The New England Patriots are living in rarified air reserved for a select few NFL teams. They have earned their status as NFL royalty. They walk on the proverbial red carpet.

Consequently, The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon underwent an offseason makeover.

When Malcolm Butler intercepted Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson on the goal line to secure a 28-24 Patriots win with 20 seconds left in Super Bowl XLIX, the Kraft family initiated plans to celebrate the team’s fourth world championship with a spectacular new Hall exhibit worthy of the team’s incredible accomplishments spanning the last 14 seasons.

The Patriots have now indisputably established an NFL dynasty. Consider that since 2001, they have claimed 12 AFC East titles, six conference championships and four Super Bowls wins. Three other NFL teams have won two Super Bowls since 2001 – half of the Patriots total.

So The Hall went to work this offseason. It gutted the old Hall of Champions and Fan Zone exhibits back in April and quickly replaced them with a more regal championship exhibit called, The Super Bowl Experience, which delves into all four Patriots championship seasons and tells the stories that made those titles possible.

“After winning a fourth Super Bowl, the Krafts made the decision to refresh our championship exhibit gallery and they committed to making it something our fans would be proud of,” Hall executive director Bryan Morry said. “We think our guests will love the new gallery and its design.”

Hall guests will enter the exhibit to the voice of Pat Summerall announcing the Patriots as a team in Super Bowl XXXVI followed by the sound of a military jet flyover and corresponding fireworks. Upon entering, the gallery, four 18-feet-high Lombardi Trophy graphics will welcome fans into individual pods dedicated to each Super Bowl championship. The back side of those larger-than-life graphics will feature an iconic image from the games.

A 58-inch touch screen monitor is housed within each pod where visitors can watch Super Bowl and playoff highlights, review season storylines, see the trophy presentations, delve into the Super Bowl statistics and more.

Directly across from the pods is a 16-foot-by-nine-foot video wall that features 12 vignettes that share some of the more iconic Super Bowl stories dating back to 2001.

“Our guests will love the video wall made up of 16 screens that can show a single image across all 16 or break up into segmented images on some of the screens,” Morry said. “We took what we believe to be some of the critical stories and people associated with the team’s championships and highlighted them on this video wall. It really brings the space to life.”

Butler comes to life as well … sort of. The Super Bowl Experience also features an interactive area where The Hall guest can make the Super Bowl XLIX game-saving interception on the goal line just as Butler did. This area of the exhibit uses Kinect technology to sense the guest’s movement and when it’s time to intercept the pass, a camera snaps a picture which can then be sent to the guest by email for sharing with friends and family.

After making The Interception, fans get to celebrate with the four Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophies and the championship rings.

“The trophies will no longer be encased but will sit behind a glass railing,” Morry explained. “Projected video of the Super Bowl celebrations will play behind the trophies, and the rings will live inside the railing with lighting that makes them sparkle.”

After one snaps a few photos with the trophies, the exhibit naturally ends with a Super Bowl parade. Guests can sit inside a makeshift duck boat and watch the throngs of fans on hand at a Super Bowl parade through Boston’s streets.

“We changed the duck boat experience so that guests would see the parade from the players’ perspective looking out from the boat at the screaming fans that come out in freezing February weather to show their support and appreciation for the team,” Morry added.

This new exhibit also shows its appreciation by honoring and celebrating the four Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots teams in a majestic new exhibit that not only improves the guest experience at The Hall, but also provides fans with a sense of pride and accomplishment. The only thing missing is an actual red carpet.

Maybe that will come if the Patriots secure a fifth title in the near future.

Looking to engage more deeply with stat-hungry sports fans, Comcast has begun to roll out integrated interactive Xfinity Zones in sports venues throughout the country. Working closely with representatives for Comcast, the Chicago Bears, and GMR Marketing, EDE Corporation’s craftsmen and project managers have developed what will become a new go-to spot at Soldier Field for Comcast. EDE provided in-house engineering, fabrication, graphics production, and turn-key installation to create the branded area in the concourse that provides a new and exciting place to go during sporting events and concerts. The Xfinity Zone is enhanced by wooden details using local Chicago-area wood and includes large graphics of the Chicago Bears players. The new venue provides charging stations for smart phones along with a massive interactive social media wall. It provides fans the opportunity to experience the new X1 Entertainment Operating System, as well as explore a live demo of Xfinity Home, Comcast’s home security and automation platform.

DESIGN: GMR Marketing

About EDE: EDE has been helping clients bring exhibit ideas to life since 1979. We’ve helped them tell their stories, breathe new life into their brands, and make the seemingly impossible – possible. Our diverse experience with marketers, museums, and architects enables us to see a broader picture in order to find the perfect solution to realize your vision. This experience is proven through our award winning craftsmanship, focused attention to detail and an intense commitment to service. To learn more about EDE please visit edecorp.com

The World of Little League® is the latest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s newest series, Images of Modern America. The book by local author Janice L. Ogurcak, with a Foreword by Congressman Tom Marino, was published on July 20, 2015, and uses 160 stunning images to illustrate the history of the largest youth sports organization in the world.

