The one-of-a-kind global brand that kids love and parents trust will open in the Fan Engagement Zone in late 2022
Location will feature a sports-centric theme offering both licensed pro and college sports “furry friends”
CANTON, Ohio – March 24, 2022 – Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (“HOFV” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW), the only resort, entertainment and media company centered around the power of professional football, today announced it has signed a lease with Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (“Build-A-Bear”) (NYSE: BBW) to open in the Fan Engagement Zone at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls in Summer 2022. Build-A-Bear, a multi-generational global brand focused on its mission to “add a little more heart to life,” will occupy 1900 square feet, and will have a sports-centric theme with merchandise to provide guests with a tangible memory of their experience at the Village, with furry friends and accessories featuring the brand and logos of their favorite professional or collegiate football teams
“Build-A-Bear is one of the most iconic family-centric brands in the world today and fits with our strategy of bringing companies that are internationally recognized and beloved to the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls,” said Mike Levy, President of Operations for HOFV. “While football will always be the theme that brings it all together, the sport extends well beyond the action on the field. This is why we have strategically chosen to fill the Fan Engagement Zone with high-quality, family friendly and interactive organizations like Build-A-Bear, Don Shula’s, and TopGolf Swing Suites. The Brew Kettle and others that allow our guests to continue enjoying themselves long before and after the game. As the construction process continues to move forward, we look forward to welcoming all these brands to the Village later this year!”
For nearly 25 years, Build-A-Bear has appealed to a wide array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own “furry friends” to celebrate and commemorate life moments. The Build-A-Bear location at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls will feature a football-themed environment that is staffed by fun, friendly and engaging associates to offer children and their families a memorable and unforgettable experience. What’s more, the store will allow visitors the opportunity to bring their imagination to life by designing and stuffing their own furry friends and personalizing them with outfits, accessories, sounds and scents, and taking part in the iconic heart ceremony.
“We are thrilled to be opening a Build-A-Bear Workshop at the Fan Engagement Zone and joining the Hall of Fame Village family. With our curated selection of furry friends, clothing, and accessories, this exciting new space will offer great moments for families and friends to make lifelong memories with their favorite teams. As we celebrate 25 years of heart and hugs, we can’t wait to bring this new space to life and deliver the beloved Build-A-Bear experience to football fans from around the world,” said Build-A-Bear Workshop Chief Operations & Experience Officer, Chris Hurt.
Currently under construction, the Fan Engagement Zone at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls will be a sports and entertainment-themed, 82,000-square-foot pomenade located strategically within the campus footprint, offering rooftop views of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. It will be made up of unique restaurants, retailers and experiential offerings, with Topgolf Swing Suites and Don Shula’s serving as two of the anchor attractions. The Fan Engagement Zone, set to be open in time for the 2022 NFL season, will serve as an active hub for the destination where fans can go before, during and after events – be it youth sports contests, football games, concerts or performances, etc. – to have fun, be entertained or eat and socialize.
About Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company
Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW) is a resort and entertainment company leveraging the power and popularity of professional football and its legendary players in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Headquartered in Canton, Ohio, the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company is the owner of the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls, a multi-use sports, entertainment and media destination centered around the Pro Football Hall of Fame's campus. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.HOFREco.com.
About the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls
Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls is a multi-use sports, entertainment and media destination centered around the Pro Football Hall of Fame's campus in Canton, Ohio. Owned by the Hall of Fame Resort and Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW), the Village currently has over $250 million worth of assets under management and is one of the largest ongoing construction projects in Ohio. Phase I of the project entailed the construction of the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, a world-class 20,000 seat, sports and entertainment stadium, and the National Youth Football and Sports Complex. Phase II, currently under construction, will add the Constellation Center for Excellence, the Center for Performance, a Fan Engagement Zone, a Hall of Fame indoor waterpark and a Hilton Tapestry Hotel. Phase III is currently in planning stages. For more information, visit www.HOFVillage.com.
About Build-A-Bear
Build-A-Bear is a multi-generational global brand focused on its mission to “add a little more heart to life” appealing to a wide array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own “furry friends” to celebrate and commemorate life moments. Nearly 500 interactive brick-and-mortar retail locations operated through a variety of formats provide guests of all ages a hands-on entertaining experience, which often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection. The company also offers engaging e-commerce/digital purchasing experiences on www.buildabear.com including its online “Bear-Builder”, the animated “Bear Builder 3D Workshop” and its age-gated adult-focused “Bear Cave”. In addition, extending its brand power beyond retail, Build-A-Bear Entertainment, a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is dedicated to creating engaging content for kids and adults that fulfills the company’s mission, while the company also offers products at wholesale and in non-plush consumer categories via licensing agreements with leading manufacturers. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. posted total revenue of $411.5 million in fiscal 2021. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com
Forward-Looking Statements
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For Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company
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