Pro Football Hall of Fame to commemorate 60th anniversary with multi-day celebration

• Festivities to include special community day, gala 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will commemorate its 60th anniversary with a series of events not only to celebrate the greatest of the game, but also to recognize the community that has given so much to the Hall.

The diamond anniversary of the Pro Football Hall of Fame — Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 — marks a major milestone in the history of professional football and the history of the National Football League. The celebration will kick off Sept. 8 and run through Sept. 11, with events scheduled for each of the four days. 

“This year marks a special milestone for the Hall of Fame and the community, so we want to celebrate this weekend together,” Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said.

The Hall of Fame will commemorate this milestone during a multi-day celebration that includes a community day, gala, golf outing and an initiative for the Hall to give back to the community. 

Pro Football Hall of Fame 60th Anniversary schedule of events:

Sept. 8 – Hall of Fame Day of Giving Back

Hall of Fame staff will spend the day giving back to the community that has given so much to it. Throughout the day, team members will take part in a variety of volunteer initiatives throughout Stark County.

Sept. 9 – Community Celebration

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will open its doors and welcome guests to a Community Celebration — at a discount to the public — to commemorate not only 60 years as an iconic part of the Canton community, but also six decades of support from the community the Hall calls home. 

Fans from near and far will join together for a day filled with family-friendly activities, appearances by the Hall’s mascot Goldy the G.O.A.T., entertainment and other events around the Hall of Fame’s campus.

Sept. 10 – 60th Anniversary Gala

The Hall of Fame will host a gala. Guests will mingle with Hall of Famers as the party kicks off with a cocktail hour followed by dinner and an evening of celebration. There will be a live auction, raffle items and other highlights throughout the evening. 

Sept. 11 – Kickoff Golf Classic
 
The celebration wraps up with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Kickoff Golf Classic at Firestone County Club. 

Golfers will have the opportunity to play Firestone’s South Course with a Pro Football Hall of Famer. Host to numerous PGA tournaments throughout the years, the South Course is considered hallowed ground for golf enthusiasts.

More details about the Hall’s 60th Anniversary Celebration will be released in the coming weeks.

The National Football League awarded the site for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Canton in 1961. Groundbreaking for the original construction took place Aug. 11, 1962, and the Hall opened its doors for the first time Sept. 7, 1963.