Hall of Fame Resort and Entertainment Company and the NFL Alumni Association Provide Update on the Success of the Inaugural NFL Alumni Academy
Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (HOFV) reports successful outcomes from its inaugural NFL Alumni Academy, which trains aspiring professional football players. Ten participants have secured workouts or signed contracts with NFL teams, including players from various franchises. The Academy, based at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, offers elite coaching from former NFL personnel. The program aims to prepare players with competitive advantages necessary for success in the NFL.
- Ten participants from the NFL Alumni Academy have received NFL opportunities this season.
- The Academy provides elite coaching from former NFL coaches and players.
- Increased visibility and access for participants as all 32 NFL teams evaluate Academy players.
- None.
CANTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (“HOFV” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW), the only resort, entertainment and media company centered around the power of professional football, and the NFL Alumni Association are pleased to share an update on the tremendous success of the inaugural NFL Alumni Academy (the “Academy”), the first-ever development and training program for aspiring professional football players. The Academy, which is based at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls in Canton, Ohio, has now seen 10 of its participants receive workouts or signed NFL contracts this season after Christian Ringo (New Orleans Saints), O’Shea Dugas (Cincinnati Bengals), Josiah Coatney (San Francisco 49ers) and R.J. Prince (Baltimore Ravens) were called up this month.
The six other Academy participants invited to work out for or signed with NFL teams this season include:
- Evan Adams
- Tavien Feaster
- Stacy Keely
- Trevon McSwain
- Aca’Cedric Ware
- Ethan Westbrooks
Michael Crawford, President and CEO of HOFV, said, “We are pleased to be in a position to offer a world-class facility to athletes chosen to attend the Academy, where they can train and develop their games alongside some of the greatest to ever coach and play in the NFL. We look forward to the continued success of this program and the opportunity to expand its recognition across the U.S. through our partnership with Sports Illustrated Studios and future sponsorships with leading brands.”
Since September 2020, participants of the Academy have been working under the tutelage of former NFL personnel and professional trainers to further develop their games. Participants receive hands-on coaching from former Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Mike Tice, Hall of Fame offensive lineman Anthony Munoz, two-time Pro Bowler Jermon Bushrod and legendary performance coach Chip Smith, as well as former NFL coaches and players Steve Smith, Jay Hayes, Chuck Smith, Moe Williams, Jerome Felton, Al Smith and Dean Dalton.
“All 32 NFL teams have accessed the Academy portal to evaluate these free agent players,” said Mr. Dalton, Executive Director of the NFL Alumni Academy, who spent seven seasons coaching offensive lineman and running backs for the Vikings. “NFL personnel departments are starting to recommend certain players and, during these challenging times of COVID protocols, find it a very positive advantage to request private ‘virtual’ workouts of players at the Academy. The feedback that we are getting from the personnel directors within the League has been tremendous as they can evaluate these invited free agents on video gaining a direct perspective on the conditioning level and the improved technique development. They can contact our coaching staff to discuss each player’s intangible value as well. Our Academy is definitely being recognized as the ‘go-to’ personnel source for each NFL team’s need to fill their respective depth charts in-season.”
The goal of the Academy is to prepare its participants for every aspect of the game of football to ensure they have competitive advantages that allow them to get to the next level. The Academy has a tremendous outlet to set these players apart, while keeping NFL franchises current regarding player progress and developments.
About the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company
The Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW) is a resort and entertainment company leveraging the power and popularity of professional football and its legendary players in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Headquartered in Canton, Ohio, the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company is the owner of the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls, a multi-use sports, entertainment and media destination centered around the Pro Football Hall of Fame's campus. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.HOFREco.com.
About the NFL Alumni Association
The NFL Alumni Association is a nationwide group of former National Football League players, coaches and other employees whose mission is to serve, assist and inform former players and their families. The association offers a variety of medical, financial and social programs to help members lead healthy, productive and connected lives, as well as community initiatives under the NFL Alumni’s “Caring for Kids” programs. The NFL Alumni Association hosts the NFL Alumni Academy Player Development Program each football season at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls in Canton, Ohio.
About the NFL Alumni Academy
The NFL Alumni Academy provides a pathway for the top-graded players that were released from NFL training camps to return to the NFL by giving them the opportunity to further develop their skills and realize their potential by training under the tutelage of elite former NFL coaches, players and performance coaches. The Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls will initially serve as the NFL Alumni Academy’s headquarters and training facility. The Academy will then move to the Center for Performance, which will be located on the Village’s campus and is anticipated to be completed in 2022. The Center for Performance will feature an 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art indoor field house and training facility, among other amenities.
About WaV Sports and Entertainment LLC
WaV Sports & Entertainment is a global sports marketing firm that specializes in sports property representation, brand side representation, and the management and production of unique sporting and entertainment events. WaV exclusively represents, manages and operates the NFL Alumni Academy and various other NFL Alumni projects such as their youth educational programming known as Pro Day Experience. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.WaVsports.com
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