CANTON – The excitement is building in Canton as the National High School Football Hall of Fame Foundation makes plans to establish a 20,000-square-foot facility in the city’s downtown area. Lamont Robinson, the founder and CEO of the foundation, stated that Canton’s rich tradition in football makes it the ideal location for this new project. The city is already home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Black College Football Hall of Fame, solidifying its place as a hub for football history.
“Many of the players that are in the NFL played in high school, so it just made sense to have a facility to be able to tell the history,” Robinson remarked. The foundation anticipates that the new center could attract 100,000 unique visitors to Canton annually.
Tonja Marshall, chief marketing officer at Visit Canton, expressed enthusiasm about the new building, saying, “Welcoming new experiences to complement and add to our area’s destination appeal is a positive in our book.” The foundation is set to unveil more details on January 22, along with the announcement of 28 new inductees to its hall of fame, featuring legends like Jim Brown, Archie Griffin, and the Manning family.
The facility is planned to be located at 332 Second St. NW, aiming for a soft opening this summer, with a full launch in 2026. “We want the people of Canton to have a say so and be part of this,” Robinson said, highlighting the community’s importance in this project.
Inside the facility, there will be designated areas honoring athletes by their positions and a special room to recognize coaches. Robinson noted that while coaches often don’t receive the spotlight they deserve, their role is crucial to developing great players. “If it wasn’t for the coaches, you wouldn’t have these great players,” he pointed out.
Another highlight will be an exhibit dedicated to the storied rivalry between Canton and Massillon. Robinson envisions a highly interactive, virtual reality experience that will bring the history of the rivalry to life. “I think that exhibit in that room is going to be great,” he said.
As the plans for the facility move forward, Robinson expressed optimism, stating, “We want to give this area something that it needs.” He added that there has been significant support from local government and the community, which has made the process even more encouraging.
