Imagine stepping into an immersive multi-room journey that brings you closer to the life and career of Lionel Messi like never before. Introducing The Messi Experience, a cutting-edge touring attraction that combines innovative storytelling, interactive technology, and augmented gaming to create an unforgettable experience.

Produced, created and designed by Primo Entertainment and Moment Factory, the award-winning multimedia studio, this ticketed event is designed to captivate and inspire a wide range of audiences, from die-hard fans to new enthusiasts. By prioritizing engagement, entertainment, emotion, and fun, The Messi Experience offers a fresh take on the Messi brand that will leave the audience feeling inspired and connected to the soccer legend.

The Messi Experience began its world tour in Miami in April, will stop in Los Angeles in June, then Buenos Aires, with the ambition to visit more than 150 cities over the next 5 years. With this project, Moment Factory strengthens its presence in the spectator sports, sports heritage, sports media, and sports technology industries. Building on a long history of innovative collaborations with renowned entities across the league, team, and athlete spectrum, they have partnered with FIFA, the Olympics, the Olympic Museum, NFL Super Bowl, NBA, NHL, Usain Bolt, ESPN, Lululemon, and Arc’teryx. Learn more about the experience.

Fund-raising for ISHA Founder’s Fund being planned for conference

The fund-raising activities for ISHA’s Founder’s Fund are being planned for this year’s conference to be held September 18 and 19 in Boston, MA. Revenue to support this fund will be raised through a silent auction, a possible reverse raffle and through the sale of a sports museum themed t-shirt made available to attendees as well as ISHA members.

The ISHA Founders Fund was established by a select group of individuals who cared deeply for the legacy of sport on the world stage to support long-term initiatives in sports heritage. The Founders Fund now supports annual grant initiatives to assist conference attendance and to aid in the implementation of special projects by ISHA member organizations. To meet the long-term obligations of this Fund, a Founders Fund Committee works to raise money through these efforts for the continuation of the grants program. All revenue raised through these avenues directly impacts ISHA’s ability to support worthy projects that promote sports heritage and fund other initiatives important to all our member institutions and the entire sports heritage industry.

The committee is soliciting items for the silent auction from our members. Please consider a donation of an item to help in these efforts. Items that typically do well and are popular with bidders are autographed sports memorabilia; experiences or packages including tickets to sports events, induction ceremonies, museum visits, and vacation packages; logo merchandise; gift cards and much more. It is not too early to be thinking of your donation and getting together your packages to donate.

For more information about the auction, to discuss your idea for an item and to coordinate the delivery and shipment of the item, please contact the chairman of the Founder’s Fund, Kent Sturman at [email protected].

More details concerning the reverse raffle will be available soon and sent to members. In addition, the T-shirts will be made available for purchase with conference registration, at the conference or on the ISHA website. Watch for more details.

ISHA appreciates the support of the Founder’s Fund from our members and others that share the mission of sports heritage preservation and promotion.

On March 21,2024, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum presented by Dinsmore opened its 2024 feature exhibit, The Long Ball: A Home Run History of the Reds. The exhibit highlights great home run hitters and notable home runs throughout Reds history.

To better capture the feel of baseball’s most exciting play within the confines of the exhibit gallery, a 4’ X 9’ video wall featuring a running loop of over 100 home run clips was installed. The radio and television called of these notable home runs can be heard through a new surround sound system that envelopes the visitor at every spot throughout the exhibit space.

An interactive touch screen allows visitors to delve into Statcast, the technology that tracks every aspect of the home run from the moment the ball impacts the bat. Visitors can choose from a selection of home run clips from the 2023 Reds season, each of which shows the home run as it was hit followed by detailed animations that measure the distance the home run travelled, the angle from which it left the bat and the speed of the ball after impact.

The exhibit also features strategic placement of QR codes that direct visitors to the Long Ball Exhibit landing page on the Hall of Fame’s website. The page lives as a true extension of the exhibit, offering a wealth of Reds home run facts, a timeline of notable Reds home runs and much more.

