Commemorative Benches to be Unveiled during Enshrinement Weekend, September 6th
Springfield, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement weekend will soon be upon us with legends of the game flocking to the Birthplace of Basketball, Springfield, Massachusetts for festivities taking place September 5th-7th. Tickets for many of the events, such as the Enshrinement Ceremony, Press Conference, Induction Celebration, and Autograph Session are still available at www.hoophall.com.
Unique to this year’s festivities is the unveiling of the newest members to the Naismith Coaches Circle, which will take place Friday, September 6th at 10am and is open to the public. In the prominent Naismith Courtyard located at the north entrance of the museum, multiple newly engraved granite benches will be unveiled. Alongside the sculpture of the first coach of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, these granite benches are dedicated to those who promote the values inspired by the First Coach – teamwork, determination, self-respect, leadership, initiative and perseverance.
Through the Coaches Circle Program, the Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to honor Hall of Famer Denny Crum and other highly successful coaches, including Cotton Fitzsimmons, John MacLeod, Jeff Capel, Glenn Wilkes, and Frank Martin. The Basketball Hall of Fame aims to share the incredible stories of mentor-coach relationships, the compassion coaches have for their players and narratives of coaches impacting their communities, players and peers in a positive manner.
Following the Coaches Circle Unveiling Ceremony, the Enshrinement Ceremony will continue with many other events honoring the 2019 Hall of Fame class including 2-time NBA Coach of the Year Bill Fitch, eight-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member Bobby Jones, five-time NBA All-Star Sidney Moncrief, seven-time NBA All-Star Jack Sikma, NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics Paul Westphal, five-time WNBA All-Star Teresa Weatherspoon, Al Attles winner of the Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, All-American Charles “Chuck” Cooper, Sacramento Kings General Manager and former player Vlade Divac, five-time NBA All-Star Carl Braun, the highly successful 1948-1982 Wayland Baptist University women’s teams, and the 1957-1959 back-to-back champions Tennessee A&I teams.
2019 BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 5th
12:30 pm Enshrinement Autograph Session presented by Panini
2:00 pm Enshrinement Press Conference presented by Haggar
6:00 pm BHOF Family Reunion & Awards Dinner presented by Goldin Auctions & Sacramento Kings
Friday, September 6th
10:00 am “Naismith Coaches Circle” Unveiling Ceremony (open to the public)
4:30 pm Enshrinement Gala VIP Pre-Reception
6:30 pm Enshrinement Red Carpet Walk
7:30 pm Class of 2019 Enshrinement Ceremony
Saturday, September 7th
6:30 pm Induction Celebration presented by Baron Championship Rings at Mohegan Sun
For additional event details and ticket information, visit www.hoophall.com.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #19HoopClass or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.