Revamped hoop hall gives fans immersive experienceDate: 7/14/2020 SPRINGFIELD – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame reopened to the public last week, sporting not only a new look but a revamped philosophy on telling the story of the game invented in the City of Homes.
With a blend of artifacts and interactive displays, the Hall of Fame now offers a walking tour of the history of the game, exploring all aspects of the sport including its inception, rise in popularity, evolution style of play, milestone events, and social impacts.
“From a philosophical perspective at the museum, we’ve gone from an old museum that was kind of stale, static and stuffy with plaques on the walls and a lot of wall print that really didn’t bring anything to life,” said Jason Fiddler, vice president of Sales, Marketing and Operations. “The new experience is really based on the digital age and user-based experiences. It allows our guests to dive deeper into either their favorite player, their favorite league, their favorite decade, whatever it may be.”
One of the most striking differences those returning to the museum will notice upon first arrival is the names and faces of past inductees that once lined the dome and overlooked the hall have been removed. Those enshrined in the Hall of Fame are now exhibited in a new Hall of Honor, located at the end of the museum’s tour.
“Quite frankly, from a construction and renovation standpoint, that was the hardest decision to make because it was such a beautiful image and it really exemplified our Hall of Famer kind of looking down from the heavens,” Fiddler said. “It was a challenging move to make, but when you see what really replaced that, you’ll understand. We’ve given it really a more relevant, more quiet space - a space where you can truly learn about the Hall of Famers for who they were not only on the court but off the court.”
The Hall of Honor immortalizes its inductees in a number of ways. All of their names are etched in a glass display that spans one wall. On another, a series of video boards honor the current class. Enveloping the rest of the space is an expansive bank of screens of varying sizes and depths with panoramic and constantly changing display of videos and still photography of nearly every member of the Hall of Fame. A mosaic of Hall of Famers forms the face of the game’s inventor, James Naismith. In the center of it all are more interactive kiosks, filled with biographies, videos and other information on inductees, including how they all are connected.
“This is really the heart and soul of the Hall of Fame,” Fiddler said.
On the third floor where the Hall of Famers previously resided, the High Above Center Court exhibit now acts as the museum’s gateway, providing a family-friendly introduction to the hall.
Cutouts of players, including current Celtics star Jason Tatum, allow visitors the opportunity to take photos and measure themselves next to basketball icons. Interactive touch screens provide additional activities while artifacts highlight key movements in basketball history, including the advent of the high school phenom era with superstars like Lebron James, breaking the glass ceiling with the rise in popularity of women’s basketball, and the impact on fashion by players like Dennis Rodman.
Touch screens with immersive programming are one of the hallmarks of the new Hall of Fame, expanding from a handful in the old experience to dozens encountered throughout the museum. Experiences range from informational videos to the opportunity to interview coaches from a list of questions to breakdowns and tutorials on some of the game’s signature moves like the crossover. As part of the museum’s new coronavirus protocols, every guest receives a stylus for use on the screens, which are also regularly cleaned by Hall of Fame staff.
“From a youth interaction standpoint, it’s something fun, it’s engaging and hopefully you’re learning a little when you’re engaging in almost a game-like experience,” he said.
Much of the museum is also dedicated to highlighting the diversity of the game and the contributions of people of color, women, those of Jewish descent, and international contributors. The NBA Players Association contributed to what Fiddler called one of the most important exhibits at the hall - a showcase of basketball’s contributions to social justice.
“I think given the current climate, this exhibit is really important,” Fiddler said.
Still in the works and anticipated to be completed in October is an exhibit dedicated to Kobe Bryant, member of the Class of 2020 who died in a helicopter crash along with his daughter and seven others. Developed in partnership with Panini America Trading Cards, the exhibit will mark one of the few times the museum has dedicated space to a specific athlete or team, Fiddler said, noting Michael Jordan and the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team were the only others. The exhibit will feature the world’s largest game-worn jersey trading card and will also allow visitors to create their own card. In addition, an interactive TNT exhibit, which will give fans the opportunity to step into the studio and record their own session of Inside the NBA.
The Hall of Fame still has plenty of traditional displays as well with artifacts ranging from a piece of the original hardwood floor on which the first basketball was played to a jersey signed by Magic Johnson that he presented to Shaquille O’Neal to cases devoted to historic rivalries and the game’s biggest underdog stories.
On the ground floor, the Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams, a favorite among children who want to shoot a couple baskets in the hall, also got a facelift with a sanding and new paint job, as well as a massive LED screen towering overhead.
Cognizant of the threat of coronavirus, the Hall of Fame has taken multiple steps to ensure the safety of guests. The Hall of Fame is encouraging advance reservations and has instituted a discount for those ordering their tickets online as a way to manage crowds and limit physical contact between guests and staff. Wayfinders on the floor not only provide a level of coronavirus safety, but also guide guests through the museum as they explore its history chronologically. There are also approximately 30 hand sanitizer machines distributed throughout the museum and they are using an electrostatic disinfectant air mist system after hours. Photos of stars like Joel Embiid with his 7-foot, 6-inch wingspan spread out wide remind visitors to remain at least six feet apart.
Addressing Enshrinement Weekend, which has been indefinitely postponed, Fiddler said there is a “sliver of hope” that the festivities might take part this year but if it cannot take place in a safe manner, the Class of 2020 would be honored with a ceremony sometime in early 2021.
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