Launch Party on February 1, 2020 Marks Beginning of Partnership Between HOF Village and Nationally Acclaimed Artist to Create Portraits of Athletes Across Multiple Sports
CANTON, OHIO – January 31, 2020 – Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co. (“HOFV” or the “Company”), the company that owns the premier sports, entertainment and media enterprise surrounding the prestigious Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, today announced that the company will unveil four commissioned portraits by Paul Gerben, a nationally acclaimed mixed media artist, sculptor, photographer and designer at a launch event at Zuma in Miami, FL on February 1, 2020.
The launch event, which will be attended by prominent athletes, artists, actors, local dignitaries and visitors in town for Super Bowl LIV, will unveil portraits of four Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees:
- Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs.
- Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins,
- Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers, and
- Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers.
The event marks the initiation of a partnership between HOFV and Mr. Gerben to create several unique pieces of art that depict athletes across multiple sports, which the Company will display at the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village in Canton.
“Our partnership with Paul provides an exciting opportunity for our media and entertainment platform to introduce new, original artistic content to the millions of visitors at the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village,” said Mike Crawford, CEO of HOFV. “Similarly, this partnership demonstrates the power of HOFV’s ability to leverage the experience-driven destination resort’s broad and popular attendance drive consumer engagement on behalf of our partners. We are thrilled to welcome Paul and our guests as we unveil his portraits of inspiring Hall of Famers from the two teams competing in the big game as well as a Miami icon this weekend, and look forward to continuing to partner with Paul to celebrate some of the greatest athletes across multiple sports in the future.”
“I am very pleased to partner with the HOFV team to introduce work that highlights the timeless and visionary athletes in our midst,” said Paul Gerben, an artist who has completed portraits of public figures such as Lionel Richie, Bono, Carmelo Anthony, and Julian Edelman. “I hope to make art that resonates with its viewers, so I am particularly pleased to launch these pieces here in Miami on Super Bowl weekend and to display them moving forward at the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, where sports fans and visitors may likely feel an additional personal connection to the subject matter.”
On September 16, 2019, HOFV entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Gordon Pointe Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: GPAQ, GPAQU, GPAQW) that is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2020. Upon the closing of the transaction, the combined company will change its name to Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company and trade on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol “HOFV.”
About Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co.
Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a development of Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co. is a multi-use sports, entertainment and media destination centered around the Pro Football Hall of Fame's campus in Canton, Ohio. It provides a themed sports, entertainment and media venue to capitalize on the popularity and fandom associated with professional football and its legendary players. Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co. was founded by the Pro Football Hall of Fame through its wholly owned, for profit subsidiary Hall of Fame Village, Inc. and Industrial Realty Group, LLC.
About Gordon Pointe Acquisition Corp.
GPAQ is a special purpose acquisition company formed by Mr. James Dolan. GPAQ raised $125 million in its initial public offering in January of 2018. Additional information can be found at www.gordonpointe.com.
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