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Museum Dedicated To Sports In America Opens Its Doors
Six years in the making, the museum at 26 Broadway on the corner of Beaver Street, was financed by private investors and $57 million in federal, tax-exempt Liberty Bonds. Founder Sameer Ahuga said he expects the museum to draw one million visitors a year. “Every sport has its own hall of fame, but there has never been a place where sports fans can come together to celebrate all sports,” Ahuga said. “Having it in a city with 45 million tourists a year and 20 million residents in the area means that more people will have access to it.” Ahuga said the museum will combine traditional sports memorabilia with interactive features. The museum’s 800-piece collection of memorabilia includes a championship-winning stock car, the American flag worn by goalie Jim Craig after the U.S. victory over the Russians in the 1980 Olympic “Miracle on Ice” game, and what the museum is referring to as “Brandi Chastain’s legendary sports bra.” The 45,000-square-foot museum will also feature a range of high-tech immersive features, like a hockey goalie’s mask that visitors can don to experience a virtual simulation of hockey pucks flying at them at 120 miles per hour or a simulated NASCAR race track where cars hurtle by on ceiling-height screens. The museum will also serve as the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, and will be the permanent home of college football’s Heisman Trophy. Ahuga and his partner Philip Schwalb also have plans to rent the museum out as a catered event space. The museum will be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Tickets cost $27 for adults, $24 for students and seniors, and $20 for children over 4.
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