Category Archives: Public News

When the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they were upgrading the Rocket Mortgage Field House Arena in downtown Cleveland, Xibitz was given the contract to work with the General Contractor, Whiting-Turner, and their design team, Infinite Scale, to help develop and produce exciting new elements in the arena concourse. The “Flex Walls” include beautiful graphics, big screens, interactive elements, cases with team artifacts and other engaging visuals and stories about the team and its history. The newly renovated arena will be a centerpiece for sports and entertainment in the ever- changing landscape of Cleveland.

University of Louisville | Schnellenberger Football Complex

When Jack Porter redesigned the University of Louisville’s Schnellenberger Football Complex entrance, they turned to Xibitz to fabricate a bold and inventive experience. Inspired by the school’s mascot, Louie the Cardinal, a massive wall treatment reminiscent of a bird’s wings was assembled in the lobby.

Measuring 29 feet high, each wing spans two walls for a total of 54 feet each. 64 feathers create the sculpture and combined, weigh nearly 4,600 pounds, the heaviest weighing 252 pounds. The sculpture is made primarily of ACM, an aluminum-clad material of thin sheets of brushed aluminum cladding on a composite material.

Built around existing fire suppression controls, heating/cooling vents, environmental controls, and an ID scanner, the sculpture was successfully installed without detracting from the overall look of the project. The result is a cutting edge, sleek, and powerful entrance to the university’s football building.

Designer:

Jack Porter

Scope of Services:

Project Planning, Contract Management, Facility Interface Coordination, Design Management, Prototypes & Mockups, Scheduling Management, Contractor Coordination, Sub-Consultant Coordination, Construction Drawings, Fabrication, Installation

 

Four International Sports Heritage Association members are the recipients of $3,750 in grants made available through the organization’s Founders Fund.

Money for the Founders Fund comes from a Silent Auction, and other fund-raising ventures held at the annual conference and throughout the year. The annual conference will be held Oct. 23-24 at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in Wichita.

A $2,000 Special Projects Grant was awarded to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame to rehouse the Museum’s oldest collection of rodeo and Wild West Show artifacts: the Hafley-Shelton Collection.

According to Megan Winterfeldt, exhibits and collections coordinator, the collection of more than 600 artifacts includes clothing, props, and personal items related to the California Frank Wild West Show and Rodeo which began in the early 1900s. The items are in old archival boxes that were used for shipping when the show traveled. The project will create new and stable mounts for all the pieces. With new housing, the artifacts will be preserved for future generations to learn about rodeo’s early days.

A Travel and Conference Grant (maximum $1,000) was awarded to Kyle Moore, assistant program director of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Moore’s well-prepared application detailed how attending the conference sessions and networking will benefit both him and his institution.

Additionally, grants covering the $375 cost of ISHA Conference registration were awarded to Danny Lamoureux, of the Canadian Curling Association, and to Alan Penner, of the Oklahoma Sports Museum.

Mr. Lamoureux is director of the Curling Club Development and Championship Services in Orleans, Ontario. It does not have a brick and mortar facility but is mobile, digital and augmented reality experience.

Mr. Penner is Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Sports Museum and is eager to network with other sports museums.

A Silent Auction is held during the annual conference, which will be hosted by the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in Wichita in October. Silent Auction items are being collected from member museums and vendors for the Oct. 23-24 event. A list will be shared prior to the conference so all members will have an opportunity to bid on the packages ranging in value from $100 to nearly $1,000.

The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) has launched a new education section on its website (sportsheritage.test) that features museum-related assets and forms contributed by fellow members as well as a section for members to contribute educational articles.

The new section, titled ISHA University, has a members-only password protected area that features assets and forms categorized by the following (sportsheritage.test/members-area/assets/):

  • Collection
  • Curatorial/Exhibits
  • Marketing/Programming (events)
  • Museum Education/School groups/Other groups
  • Staffing
  • Retail
  • Emergencies
  • Development/Fundraising
  • Other

Additionally, there is an ISHA University information page (sportsheritage.test/members-area/isha-university-information/), which will be the home to educational articles contributed by members but in a public section of the website.

“The ISHA board wanted to provide a tidy package of educational offerings to its members,” ISHA president Bryan Morry said. “Nobody can help answer institutional questions better than peers in the field. So we have many documents and forms categorized so members can easily access them. We also want our members to contribute articles that could be helpful to colleagues. There are currently nearly 50 forms and documents accessible and we hope to continually add to this.