From its humble beginnings as a three-team sport in 1939 until today, Little League continues to build character and promote courage and loyalty. The World of Little League® Museum also has emerged as a world-class showcase for the largest youth sports organization on the planet. Among the items on display in this amazing museum are a Little League keystone patch taken to outer space, an astronaut’s suit, a piece of the Berlin Wall, updated safety equipment, and other artifacts that help to tell the history of the sport.

Little League graduates include doctors, actors, musicians, firefighters, Olympians, educators, writers, sports stars, and a president of the United States. Their stories and others can be found in this book and at the museum, which is adjacent to Howard J. Lamade Stadium, where the Little League Baseball World Series has been played every August since 1959.

Join the author for a book signing!

When: Saturday, August 22, 2015; 4 – 6 pm

Where: World of Little League Museum and Store

525 US-15, South Williamsport, PA 17702

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit http://www.arcadiapublishing.com.

About the Author of The World of Little League®

Janice L. Ogurcak grew up on a small family farm in Grantville, Pennsylvania, where she lived with her parents, Christian and Lillian Seaman, and two younger brothers, Thomas, and Daniel. She enjoyed reading, her pony Herman, and spending time with her grandparents, John and Mary Zimmerman and J. Riley Seaman. As a youngster, she helped with farm chores and was active in 4-H.

Ogurcak met her husband of 38 years, Richard, at Northern Lebanon High School where they both graduated in 1973. She attended Penn State University, main campus, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1977.

Prior to full-time employment at the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, a daily newspaper, she worked with the Vietnamese refugees who were housed at Fort Indiantown Gap. A journalist for the newspaper for 28 years, she wrote for the general news, education, police and court beats before being named Lifestyle editor. She served as an adjunct professor of communications at Lycoming College; and adviser for the Lycourier, the college’s newspaper, and for Iota Mu, Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity, a sorority on campus. She and her husband coached the college’s inline hockey team. She was a member of the American Business Women’s Association.

Ogurcak joined the Little League® International team in 2005 when she was named director of the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum. The museum underwent a $4.3 million renovation project and in 2013 was renamed World of Little League: Peter J. McGovern Museum and Official Store. Ogurcak then was named Director of Public Programming and Outreach, a position she enjoys because it involves promoting both the museum and Little League. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Sports Heritage Association.

A cancer survivor, Ogurcak is a member of the Little League Intentional Walkers who participate in the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life.

She and her husband are parents of a daughter, Christiann, and son, Jesse, and are proud grandparents.

Ogurcak hopes that this work will bring back fond memories and inspire the telling of generational stories. It represents some of the best accomplishments/experiences from the first 75 years of the Little League program and she looks forward to seeing many more.

What lasting impact do you hope your book will leave?

I believe readers will return to their glory days if they played Little League or their interest will be piqued to learn more about the largest youth sport in the world. This book provides the opportunity to go behind the scenes to the world’s role in the development of the youth sport and organization of volunteers that arose from the dream of Little League’s founder, Carl E. Stotz.

The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame is proud to announce the induction of Wade Sauter, Fairlight, Saskatchewan, into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category, as a player, on Saturday, August 15, 2015, in Battleford, Saskatchewan.

Wade was born July 5, 1944. His mother was at a sports day the day Wade was born, which led to many sports days to come. Wade was very active in all sports during his school years-baseball, track and field, football and curling.

Wade was batboy for Fairlight Ball Club from 1947-1955.

He played minor baseball with Fairlight from 1956-1960, then into senior baseball with them in 1961. In 1964 he played in Manitoba Senior League with St. Lazar. The team roster included 5 American players. They lost the League final to Hamiota in 7 games. Wade played with Fairlight  from 1965 to 1970. In 1969 he played in SBA with Wawota Elks. In 1970 Wade played with the Wawota Pats that won the SBA Provincial Title. In the play offs, Wade won 3 games pitching against Estevan, Yorkton and Disley.

From 1971 to 1976, Wade played with Wawota Cardinals that won the 1972 SBA Provincial Title, with him winning 5 games along the way.

From 1979 to1989 Wade played Twilight Baseball with Wawota and won 2 Provincial Twilight Titles and 2 Provincial Over 40 Titles. Over this period of time the team won 36 games and lost only 9.

When not pitching, Wade played infield as well as all other positions except catching. He usually batted 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th in the line up.

Wades Highlights

1971-Played in Western Canada Finals at Kenosee Lake.

1972-Pitched 3 innings no-hitter and had 8 strikeouts and 1 pop up fly.

1975-4 home runs in SBA double header at Lumsden, SK.

1975-played in Kenosee Lake tournament with Mcauley Blazers from Manitoba

• Wade pitched 9 innings in final game beating Unity Cardinals 6-4.
• Played in Western Canada finals in Watrous, SK.

