Meeting News - June 16, 2008 - (Page 47) Destination Insider: New York City Nation’s First All-Sports Museum Opens in Big Apple The Sports Museum of America (SMA), the nation’s first and only interactive, multimedia, allsports facility opened last month. Providing 28,000 sf of display space to tell some of sports’ greatest stories, the building is the permanent home of the Heisman Trophy—and its annual presentation to college football’s top player—and the new Billie Jean King International Women’s Sports Center. In addition, four themed galleries tell the stories of sports’ dreamers, the Olympics, barrier breakers, and weekend-warrior sports through athletes’ personal artifacts, interactive experiences, and other displays. Exhibits highlighting individual sports, a total of 19 original films, and 4,000 sf of retail space round out the museum. The building, situated steps away from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferries, Wall Street, South Street Seaport, and the 9/11 memorial currently under way in lower Manhattan, also has an 8,000-sf event space. It can host up to 500 people for a banquet and up to 600 for a cocktail reception. The sports-themed event venue, on the building’s second floor, has a separate entrance from the museum. The museum is also available for rental after operating hours in order to have functions among the memorabilia. Athlete appearances, retail programs, and other special services during events can be arranged. SMA’s vast collection was built through partnerships that building officials struck with over 50 single-sport organizations. Additionally, some prominent athletes who sit on the museum’s honorary board of trustees donated personal items. “With the support of our partners in professional athletic organizations and some of the nation’s greatest and most legendary athletes, we share their stories and—through them—showcase the excitement, grandeur, and significance of sports in American culture,” said Philip Schwalb, founder and CEO of the museum. The Heisman Gallery presents the history of the award, defines the attributes that make a Heisman winner, and pays tribute to all Heisman winners past and present. At the center of the gallery, visitors can touch—and take a picture with—the original Heisman Trophy and cast votes for the next Heisman winner. A variety of women accomplishments in sports are spotlighted in the Billie Jean King Center. Several high-profile objects are featured, including King’s www.meetingnews.com tennis racquet from her 1975 Wimbledon title, a scrapbook of fan letters she received before her battle-of-the-sexes match against Bobby Riggs, and her iconic blue-and-white tennis shoes. Interactive experiences include stepping into a goal and “wearing” a goalie mask in the museum’s hockey exhibit, a chance to test one’s skills against broadcasting legends, and a “visit” to the Daytona 500 while strapped into a driver’s seat. “There is something for everyone here,” said John Urban, SMA’s president and general manager. “We want our guests to touch, explore, listen, and take more than one ‘Wow! I didn’t know that’ moment away with them.” r June 16, 2008 MeetingNews 47 http://www.pra.com http://www.pra.com http://www.meetingnews.com
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