“One of the best things about ISHA is that members are so willing to share information with one another. We hope this program continues to grow and serves the sports heritage industry for years to come,” Morry added.

The ISHA board encourages members to share any documents or forms that might be helpful to peers while also reviewing the available selection. To contribute and asset or an article, one can email [email protected] with the subject ISHA U CONTRIBUTION.

ISHA Announces Grants for Conference, Special Project

The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) is pleased to announce the availability of four different grants totaling nearly $5,000 that are available to members. The grants are supported through the ISHA Founder’s Fund.

The ISHA board of directors approved two conference travel grants available to members in good standing. Each is worth up to $1,000. These grants are available for institution members, including emerging professionals and members living outside Canada and the United States of America. Two other grants are available to cover the costs of conference registration only.

Additionally, ISHA is offering a Special Project Grant of up to $2,000 available to member institutions. This grant may be used for projects that increase collection capacity, public access, awareness and interpretation, as well as improve documentation and preservation.

The deadline for the conference registration and travel grants is June 30, 2019. Decisions are expected to be made by mid-August, offering members the opportunity to take advantage of reduced transportation costs. The application is available online and attached. Please email completed applications to [email protected]

Additional requirements can be found on the applications.

The annual ISHA Conference will be held from Oct. 23-24, 2019, in Wichita, Kansas, and will be hosted by the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

The Founder’s Fund raises money to support ISHA grants through initiatives like the silent auction, reverse raffle and individual or corporate donations. In 2020 a sponsor will be sought to fund one of the $1,000 travel grants.

 

 

The National Soccer Hall of Fame Wins GOLD Muse Award for Research and Innovation

NEC and National Soccer Hall of Fame are the first to use facial recognition technology to individualize a guest’s experience in a sports and entertainment venue

Frisco, TX (May 21, 2019) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame’s facial recognition technology got some recognition of its own.

The American Alliance of Museums Media and Technology Network’s awarded the National Soccer Hall of Fame the Gold Muse Award for Research and Innovation for its “Facial Recognition Personalization Software” on Monday night. FC Dallas President Dan Hunt and Mark Ikeno, CEO of NEC Corporation of America, accepted the award at AAM’s Media & Technology MUSE Awards in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“It’s an honor to have the National Soccer Hall of Fame recognized amongst some of the most influential and forward-thinking institutions in the industry, both domestic and international,” National Soccer Hall of Fame Executive Director Djorn Buchholz said. “There are many partners who worked collaboratively to bring this first of its kind personalization system to life and we are thrilled to share this award with all of them.”

“To be a part of the great institutions recognized is really special – not only to win our category, but because we were the only sports venue winner,” Hunt said. “It’s a culmination of bringing our facial recognition software and doing something that nobody else has done in the entire world. Our partners at Cortina Productions and HealyKohler Design took what NEC can do, and made it forward-facing and integrated it to the museum experience. We’re proud to lead the way at the National Soccer Hall of Fame.”

Powered by NEC and its NeoFace® facial recognition software, National Soccer Hall of Fame guests experience a custom-tailored tour unlike anything they’ve experienced in a sports setting. NEC and the National Soccer Hall of Fame are the first to use facial recognition technology to individualize a guest’s experience in a sports and entertainment venue.

During registration, visitors create a profile by selecting their favorite teams, position on the pitch and level of soccer fandom. The National Soccer Hall of Fame’s 15 interactive exhibits incorporate the facial recognition technology to recognize guests as they approach and tailor the content to the visitor’s taste. Through the interactives, visitors can build their dream US National Team, design their own MLS kits, create a scarf that can be printed on-site and test their soccer skills with gesture-based technology and virtual reality.
About the National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame was originally founded in 1950 by the Philadelphia Old-Timers Association to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to American soccer. In 1979, the National Soccer Museum, as a physical entity, was established in Oneonta, NY. It was officially recognized as the National Soccer Hall of Fame by the U.S. Soccer Federation in 1983.

In June of 1999, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a 30,000 square-foot museum in Oneonta where it housed a collection of more than 80,000 items. The facility closed in February of 2010.

