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Did slow work at the Pro Football Hall of Fame cost Canton the NFL draft?

Residents say community wasn't ready

Last year, there were big dreams in Canton.

They included a new sports and entertainment complex at the Pro Football Hall of Fame by now, and dreams of landing an NFL draft.

But not all dreams come true.

Though ground was broken, there has been little visible progress.

On Thursday some residents said that losing the NFL draft in 2020 might have been a good thing, since it could have showcased what little has happened.

“Look around at all this and nothing is moving,” said retiree Marcia Ingold, who lives near land that was supposed to developed by now. “Interest waned out, not enough people want to come here.”

Across the street from her sit dozens of abandoned homes the project had scooped up for expansion.

“They just wanted it too big too quick,” Ingold said.

Though first responders use the homes for drills, there are fears they will eventually attract crime.

“There’s no progress over there,” said Diana Impagliozza, who lived near the hall of fame for the past 45 years.

Her husband, Victor, said he is “disappointed.”

“If you look around here, I don’t know, would you want to come here for a vacation? Not right now,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Pro Football Hall of Fame said Thursday there is still progress behind the scenes, such as new leadership and financing for nearly a quarter of the $900 million price tag.

This week the NFL gave no reason for why it picked Las Vegas over Canton for the draft.

Officials in both Canton and Cleveland remain committed to seeing the city one day get its turn.

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