College Football Hall of Fame Celebrates Construction Milestone

ATLANTA – On Jan. 16, the College Football Hall of Fame celebrated the “topping out” of its new $66.9 million facility in Atlanta. The three-story, 94,256-square-foot attraction is designed to entertain and educate visitors, and it will serve as a venue to celebrate the traditions of college football.

“Topping out” is the customary ceremony that celebrates the completion of the frame of a new building during which the top beams are put into place at the structure’s pinnacle.

"We couldn't be happier that the project has reached this point,” said John Stephenson, president & CEO of Atlanta Hall Management. “Our construction partners at Brasfield & Gorrie and Benchmark Consulting have done an amazing job building a truly unique structure while keeping the project on schedule.”

The state-of-the-art facility, set to open in August 2014, will feature historic and contemporary artifacts, interactive multimedia displays, children’s activities, a theater featuring an originally produced ultra high-definition film on the history and excitement of college football, meeting facilities, and special event spaces. In addition to being a valuable marketing asset for the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta, the new attraction is expected to have a significant economic impact on downtown Atlanta, with a projected $11.8 million in taxable sales from tickets, retail and events each year.

In homage to the sport, part of the attraction’s façade features a rotunda – football fans have likened it to a helmet from football’s early years or a football standing on end. Upon entering the building, visitors will be exposed to an atrium that serves as a gateway to various interactive exhibits within the attraction. Among its amenities, the College Football Hall of Fame will feature restaurant and retail spaces and a 45-yard indoor turf field that can be used for event rentals.