The graphic motif of the exhibit combines a representation of an outfield wall that surrounds the space with impactful action images of Reds home run highlights. Embedded in this graphic presentation is a replica of an outfield wall at which visitors can try their hand at leaping “over” the fence to stop a ball from flying “out of the park.” This element incorporates museum-safe soft balls and replica gloves that are accessible to all visitors and adds an element of physical activity to the experience.

Finally, the exhibit is anchored by the themed display of over 180 artifacts highlighted by the presentation of bats used by each of the top-50 players on the Reds’ all-time career home run list. Each of the bats in the display originates from the Hall of Fame’s permanent collection as do the majority of the artifacts exhibited. In addition to the items from the Hall of Fame’s collection, the artifact assortment is augmented by loaned items from Reds Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and George Foster (the franchise career home run record holder and the club’s single season record holder, respectively) as well as important artifacts that have been placed on loan by a number of local collectors.

The Long Ball is on display in the Hall of Fame’s Changing Exhibits Gallery through February 2025. For more information, please visit https://www.mlb.com/reds/hall-of-fame/the-long-ball

By Mike Kerchner

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — The footprint of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum on the Marion County Fairgrounds is about to change in a big way.

Construction is expected to begin in late May on a second suite tower, the Dennis Albaugh Suite Tower, which will be a twin to the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower that was built seven years ago.

The new six-story building will house 12 new suites and will sit to the east of the Hall of Fame between turn two of Knoxville Raceway and highway 14, which runs just outside of turns one and two at the legendary half-mile dirt track.

The new suite tower is named for Dennis Albaugh, who made a significant donation, which will allow construction to begin. Albaugh is a huge supporter of sprint car racing and the Hall of Fame, including his sponsorships of the Jason Johnson Racing sprint car wheeled by Carson Macedo and the Troy Renfro 2ks driven by Chase Randall.

Hall of Fame Executive Director Bob Baker said, several other options, including a USDA loan are on the table to fund the remainder of the project, which is expected to cost $6.2 million.

“Dennis Albaugh is making a major donation to get us started and we have two or three other funding sources that we are working on,” he said.

The location of the tower is interesting to many.

“Some people have wondered how that building is going to fit in the space, but it is exactly the same size as the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower foot by foot by width and depth, and so are the suites. They are the same size,” Baker explained. “This new suite tower will not have an observation deck on top. One observation deck is plenty for our turn-two area over here.

“This will be boxed in on the first and second floor and that is a little different. It will be enclosed whereas the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower is open air underneath,” Baker added. “We will be able to utilize the first floor for museum store inventory storage and the second floor will have viewing windows like the second floor in the museum, so people can go in and watch the races from the second floor.”

The two suite towers will book-end the Hall of Fame, which was built in 1991.

“It is supposed to match the museum and the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower, so when you are sitting in the main grandstand and you look over at the Hall of Fame, the Dennis Albaugh Suite Tower and the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower will book end the museum,” Baker explained. “The museum will be in the middle and the two suite towers will be on each end. It will look like it was planned that way from day one.”

Baker said work has been going on behind the scenes for months to secure permits and make the necessary arrangements to accommodate the new tower, which will be constructed by Newman Brothers Construction, which also built the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower.

“It will be a very nice addition for the Hall of Fame and for Knoxville,” Baker said. “Newman Brothers has been great to work with and so has the city of Knoxville and the Marion County Fair Ass’n. They were the first people we talked with to make sure we had their blessing and they were very positive and very encouraging. They have been extremely helpful.”

Preparations are currently under way to prepare the site for construction, and a groundbreaking ceremony is expected to be held Friday, May 31 during the annual National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction weekend.

“We are moving dirt around now, but we are not building anything,” Baker said. “We are just relocating utilities. There is a lot of work that needs to be done before we can begin construction. Construction is scheduled begin at the end of May.”

The Dennis Albaugh Suite Tower is expected to be complete in time for the opening of the 2025 sprint car racing season at Knoxville Raceway.

“Our scheduled completion date is opening night of the 2025 season at Knoxville Raceway,” Baker said. “We were able to do that with the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower and open it before the season started, so suite holders can get in and bring in furniture and other amenities. We like to have it available to suite holders before opening night, so they can decorate and bring in appliances. This way, we can also lease the suite out for the entire season starting on opening night”

One may wonder what led to the need for a second suite tower. Baker explained.

