Established | 1972 |
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Location | Tim Hortons Field 64 Melrose Avenue North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
Type | Canadian football museum |
Executive director | Eric Noivo |
Website | www.cfhof.ca |
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame (CFHOF) is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates achievements in Canadian football. It is maintained by the Canadian Football League (CFL). It includes displays about the CFL, Canadian university football and Canadian junior football history. [1]
The Hall previously had a main feature in the central portion of the museum where the metal busts of inducted members were displayed prior to the physical building being closed. There were also featured displays that highlight each CFL team's history, and an interactive field goal kicking exhibit. The CFHOF is currently changing to a de-centralized model, which does not include a main museum building.
Once during every CFL season, the Hall sponsors the induction ceremony of former players. Included in the "Hall of Fame Weekend" is a regular season game, usually (but not always) affiliated with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Traditionally, the inducted players will come to the Hall and make an acceptance speech in front of the building where their newly sculpted bust is unveiled. A player must be retired from the game for at least three years before being eligible for consideration. [2] A Hall of Fame voting committee is composed of sports writers, selected CFL executives and inducted members. [3]
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame officially opened on November 28, 1972. Originally located in downtown Hamilton, it moved to Tim Hortons Field, home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, in 2016. The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was awarded to the City of Hamilton in June 1963 following the invitation of Mayor Lloyd Douglas Jackson. The Hamilton Parks Board offered a space near Civic Stadium. Ivan Miller, former sports editor of The Hamilton Spectator , was named the first curator. Soon after, the Board of Education purchased the land and building. The Hall moved to its new location in 1972 and closed on September 19, 2015. In 2015, responsibility for the museum moved from the City of Hamilton to the CFL. [4]
The old Canadian Football Hall of Fame building was easily identified by the slightly-larger-than-life metal sculpture Touchdown, featuring a successful receiver being tackled. The sculpture has since been moved to Tim Hortons Field Gate 3. [5] Tim Hortons Field also has 3 display areas – the Grey Cup display at Gate 3, the Media Hall of Fame Wing in the press box area, and the main display area in the premium level concourse. The main display area will feature all 296 busts (as of March 2018) and rotating displays of various artifacts. The displays are accessible during Hamilton Tiger-Cats home games (club-level display open to all ticket holders 15 minutes after the end of the game), as well as Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings to the public at no charge. [6] The CFHOF also has travelling displays for different CFL team home fields, the Grey Cup, and other events. [7]
*denotes deceased
In addition to builders of the sport, and players, the Hall of Fame also has a section dedicated towards broadcasters and reporters of the sport.
The 1996 CFL season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.
The 1982 CFL season is considered to be the 29th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 25th Canadian Football League season.
The 1980 CFL season is considered to be the 27th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 23rd Canadian Football League season.
The 1978 CFL season is considered to be the 25th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 21st Canadian Football League season.
The 1977 CFL season is considered to be the 24th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 20th Canadian Football League season.
The 1976 CFL season is considered to be the 23rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 19th Canadian Football League season.
The 1975 CFL season is considered to be the 22nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 18th Canadian Football League season.
The 1974 CFL season is considered to be the 21st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 17th Canadian Football League season.
The 1973 CFL season is considered to be the 20th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 16th Canadian Football League season.
The 1972 CFL season is considered to be the 19th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 15th Canadian Football League season.
The 1971 CFL season is considered to be the 18th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it was officially the 14th Canadian Football League season.
The 1970 CFL season is considered to be the 17th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 13th Canadian Football League season.
The 1969 CFL season is considered to be the 16th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it was officially the 12th Canadian Football League season.
The 1968 CFL season is considered to be the 15th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 11th Canadian Football League season.
The 1967 CFL season was the tenth Canadian Football League season, and the 14th season in modern-day Canadian football.
The 1960 CFL season is considered to be the seventh season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the third Canadian Football League season.
The 1962 CFL season is considered to be the ninth season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the fifth Canadian Football League season.
The 1964 CFL season is considered to be the 11th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the seventh Canadian Football League season.
The 1966 CFL season was the Canadian Football League's ninth season since the 1958 merger of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union and the Western Interprovincial Football Union to create a national league. It was the 13th season in modern-day Canadian football.
The 1965 CFL season is considered to be the 12th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the eighth Canadian Football League season.