Published: Febrary 14, 2008

The Sports Museum of America (SmA), which is set to open its doors at 26 Broadway in May, will be the country’s first and only all-sports museum, bringing together artifacts, memorabilia and multimedia from more than 50 single-sport Halls of Fame.

Sports fans no longer have to devote time, money and effort traveling across the country to see the individual Halls of Fame, because the SmA will present a similarly comprehensive experience under one roof. The goal of the museum is to educate fans on the significance and role of sports in American culture.

The museum will feature exhibits dedicated to football, hockey, tennis, golf, auto racing, soccer, basketball, baseball and the Olympics. The Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. and the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada all contributed some of their memorabilia and rare artifacts to these exhibits.

In addition, the museum will provide interactive entertainment for fans of all sports. There are hundreds of photos and videos to see, providing fans with a total sensory experience. Various multimedia presentations and an immersion theater also allow fans to relive great moments and
achievements in sports.

Visitors can also act out their sports dreams by participating in mechanical and computer interactive exhibits that make them feel part of the action. These simulations will allow fans to experience what it is like to be hockey goalie, a driver on a National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) racetrack or an official in a National Football League (NFL) game.

The SmA will soon play a part in college football, as it is set to become the permanent home of the Heisman Trophy, the award given to college football’s best player each year. The award will now be presented at the museum, and the recipient of the award will be given his own tribute, along with past winners, in the Heisman Gallery.

The museum will also be home to the Billie Jean King International Women’s Sports Center, the first ever Hall of Fame dedicated to the achievements of women in sports. This wing of the SmA gives recognition to those women whose athletic accomplishments have been underappreciated as a result of the male domination in sports.

A retail store that sells sports merchandise and memorabilia from the country’s premier manufacturers will also be housed at the SmA. The second floor of the museum can also be rented out for private parties.

Admission to the SmA costs $27 for adults and $24 for students with ID.  Since space inside the museum is limited, tickets are date and time specific. Entry into the museum occurs in blocks of 15 minutes, ending 90 minutes before closing. For more information about the SmA, log on to www.sportsmuseum.com or call 800-840-1157 for information on purchasing tickets, obtaining memberships or reserving parties.