“Since the Hall of Fame started in 1991, the museum suites have been one of the largest sources of revenue to help us keep the museum open year around,” Baker said. “We are open seven days a week and we are only closed on four days. Not only were the suites full and have been full for a long time, but we have had a long waiting list of people who wanted suites and we didn’t have them.

“That’s part of the reason we built the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower and when we built that we were still not able to fill all of the demand that we had at that time, so there are people on the waiting list who have been on it since we built the Bryan Clauson Suite Tower seven years ago.”

Baker is grateful for the support the Hall of Fame gets from the racing community.

“Thanks to all the people who support our museum like our suite holders, people who contribute to all of the events, the sprint car sweepstakes, the Corvette sweepstakes, the six annual auctions, and the golf tournament during the Knoxville National,” Baker said. “We are always doing fundraisers of some type and the support that people give us at these events is what is allowing us to move forward and make this museum and everything around it the best that it can be.”

Construction of the Dennis Albaugh Suite Tower is the latest proof of that notion.

A Succession Planning Roadmap

Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts/Lyrasis

5/16/24

Introduction

Dream for a moment: If you won the lottery and left your job, who would be ready to take your place? Think back – have you ever stepped into a new role and found it hard to locate records, passwords, and other essential information? Do you wish you had more time to devote to succession planning and knowledge transfer?

The Cultural Stewardship Succession Planning Initiative is a two-year project of the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), in partnership with Lyrasis, created to actively address the need for leadership development and knowledge transfer in the cultural heritage workforce. Funded by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the initiative has conducted extensive research and is building professional development resources for museum staff and volunteers. You can read about the project’s findings at http://www.ccaha.org/succession. Below, we share some of the key resources we have identified and developed to support more successful planning for staff transitions:

Consider these steps BEFORE the next transition occurs:

· Manage your Collections: It is important to have policies related to the long-term preservation of mission-based collections as well as the organization’s own business records. See Essential Plans, Policies and Procedures to learn about a variety of planning documents which can provide continuity and order to your collections. · Update Job Descriptions, Policies, and Logistics: Tools for hiring including a Job Analysis Template and RACI Chart can help you as you consider a staff structure that can support retention and succession planning. · Determine the Risks if you don’t do Succession Planning: See the Succession Risk Advocacy Matrix to help determine the impact of staff transition on your organization’s mission, revenue, expenses, and staff time – information that should catch the attention of organizational leadership.

· Work with your Board to get their support for succession planning and successful transitions: Use the 5 Key Questions Board Members Should Ask About Staff Succession Planning at a Board Meeting or Retreat to get your most important stakeholders to begin considering avenues for successful transitions.

· Develop a Knowledge Transfer Process: Institutionalize practices by which senior and departing staff can share work information and “corporate history” with those continuing at your organization. See the Cultural Succession Planning Bibliography for more information.

Take these important steps DURING a staff transition:

· Communicate about process: Talk with Staff, Board Members, Stakeholders, Partner Organizations, and your Community about the changes that are taking place at your organization. Transparency is important in times of uncertainty.

· Plan check-ins with staff throughout the process: The departure of a leader, particularly in smaller organizations, can often be traumatic for the staff that remain. Keeping staff informed is important in continuing organizational trust.

· Consider Doing Oral Histories with Senior Staff and Departing Staff: Interviews can be an effective way to capture information on projects and practices. See the Oral History Knowledge Transfer Guide for technical pointers to help start this type of program.

· Provide a way to find important information: Setting up and following a File Naming Protocol at your organization is an excellent step in avoiding loss of information; see the document File Naming Strategies to Aid in Succession Planning for tips on instituting naming protocols across your organization.

Use Lessons Learned GOING FORWARD:

· Hit the Ground Running Smart: New staff can consider initial activities dealing with people, policies, and priorities at your organization. See the 30-60-90 Day Calendar on the project website.

· Review your work: If you utilize some of these project tools, and document your procedures in succession planning, be sure to review documentation after each new hire and succession process.

