College Football Hall of Fame Bound for Atlanta
America’s Shrine Gets New $50 Million Home beginning in 2012

ATLANTA (September 24, 2009) – The College Football Hall of Fame is relocating to Atlanta and is expected to open a new $50 million facility in the fall of 2012.

The decision to move to Atlanta was made by the National Football Foundation’s Board of Directors. The National Football Foundation has operated the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind. since 1995. It was established in 1951.

“We have had a great run in South Bend for the past 15 years, and it’s been a wonderful showcase for us and our mission,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell.  “There are a lot of special people in South Bend, and we want to thank Mayor Luecke and all of his constituents for their support over the years.  As we looked to the future, the NFF Board determined that the Atlanta proposal presented a powerful opportunity for reaching fans around the country.”

Several sites are still being considered, but it is likely the new College Football Hall of Fame facility will be adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta in close proximity to other attractions including the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Children’s Museum and the future Center for Civil & Human Rights.

The final site selection is expected to be announced later this year. Facility design for the building project is expected to be complete later this fall with construction on the 50,000-square-foot structure beginning next spring.

“An impressive group from Atlanta has pulled together the financial resources and an extremely compelling plan that will help us build a new platform for the future,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “Accepting their plan will create a new high-tech facility that will showcase the legends of our sport and build on the momentum and interest that we have been able to generate in South Bend.”

Metro Atlanta’s population of 5.3 million and its convention traffic of more than five million annual visitors are expected to significantly bolster yearly visitor figures for the Hall and ensure its long-term growth and prosperity.

Other benefits for the Hall’s relocation to Atlanta include a critical mass of downtown entertainment attractions, superior access via the country’s busiest airport and an inviting year-round climate.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin said, “The City of Atlanta is excited to welcome the College Football Hall of Fame to downtown Atlanta. This major tourism venue will be a welcomed attraction to downtown where we already have the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coke, the CNN Center, Centennial Park and others. I’m especially proud of the work done by the Atlanta Development Authority and their partners in attracting the College Football Hall of Fame to our city.”

Atlanta also makes sense for the Hall’s relocation because it is home to several major annual college football events such as the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, SEC Football Championship and the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic for historically black colleges. Metro Atlanta also boasts major collegiate programs including Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia and Georgia State, which begins playing football next year. Attendance for those events and Atlanta’s four professional teams tops four million each year.

Atlanta also boasts more corporate headquarters for college football sponsors than any other market – including Chick-fil-A, AT&T, Coca-Cola and The Home Depot – and ranks fourth nationally in total number of corporate headquarters.

“I am thrilled to welcome the College Football Hall of Fame to Georgia,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Atlanta is the ideal location for this unique attraction, and I am confident both Georgians and tourists to our state will visit often. College football is a big part of our culture here in the South, so it makes perfect sense to place the Hall of Fame right here in the cradle of support for this great sport.”

Through a new partnership between the National Football Foundation and the Chick-fil-A Bowl, once constructed, the Hall will be operated locally by the Chick-fil-A Bowl. This will provide a built-in experienced management structure and a direct tie to a 42-year college football tradition in Atlanta with strong ties to the community.

“Atlanta is a true mecca for college football. It’s our way of life and we’re passionate about it,” said Gary Stokan, president and CEO of the Chick-fil-A Bowl. “Atlanta will showcase this national treasure like never before and provide fans superior access and an improved experience.”

The Chick-fil-A Bowl and its corporate partner, Chick-fil-A, have each committed $5 million for the new College Football Hall of Fame facility.

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About the College Football Hall of Fame:
Founded in 1947 with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, Play It Smart, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.

About the Chick-fil-A Bowl:
The Chick-fil-A Bowl is the ninth-oldest bowl game in the country and hosts the longest-running rivalry series between the ACC and SEC. Now in its 42nd year, the Chick-fil-A Bowl has established itself as one of the nation’s elite bowl games with a string of 12 consecutive sellouts and has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the nation. Ten of the last 17 games have been decided by a touchdown or less. The Chick-fil-A Bowl has disbursed more than $90 million in team payouts over its 41-year history and has increased team payout every year since 1996. The Bowl also leads all other bowl games in charitable and scholarship contributions, giving more than $1.2 million to organizations in need in 2007 alone. Other events under the Chick-fil-A Bowl brand include the Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge head coach and celebrity golf event each April and the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game season-opening game over Labor Day weekend which hosted two top-10 teams, Alabama and Virginia Tech, to open the 2009 season Sept. 5.