1976-Played in Western Canada finals in Glenborough, Manitoba.

1989-Last ball game-relieved for his son Jeff, in playoff game in Wawota, SK.

Summary-Wade played baseball for 33 seasons.

• Played in 62 towns in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and North Dakota.
• Pitching wins-180 games.
• 6 Provincial Titles.
• 3 Western Canada finals.

In the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, Wade was kept busy volunteering in the community, maintaining the ball diamond, treasurer for the curling club and treasurer for the church in Fairlight, SK.

Wade continues active in summer and winter, golfing and curling.

Wade and his wife Sharon have 3 children and now enjoy 10 grandchildren.

Wade now joins his father, Don Sauter, who was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

“From the Garage: Street Rides of NASCAR Stars” puts you in the driver’s seat of the hot wheels that the sport’s icons drive every day. For 38 weeks a year, these top contenders in NASCAR’s premier series battle it out in high powered race cars designed and built by top engineers to perform at maximum velocity. While these impressive machines propel drivers to victory, what do these stars choose to drive when they’re not on the track? “From the Garage” explores what some of the sport’s most well-known names have tucked behind their garage doors and what drew them to each of these one-of-a-kind vehicles. The full lineup includes:

–    Clint Bowyer: 2007 Harley Davidson Jack Daniels-Themed “Bobber” Motorcycle

–    Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 2001 CS-R Corvette Rolex 24 at Daytona Tribute

–    Joey Logano: “Rat Rod” Pickup Truck

–    Darrell Waltrip: 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30

–    Greg Biffle: 2005 Ford GT

–    Ray Evernham: 1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler II Dan Gurney Special

–    David Ragan: 1960 Ford Fairlane Mayberry Police Car

–    Mike Helton: 2005 London Taxi Company TXII

“From the Garage” will be on display through the end of the year.

Heritage Speedway

The revamped Heritage Speedway showcases more than 200 new artifacts that walk you through NASCAR’s storied past decade by decade. From dirt and asphalt short tracks to superspeedways across the nation, drivers have showcased their talents over the course of seven eras of motorsports. In this exhibit, guests will find iconic moments illustrated through artifacts that capture the personality of the legends who paved the way for today’s drivers along with unexpected memorabilia and relics that pay homage to the sport’s deep-seated roots. Items range from Bobby Allison’s 1988 uniform that he wore at the Daytona 500 when he beat his son Davey to Dale Earnhardt’s money bag from his spectacular come-from-behind win in 2000 at the Winston 500 in Talladega.

Heritage Speedway is a revamp of a permanent exhibit (the first time in five years this area has received all new artifacts).

The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame is proud to announce the induction of The Late Kenneth R. MacLeod, Regina, Saskatchewan, into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Individual Category, as a builder, on Saturday, August 15, 2015, at Battleford, Saskatchewan.

Ken MacLeod was a pioneer in making change in kid’s baseball in Regina.

As a youth, Ken played baseball in the Tisdale, Saskatchewan area. There were no established baseball leagues in the area at that time but baseball teams played in tournaments at the local Sports Days in all small towns in the area. Out of this grew Ken’s love of the game of baseball.

In the 1970’s, Ken coached kid’s baseball in the Kiwanis National League in Regina. This league operated under the auspices of the Saskatchewan Baseball Association.

In 1973, when Ken told one young player he was being cut, the boy burst into tears. Teary eyed himself, Ken decided there had to be another way besides cutting players from a team. He then went on a single minded journey to get every kid who wanted to play baseball the chance to do just that.

In 1974 Ken became President of the Kiwanis National League and instituted a no-cut policy and built up the infrastructure to handle the influx of kids that were coming. Ken decided the way to go was to affiliate with Little League.

After much research, exploring of options, dedication and hard work, the Kiwanis Little League was formed.

A few years later the move culminated in North Regina winning the Canadian Little League Championship, and their subsequent participation in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA.

Ken is regarded as the Father of Little League baseball in Regina.

Ken served eleven [11] years as President of  Kiwanis National League and a further nine [9] years as President of Regina Little League.

A lawyer by profession, Ken was a Judge in the Court of Queen’s Bench in Saskatchewan.  He also participated in a number of service clubs and community organizations. He was a busy person.

Ken’s legacy will live on in the minds and hearts of the countless kids who were able to play baseball because of him.

In his honour, a ball diamond in Kiwanis Park in Regina has been named “Honourable Ken MacLeod Field”.

Ken died March 30, 2011.

Halifax gymnast Ellie Black, who shares her inspiring story with Nova Scotian youth as ambassador for the Hall of Fame’s Future Hall of Famers education program, achieved amazing results at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. Black took home three gold, one silver and one bronze in the artistic gymnastics events, making her the most decorated athlete of the games so far. The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame supports Black in her journey to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.