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SPRINGFIELD The Basketball Hall of Fame is adding some special attractions this summer to help keep younger guests entertained. The "Hooper-Active Zone" was opened last week on the second floor of the Hall and features a bounce house, a bungee cord ball-shooting game, video games, and a basketball shooting sling shot game, among other games. Mary Ann Burns, the Hall's marketing and communications manager, said the summer time addition was designed to be a more hands-on display for the Hall's younger guests. The new game area is part of the Hall's summer schedule of activities and features. Every Monday the first 1200 children 12 and under with a paid admission will receive a free Hall of Fame backpack. On Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning July 10, there will be weekly on-court coaching clinics. Every Friday, the Hall will features one of its premier awards for up close viewing, such as the NBA Championship Award. In July and August there will be performances by the Celtic mascot and the New Jersey Nets mascot as well as a show presented by Rainbow of the Court Jesters basketball team. On August 2 at 1 p.m., two Hall of Famers, Van Chancellor and Roy Williams, will have a meet and greet appearance. Burns said that Hall officials have not yet been able to tell if the high cost of gasoline has affected the number of visitors to the museum. "We're just kicking off the summer," she said. "We won't know until mid-summer." She said the additional programming was to give the Hall's local audience added incentive to come more than once during the vacation season. | ||||||
