CANTON, Ohio — One of Northeast Ohio's most beloved tourist attractions is set to reopen next week.
In accordance with Governor Mike DeWine's order to reopen some of the state's zoos, museums, and other entertainment facilities provided they can follow safety guidelines, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton will be back open on June 10.
“We stand ready to provide inspiration to fans eager to celebrate excellence,” said David Baker, president & CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, “And we will do so in a responsible manner that puts the safety of the visiting public and our dedicated staff at the forefront of each decision we have made in reaching this point and that we will continue to make moving forward.”
To further protect guests’ health and safety, staff members have placed markings throughout the museum to help guests maintain proper physical distancing and to guide them in an orderly, one-way flow through the exhibits.
Acrylic barriers have been installed in several areas, including Guest Services and the Hall of Fame Store.
Each safety measure adopted for employees and guests meets or exceeds its recommendation set by the state of Ohio and federal health standards for visiting a museum and retail establishment.
To assist guests entering the Hall in understanding the safety measures, each patron will receive a flyer that will explain physical distancing protocols, locations for hand sanitizer, the importance of not touching exhibits by hand and other pertinent Museum information.
Among the changes or enhanced safety measures in place at the Hall of Fame Museum are:
- All Hall employees and volunteers will receive a temperature reading – with a no-contact scanning thermometer – upon entering the building. Anyone with a body temperature exceeding 100.0°F will not be permitted to proceed.
- Every employee, volunteer and docent will be required to wear a face covering inside the Museum. Guests will be encouraged to wear a face covering. Single-use masks will be provided to guests upon request. Cloth Hall of Fame-branded masks will be available for purchase.
- Guests also may request a pair of powder-free, single-use vinyl gloves to wear during their visit.
- Guests will receive a stylus for use on Museum exhibit touch screens or other contact points, such as elevator buttons.
- Seating in the “A Game for Life” holographic theater and in the Super Bowl Theater will be reduced to allow appropriate spacing of guests.
- A few “hands-on” exhibits could remain closed or off-line at this time.
- The Museum’s café will remain closed.
- High-contact surfaces, such as railings, counters, doorknobs and elevator buttons, will be disinfected throughout each day.
- Stations with hand sanitizer have been placed throughout the Museum.
“Since its grand opening in September 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame had never been closed more than two days in a row,” Baker said. “So after nearly three months, you can imagine our excitement at being able to open our doors again to fans of this great game.
With its reopening June 10, the Hall will operate under its summer hours: from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Other entertainment venues in Ohio that have been permitted to reopen on June 10 if they follow certain safety guidelines include:
- Aquariums
- Art galleries
- Country clubs
- Ice skating rinks
- Indoor family entertainment centers
- Indoor sports facilities
- Laser tag facilities
- Movie theaters (indoor)
- Museums
- Playgrounds (outdoor)
- Public recreation centers
- Roller skating rinks
- Social clubs
- Trampoline parks
- Zoos
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has announced that it will reopen on June 17.
