The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said it would be making a "surprise announcement" Saturday, and for Clevelanders specifically, it was a doozy.
Thanks to a $10 million grant from KeyBank (the largest gift in the museum's history), the Rock Hall is launching its "CLE VIP" initiative, which will allow all Cleveland residents to have free access to the Rock Hall for the next 10 years.
"The opportunity for the for the residents of Cleveland to be able to experience, learn, share, and explore is so important," KeyCorp Chairwoman and CEO Beth Mooney said to a thunderous applause from the crowd. "We wanted our gift to be about access to this icon of ours."
Mooney also said the money would endow the new Hall of Fame gallery showcasing the "Legends of Rock and Roll," along with several programs to help teach young people about the history and practices of music.
"When I'm going to other parts of the country or world, there are three things people mention about Cleveland: The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Clinic, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," Mayor Frank G. Jackson said. "It is not a national icon, it is an international icon."
More than 12 million people have visited the museum since it opened in 1995, according to the mayor.
