National Soccer Hall of Fame to Change Operating Model, Relocate Exhibits and Archives

The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum announced its plan to change its current operating model to address its financial challenges while enhancing its ability to promote the history of soccer to the growing community of fans across the nation.

As part of the operating change, the Hall of Fame will close its Oneonta facility and relocate the collections and archives. Preliminary plans include distributing permanent displays for exhibition in several locations nationwide, while elements of the Hall’s archives not on display will be preserved in storage facilities provided by one of the Hall’s longtime corporate sponsors, Eurosport, located in Hillsborough, N.C.

The annual election process will continue without interruption, and the location of specific induction ceremonies will be planned with consideration to the U.S. soccer calendar, the fan base of respective inductees and any other circumstances unique to a given year. Although specific details have not yet been decided, planning for the 2010 Induction is under way with an event anticipated for late summer. The U.S. Soccer Federation will assist with the execution of the annual election and implementation of the Induction event, as well as the relocation of the archive.

In January, the Hall announced the election of Thomas Dooley and Preki Radosavljevic as Players and Bruce Arena as a Builder. The Veteran Player will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We remain as committed as ever to honoring the history of the game and preserving the legacy of the sport in the United States for many years to come,” U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said. “As we transition into a new and more sustainable operating model, we will continue to promote and celebrate the Hall of Famers and their accomplishments and look forward to the 2010 Induction later this summer.”

As the relocation process begins, the Hall will seek to transfer title of its 62-acre campus to the Otsego County Development Corporation, a nonprofit entity that promotes commerce and civic improvement. This transfer, pending approval by key New York state agencies and the New York State Supreme Court, will require that soccer programs continue to occur at the complex, but will also permit the building and grounds to otherwise be used to serve the highest and best interests of the local community.

“The vision for the National Soccer Hall of Fame, its birth and the majority of its support has, for nearly 30 years, originated in Oneonta,” stated Hall of Fame Board Chairman Doug Willies. “In recognition of these unprecedented contributions to the promotion of soccer in the United States, the Board of Directors of the NSHOF is pleased to return at no cost to the community the entire campus and facility”.

The Hall will continue to occupy the facility until the relocation of collections and archives is complete. To facilitate the transition, a contract has been established for the Otsego County Development Corporation to immediately assume management responsibilities associated with the property.

“The National Soccer Hall of Fame is saddened to be closing our doors in Oneonta, a city and region that has showed great support for both the museum and the sport long before we opened here,” Hall of Fame President Jonathan Ullman said. “Ultimately, we need to move forward in a manner that maximizes our resources and provides the greatest possible access by the public to the history and heroes of the sport, and this is the first step forward in that process.”

Additional details will be provided at a press conference scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m. at the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum.

For more coverage on this announcement, visit The Daily Star's website.