NASCAR Hall of Fame design unveiled    05/23/2007

CHARLOTTE -- Thousands of fans are in Charlotte this week for race week. And just as NASCAR lovers from all around the country are gearing up for the Coca-Cola 600, plans for the NASCAR Hall of Fame have also shifted into high gear.

The architectural firm in charge of designing the Hall of Fame revealed some of its final design ideas at a luncheon on Wednesday. George Miller, a partner at Pei Cobb Freed, said their goal is to incorporate the essence of NASCAR into every aspect of the building’s design. “We’re trying to capture the whole idea of motion in this building, the idea of the speed and spectacle of this sport,” he said.

The architects are using every little detail to try and do just that. They plan on using a ribbon-like design around the entire building to create the illusion motion through twists and curves. "Putting a ribbon around the entire building to connect it, to have it turning and twisting really was one of those important architectural jesters that really made this building exceptional," Miller said.

Aside from its unique structure, it will also include many state of the art facilities including: a NASCAR newsroom, a theater where fans will be able to buy tickets to watch the races, a ballroom that will fit up to 25,000 people and a studio for broadcasting capabilities.

Just as the start of another race week begins, fans at Food Lion’s Speedstreet said they're very excited to see the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte and they're expecting it to be nothing less than spectacular.

“All the drivers, most of them are from this area or originated from this area. We like it and I think it should have been the hall of fame here," said NASCAR fan Linda Haskett.  She and her friends and family are from Indiana and have traveled to Charlotte for the past 8 years for race week. They say the main thing they want to see is NASCAR history. "We don't care about what sponsors are particularly on it. We're more interested in the driver and the history,” explained Haskett.

The architects and designers said that is exactly what fans visiting the Hall of Fame can expect. “All the NASCAR fans are going to find a place where they can see all the hero's of their sport… of today and of yesterday," said Miller.

Pei Cobb Freed is in the final stages of design and is now in the process of pricing it. In addition to paying close attention to all the design details, Miller said they’re also working within established deadlines and are making sure to stay within budget.

NASCAR Hall of Fame unveils logo
SCENEDAILY - 7:00PM ET WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2007 -

CHARLOTTE – The Nascar Hall of Fame unveiled its logo Wednesday night as part of the all-star week festivities.
     The logo is blue and silver underneath the multi-bar NASCAR logo.
     "I'm thrilled for the team to now have a visual component to share with the Charlotte and NASCAR communities and the millions of NASCAR fans who are following our progress," said Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley.
     Advertising firm BooneOakley created the design for the logo.
     The Hall of Fame is scheduled to open in late 2009 or early 2010 with its first induction ceremony possibly as early as May 2010.       Courtesy Scene Daily

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NASCAR Hall of Fame looks to first induction ceremony 
By Sporting News Wire Service    May 11, 2007

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is more than two years from opening, but the wheels for its first induction ceremony already are in motion. Officials say that plans are under way to tie the hall inductions into the same week as the Nextel All-Star Challenge, which typically is the third week in May.

"There's a lot of support for making All-Star week also Hall of Fame induction week," said Mark Dyer, NASCAR's vice president of licensing. "It makes a lot of sense. It's a pretty busy week already, but that's not necessarily a bad thing."

Dyer said it's a natural for the induction ceremony to be wedded with one of the race dates at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., just outside of Charlotte, where the hall is being built. The festivities around the All-Star Challenge and Coca-Cola 600 each May seem to make those dates the more desirable.

All-Star week this month begins May 16 with the Pit-Crew Challenge at Charlotte Bobcats Arena, followed by a Craftsman Truck Series race May 18 and the
All-Star Challenge the following night. Slotting an induction ceremony into that lineup is the goal.

"Integrating the induction ceremony into All-Star week is just going to help the other events," Dyer said.

The charter class is targeted for induction in May 2010. The hall is expected to be finished earlier that year and scheduled to open no later than March 31, 2010.

"Everything has been designed to have inductions at the front of the hall, with a stage and grandstands outside and the inside reserved for private activities," said Winston Kelley, the hall's executive director.

Kelley said more immediate concerns about the building's construction are higher on the priority list than the ceremony, but Dyer already has attended a Pro Football Hall of Fame induction and Kelley said he will attend inductions for other halls as well. As for how many inductees will be in the charter class, that is being "intensely debated," Dyer said.

Dick Glover, NASCAR's vice president of TV and new media, hinted that SPEED, which is the television home for the All-Star Challenge for the next eight years, could be the television home for the inductions.

"When you look at SPEED being in Charlotte and the great synergy between the network, NASCAR and the track, you think that there's an opportunity," Glover said. "When you think about adding the Hall of Fame, that's something that we can really build into not just a TV event, but a whole week of activity."

The buzz about tying in Hall of Fame inductions into All-Star week each May has circulated to some of NASCAR's most prominent sponsors.

"It's certainly very logical," said Tim Schoen, vice president of sports and entertainment marketing at Anheuser-Busch. "If you're a marketer, you're definitely thinking in those terms. It could be an enormous event."

Also, the Hall of Fame is selecting an agency to sell sponsorships. Kelley said 17 agencies have responded to the RFP, and in two to four weeks that list will be trimmed and agencies will make presentations. Kelley said the process will be collaborative among the hall, NASCAR and the agency.

Marketing agencies also are submitting proposals to represent NASCAR for Champions Week in New York in late November. Spokesman Andrew Giangola said NASCAR was seeking an agency that will develop marketing efforts to engage the fans in New York and create more of a buzz. The final four candidates are Jack Morton Worldwide, LeadDog Marketing, Synergy and Velocity.

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NASCAR seeks input on hall of fame

The public will have a chance to have its say about the NASCAR Hall of Fame at a Dec. 5 forum.

The event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in room 217 of the Charlotte Convention Center at 501 S. College St.

The forum will seek input to define the visitors' experience at the hall of fame, which is scheduled to open in 2009. Topics will include the use of public spaces, exhibits and other features that visitors will want.

Winston Kelley, the hall's executive director, will lead the discussion. The exhibit designer, Ralph Applebaum of Ralph Applebaum and Associates, and project architect, Yvonne Szeto of Pei, Cobb & Freed, will provide overviews of their work. Both firms are based in New York.

The forum is sponsored by the city of Charlotte, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and NASCAR.

Free parking will be available in the Brevard parking lot at the corner of Stonewall and Brevard streets.

Reservations can be made by calling (704) 331-2729 or e-mailing the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority at lee.gaddis@crva.com .