In 2013 FC Dallas owners, Clark and Dan Hunt, launched a campaign to bring the Hall of Fame to Frisco, TX. Their late father, Lamar Hunt, was inducted in the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1982. In 1999, he received the Hall’s highest honor, the Medal of Honor. He remains one of only three individuals to have won the award.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame at Toyota Stadium opened to the public on November 2, 2018.

The National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame (NPASHF) announced today Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN is the recipient of the organization’s newly-originated Tony Kubek Media Award.

Wojnarowski will be the inaugural recipient of the NPASHF’s Tony Kubek Media Award, presented to a Polish-American media member for outstanding contributions to any form of sports media, including but not limited to, print, broadcast, and internet media. He will be recognized at the NPASHF’s Annual Induction Banquet on Thursday, June 20, in Troy, Michigan.

Wojnarowski (nicknamed “Woj” by his legion of followers) is proud of his Polish heritage.  He was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Grew up in Bristol where he went to Bristol Central HS. then  graduated from St. Bonaventure University. His media career has included stops with the Hartford Courant, Fresno Bee, The Record, Yahoo Sports, and since 2017, with ESPN where he is widely recognized as the top NBA insider and news breaker. Wojnarowski is integral to  ESPN’s multimedia coverage of the NBA covering the league, its teams, players, free agency, the NBA Draft, the NBA Summer League and more. His social media  following is one of the highest of any U.S. media member. In 2006, Wojnarowski authored the New York Times best-seller , “The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball’s Most Improbable Dynasty (Gotham Books.)

Tony Kubek is also a proud Polish-American. He was a former New York Yankees shortstop (1957-1965), a 4-time All-Star, 3-time World Series Champion and the 1957 American League Rookie of the Year. Following his on-field career, Kubek became perhaps the most famous network television baseball analyst, working alongside greats like Jim Simpson, Curt Gowdy, Joe Garagiola and Bob Costas on NBC Sports coverage of Major League Baseball. Kubek also worked games for Canada’s CTV and CSN, and Madison Square Garden Network. Kubek was awarded the Ford C. Frick award in 2009 for broadcast excellence by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He was enshrined into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.

The 47th Annual Induction Banquet will be Thursday, June 20, 2019, at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Michigan.  Tickets for the banquet, which begins at 5:30 p.m., are $125 and can be ordered by calling (248) 259-3428.

 

Eric Gillies and Josée Picard: Skate Canada Hall of Fame Inductees
Legendary coaches Eric Gillies and Josée Picard entered the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in the professional category.
Gilles, from Moncton, N.B., and Picard, from Hull, Que., have coached countless skaters to national and international medals in singles, pairs and ice dance, including World Pair Champions and Olympic medallists Isabelle Brasseur and Lloyd Eisler, and World Ice Dance Champions Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz.
Picard and Gillies were also instrumental in the development and operation of a centre combining education and sports – the first of its kind in Quebec.
Gillies was a noted Canadian ice dancer, and with partner Susan Carscallen, represented Canada at the 1976 Olympic Winter Games and captured gold at the 1977 Canadian Figure Skating Championships. Picard was also a national level skater and was one of the first coaches of 2018 World Champion Kaetlyn Osmond.
Eric Gillies and Josée Picard: Entered the Skate Canada Hall of Fame (Professional Category), January 2019
Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon: Skate Canada Hall of Fame Inductees
Two-time world ice dance silver medallists Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon take their rightful place in the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in the Athlete Category.
Dubreuil and Lauzon, who both hail from Montreal, were one of the world’s premier ice dance teams for nearly a decade. They teamed up in 1995 and would go on to win gold at the Canadian Championships five times (2000, 2004-2007).
The duo represented Canada at the Olympic Winter Games in 2002 and 2006 and captured back-to-back silver medals at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in 2006 and 2007. They also won Skate Canada International gold in 2006 and 2007.
After announcing their retirement in 2008, Dubreuil and Lauzon embarked on a successful coaching career in Montreal.
Among their protégés are 2018 Olympic gold medallists Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir of Canada, three-time world champions Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron of France, 2019 world bronze medallists Madison Hubbell / Zachary Donohue of the United States and Canadian national team members Laurence Fournier Beaudry / Nikolaj Sorensen and Carolane Soucisse / Shane Firus.
Dubreuil and Lauzon were married in 2008 and currently reside in Montreal.
Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon: Entered the Skate Canada Hall of Fame (Athlete Category), May 2019