The Kansas City Wizards have had preliminary discussions to move some of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum’s exhibits to the MLS team’s stadium now under construction. The Hall of Fame inOneonta, N.Y., closed the facility early this year because of declining revenue and poor attendance.
“We have been thinking of maybe not relocating the Hall of Fame in its entirety toKansas City, but we have been speaking to the Hall of Fame about locating a branch or a wing of the Hall at our facility,” said Greg Cotton, chief operating officer of the Wizards.
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is based in Kansas City and NSCAA representatives retrieved their memorabilia from the Hall of Fame last month and will display it inits headquarters in downtown Kansas City, Kan.
“You look at this stuff, and you grab your heart and say, ‘We’ve got to keep this alive somehow,’” said Joe Cummings,president and CEO of the NSCAA. “There are some people across the spectrum of interested parties that are talking about it, the Wizards, the Sports Commission, the chambers of commerce, all have thesame reaction.”