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Hall of Fame Village

Could Charge relocate to Village?

By Alison Matas
Repository staff writer
In a few years, the Canton
Charge could be playing at
Hall of Fame Village instead
of downtown Canton at
Memorial Civic Center.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
President and David Baker
said he has had conversa-
tions with officials from the
Cleveland Cavaliers the
NBA affiliate for the Charge
about a possible move.
The Center for Excellence
planned for the village, which
is expected to break ground
later this year and open in the
spring of 2018, is designed to
include a 6,000-seat arena.
We think that that would
be a great place for them to
play, Baker said.
The Charge is housed at
the Canton Memorial Civic
Center, which opened in
1951.The Civic Center seats
up to 5,200 people and hosts
about 125 events a year,
including Canton Charge
games.
Mayor Thomas M. Berna-
bei, who said hes aware the
Charge have some interest
in moving to Hall of Fame
Village, said city officials
continue to look at the future
of the Civic Center.
It is old, he said. I think
that it probably works well
for an entity like the Charge.
It doesnt work well for other
types of events and so forth
that you want to attract to
these types of civic centers.
Len Komoroski, Cavaliers
and Quicken Loans Arena
CEO, ina statement emailed
via a spokeswoman, called
Hall of Fame Village devel-
opment dynamic and very
exciting.
We hope very much to be
a part of it, the statement
read.
Relocating the NBA devel-
opment league team isnt
the only talk of involving the
Charge and Cavaliers in Hall
of Fame Village.
Other ideas include Dan
Gilbert, the majority owner
of both the Charge and the
Cavaliers, managing events at
the village. His Detroit-based
company Rock Ventures deals
with economic development,
real estate development, mar-
keting and communications.
Baker said he has spoken
with Gilbert about the pos-
sibility and is interested in
connecting people who want
to promote economic devel-
opment and possibly creating
a corridor that stretches from
Canton, Akron and Cleveland
to Michigan.
Requests for comment REPOSITORY FILE
about the potential part- n Shane Edwards of the Canton Charge is introduced prior to a game
nership made to Gilberts with the Sioux Falls Skyforce at Canton Memorial Civic Center. Pro
companies werent returned. Football Hall of Fame officials have had conversations about the Canton
Charge leaving the downtown Civic Center for Hall of Fame Village.

VERAS
From Page M3
To have a guy of Georges
experience, incredible talent
and enormous drive, I hope
he works at the Hall forever.
He is that kind of guy.
Veras is an integral part
of the Hall of Fame Village
plan. His experience was
instrumental in booking the
Concert for Legends last
year with rock stars Aeros-
mith, this year with country
superstar Tim McGraw and
hes excited to see the com-
plete vision of the project
come to fruition.
This is only the tip of the
iceberg, Veras said. I know
its hard to envision, and we
dont like to get out in front
of it, but the opportunity here
with the 100th NFL season
coming up, the facilities
were going to have to do so
many things to help so many
people, its an incredible
opportunity for all of us here
in this area.
Ive always loved the
people of Canton, and Im
amazed at the depth of pas-
sion these people have for the
game of football. Its won-
derful. How the Hall treats all
the guests that come through,
its gonna be better than ever
before. Its a great place and a
great time to be here, and Im
privileged to be a part of it.
Veras sat down recently
and discussed his prodigious
career, along with his love for
his family, job and football.
Q. Whats a day to day like for
you?
A. I wear these three hats,
so all the days are different.
But having had the chance
to produce seven Olympics,
when you produce an Olym-
pics, you are there 24 hours
a day. Youre up at 5:30 in
the morning and you go to
bed at 2:30 in the morning,
and yet you dont feel tired.
I can tell you that with the
Hall of Fame Village, its
like an Olympics everyday.
Its incredibly invigorating
to do multiple things and
multitask. Its a huge team
effort from everyone in
every department, and when
you get everybody together
on that team, theres nothing
more invigorating. Ive told
the people here that their
pride in what they do and
the level with which they
want to give back is so high,
that it makes the Hall a great
place for everybody who
comes through the door.
But to maintain that, youve
got to keep it at that level of
excellence.
Q. Whats your favorite aspect of
the job?
A. Theres too many to
name. (Fellow executive
vice president museums,
selection process and chief
communications officer) Joe
Horrigan and I were ball-
boys together in the same
era. He sits next to me as the
greatest football historian
in the world with a pas-
sion that has put together
a Hall of Fame selection
process that is the epitome
of excellence. With (senior
vice president of merchan-
dise sales/licensing) Steve
Strawbridge, I talk to him
about his expertise in mer-
chandise. Its a multiplicity.
I will also say having David
Baker here is an incredible
blessing. Hes an incredible
leader. Hes kind, intelli-
gent, passionate, and its
just a love to be around him
every day.
Q. How did your background in
music and television production
prepare you for your current job?
A. I traveled around the
world with Yanni. I produced
all these concerts and put him
on television. I directed the
first Doo Wop 50 show and
the 60s Pop Rock Reunion. I play it in an unusual way. to love? Theyll all be here
What you learn is how to deal
with artists and their produc-
tion team. Knowing what
their needs are was hugely
helpful in transitioning them
into here. Its really about
understanding the client
and getting ahead of it. Its
a comfort to the guys that
are coming in whether its
Aerosmith or Tim McGraw
or anyone else.
Q. I know youve lived in both
New York and Cleveland, so do you
have a favorite NFL team?
A. Its so fractured that I
dont have one. I grew up in
Detroit as a kid and moved to
Cleveland in high school, but
then I became a die-hard Jets
AFL guy. Then I was brought
back to Cleveland later by
the Browns. I know every-
body likes to stick their stake
in the ground, so I would
say if push came to shove,
it would be the Jets because
of the early experience with incredible and inspirational
Namath. and innovating job, you never
Q. What are your hobbies outside seem to be tired to do other
of the job? things if you have the oppor-
A. I took up golf when I tunity to do them.
moved back to Cleveland in Q. How has your family supported
2005. I find it an incredible and helped you in your position?
thinking and walking sport. A. They love it. Whats not
Im out on the course at 6:15 at enshrinement. My wifes
in the morning. I walk 18 been here the last five years.
and play in two hours. Men- Were gonna try to round up
tally, I never liked it before. and get all the kids to come
I wasnt a country club guy. this time around. My wifes
My dad was a good golfer, a huge football fan. She went
and he played at West- to Ohio State, and she worked
chester Country Club and for the Yankees and shes a
tried to get me involved and huge sports fan. My kids are
interested. I play on a public older. My one son is a sopho-
course around the corner more at John Carroll. He has a
from where I live in Brecks- summer job. One of my sons
ville. Ive played in Canton graduated from Michigan and
at Tam O Shanter. I like just finished his first year of
public courses. I like the reg- law school at Ohio State.
ular guys. I also have a great My other son stayed back in
family who I love to spend New York, and hes married
time with. My wife is on the to a wonderful gal. Theyre
city council in Brecksville, diehard Jets fans. And then
and were involved in the my older son has his Ph.D.
community. Im a member of in astronomy and lives in
the Greek Orthodox Church England. Hes flying over for
and have been involved for enshrinement. They all love
many, many years. I also football.
really enjoy traveling with Reach B.J. at 330-580-8314
my wife. As long as youre or bj.lisko@cantonrep.com.
healthy and you have an On Twitter: @BLiskoREP

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