Getting closer

7:45 a.m.

The place is coming alive. Everywhere you turn, you see someone working. There are people laying floors down over the parking lots and grassy areas, another crew hoisting the framework for a giant tent that will serve as the venue for some great parties this weekend. You see construction workers cutting sheets of plywood. Then there’s the army of security people who help direct visitors.

{GALLERY}If you learn nothing else from this blog, here’s the tip of the week. If you’re visiting us anytime during the week, note that there is no parking on the grounds. Follow signage to LOT A and then grab the free shuttle that takes you to the front door.

For those thousands of visitors coming to football’s “mecca” this weekend, bookmark our ENSHRINEMENT CENTRAL page. It’s got the lowdown on everything happening during the weekend.

If you’re witnessing the events from afar, be sure to visit Profootballhof.com. We’ll be covering the weekend from a number of angles that includes directing you to great coverage from the editorial team from NFL.com. Gil Brandt, Vic Carucci, Thomas George and countless others arrive in town in two days and will give you the complete lowdown of Canton ’09.

If you haven’t been surfing Profootballhof.com, then start right now. We’ve posted all sorts of content related to the six legends who will be enshrined on Saturday – Bob Hayes, Randall McDaniel, Bruce Smith, Derrick Thomas, Ralph Wilson, Jr., and Rod Woodson. A sampling includes our stories on every one of Bruce Smith’s sacks or Rod Woodson’s interceptions. We’ve also rolled out some great Notes & Quotes on the six newest members. Here’s the one on Ralph Wilson, Jr. You can also watch some video highlights courtesy of our friends at NFL.com.

And, of course, there’s no better way to get inside the events that are happening this weekend than following us on Twitter. We’ll be everywhere to bring you up close and personal to what is happening around Canton this weekend. Follow us at Twitter.com/ProfootballHOF.