Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker said, "The concept of a Hall of Fame Village aligns with the Hall's vision for the future.”

Local leaders and the Pro Football Hall of Fame are moving forward with plans to reshape the campus into a Hall of Fame Village that is likely to entice the NFL to hold more events here, including the NFL Draft.

A master plan that fits within the framework of a $500,000 feasibility study calls for Stark County’s only four-star hotel, a conference center and other buildings that will serve the Hall of Fame’s vision to celebrate greatness. The hotel and conference center are seen as a driving piece to the village concept aimed at attracting the 2019 NFL Draft to Canton. That is the kickoff of the 100th season of the NFL, which was formed in downtown Canton.

“There is no question that this is our Super Bowl,” Canton Mayor William J. Healy II said. “I’ve already referred to this project as Canton 2020. When cities get awarded Olympics, they identify that city with a calendar year. Our timeframe is 2020. My goal is to have as much of this in place by 2020.”

The board of trustees’ approval of a master plan could reshape Stark County’s tourism standing in the Midwest.

“There is no question that this is one of those scenarios that if you build it, they will come,” Healy said. “We have the Hall of Fame as the anchor, Fawcett Stadium and the development of what that’s going to be around it. Those are two core anchors that we have to build this village around and to create something extra special.”

THE PLAN

The concept started with the renovation of Fawcett Stadium. Work on the stadium will begin next fall. However, Hall of Fame President David Baker didn’t want to stop with just the field.

Plans will move forward with partners to create a village that may include a four-star hotel and conference center, youth football fields, a center for athletic performance and safety, an academy of excellence to serve corporate partners, as well as retail, thematic restaurants and a mixed-use residential area for Hall of Famers and NFL legends, the Hall said in a news release.

“The concept of a Hall of Fame Village aligns with the Hall’s vision for the future,” Baker said. “The commitment by the Board of Trustees, provides the staff the opportunity to begin the next steps recommended in the recently completed feasibility studies.”

Developer Stuart Lichter, founder of Industrial Realty Group, has partnered with the Hall of the project. The expansion to Hall of Fame Village will be the Hall’s largest project in its history.

“It certainly was a big day when this was passed, but at the same time we have tremendous amount of work to do to get to phase one,” said Randy Hunt, who just started a five-year term as chairman of the Hall’s Board of Trustees.

Hunt said the next step in the process is to bring together partners to create a funding stream to make the concept a reality.

BAKER’S ROLE

Baker is no stranger to pulling together big ideas and pricey projects.

He came to Canton after putting the finishing touches on a $1.5 billion integrated health care village in Henderson, Nevada. Baker said Canton has a significant advantage the project in Nevada did not.

What Baker has been able to do well so far is bring partners to the table.

“As Dave and I were speaking, he referenced that this is not the work of one man. This is collaboration,” Healy said. “As you bring in partners, developers, you find private partners and government partners, this is snowballing into a collaborative effort bigger than any one individual.

“David Baker is the catalyst for getting this off the ground and he’s integral to the process.”

In addition to Lichter, the Hall of Fame’s partners are Dennis Saunier, president and CEO of Canton Chamber of Commerce; Healy and Canton Deputy Mayor Fonda Williams; Adrian Allison, superintendent of Canton City Schools; and Anne Graffice, chairwoman of the Stark County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.

“For starters we have the Hall of Fame here, and we have this incredible metaphor for excellence,” Baker said. “The third thing that we have here is this incredible group of partners in the community. I can’t overstate this. Each person at this table has brought something important. I’ve been blown away by the leadership in this community.”

Reach Todd at 330-580-8340 or todd.porter@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @tporterREP