· Succession Planning for Continued Success: One of the most oft-repeated pieces of advice that we heard during the project research was to make Succession Planning and Knowledge Transfer not just a one-time event, but a way of operating for your organization, to ensure smooth transitions and continued success. Build better documentation habits to ensure you are ready for the next – inevitable – staff transition.

For more information, and to learn about upcoming webinars and other training opportunities related to the Cultural Stewardship Succession Planning Initiative, contact Michelle Eisenberg at [email protected].

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame presents a remarkable opportunity to ignite curiosity and inspire individuals with the extraordinary stories of Indigenous athletes who have made a lasting impact on Canada’s sporting heritage.

People across the country are invited to join Cindy Martin, the great-great-great niece of Tom Longboat, as she shares insights into his enduring legacy—one that is deeply intertwined within the fabric of Canada’s rich sporting history. Additionally, they will gain invaluable perspectives from Kerri Einarson, a four-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts Champion and the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Tom Longboat Award.

This unique opportunity allows individuals to connect with real-life role models, exploring themes of perseverance while celebrating the rich diversity of Indigenous sporting heritage. To learn more, register for the keynotes, and explore the supplementary lesson plan, visit https://beyondthewin.ca/storytelling-series.

In addition, Canadians are invited to follow along on Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame’s social media platforms throughout June to dive into the inspiring journeys of Indigenous Order of Sport Recipients and Hall of Famers, experiencing interviews, photos, and stories from our extensive digital archives.

View the full video here: https://youtu.be/PRGIVnLjxPI?si=hiBCKUut6OLr6QEy

Video Credit: Aboriginal Sport Circle

The University of Rhode Island, an esteemed member of the Atlantic 10 conference, aimed to enhance their competitive standing within the conference. With a significant investment of $8 million from the university and generous donors, they transformed their basketball practice facility into a modern and appealing space, elevating its overall image.

Pinpoint collaborated with architect partner Populous and general contractor Tower Construction to bring the creative vision to reality. Our team skillfully crafted and installed a wide range of graphics and branding elements including visually striking back-lit channel letters, dimensional lettering, elegant frosted logos on glass, eye-catching wall-mounted banners, sleek edge-lit display case elements, corridor graphics, concessions signage, custom-painted court side logos and graphics, and more.

The state-of-the-art Soloviev Basketball Practice Facility offers twenty-four-hour access to training and cutting-edge technology for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. It is a premier venue to attract talented student-athletes looking to play basketball at the highest collegiate level. Additionally, the facility branding provides a visually captivating environment that elevates the overall experience for college athletes. The practice facility is located in the Mackal Fieldhouse on the Kingston, Rhode Island campus.

To see the video visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiG3HrH1ds4&t=17s

On Saturday, April 27th, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted the Class of
2024 at the historic Tennessee Theatre. The seven new inductees include former
LSU stand-out Seimone Augustus; Women’s Professional Basketball League
legend Rita Gail Easterling; WNBA legend Taj McWilliams-Franklin; former
UCONN Husky Maya Moore-Irons; legendary WNBA/NBA official Violet Palmer;
ArchBishop Mitty High School coach Sue Phillips; and former Gulf Coast State
Junior College coach Roonie Scovel.

Along with the Class of 2024, we presented the Trailblazers of the Game to the
1981-82 Cheyney State Women’s Basketball Team. This team is the only Historical
Black College/University (HBCU) to appear in the NCAA Final Four. Fueled by a
roster of eight high school All-Americans and 2001 WBHOF Coach C. Vivian Stringer,
they earned a record of 28-3 and a number 2 national ranking.

The “For the Love of the Game” award was presented to the Afghan Resettlement
Program. This group of Afghanistan female basketball players and coaches sought
refuge in the United States to escape the tyranny of the Taliban. With the assistance
of the University of Tennessee Center for Sport, Peace and Society and the US State
Department, they have resettled in Knoxville. They are currently working on securing
scholarships to continue their education.

With this class, there are 205 inductees who are members of the Women’s Basketball
Hall of Fame family. The Induction Ceremony was hosted by Hall of Famer Debbie
Antonelli where it was presented on ESPN. The ceremony can be viewed on the
WBHOF YouTube page.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be announced on November
30, 2024