 3,000 original bat models designed by some of the game’s most legendary players. Access to the Bat Vault is now included with regular museum admission. Our updated museum gallery, includes an overhauled Hold A Piece Of History exhibit where guests can hold game-used bats and there are also updates to the museum’s iconic player sculptures, which now include exciting backdrops for photo opportunities and special player artifacts on display.