Ground broken for KeyBank Center at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
General
Published on : 9/23/2025
Construction is officially underway on the KeyBank Center at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, after a groundbreaking ceremony on the Hall’s campus Tuesday morning.
“This building that we are we are going to celebrate today is going to change this region forever,” Jim Porter, president & CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said at the groundbreaking event. “Today is a celebration of the Hall’s future, and this community’s future, and a celebration of the great partners who have made this all happen.”
Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Robinson, Hall of Fame board members, business partners, community leaders, state and local government officials, and friends of the Hall were in attendance. Robinson, a Class of 2013 enshrinee, was among the 15 individuals who took part in the ceremonial shovel turn.
“Our vision for this event center really comes down to how can we make this community stronger. Of course, we’re going to use this event center for events the Hall of Fame puts on, but this an event center that we want to share with the whole community and really start making a difference,” Porter said.
Porter also said the project, “cannot happen without KeyBank.” The Hall of Fame and KeyBank forged a partnership to make the project a reality.
“As we break ground on the KeyBank Center, we are not just starting construction, we in fact are building a legacy,” said Chris Gorman, chairman and CEO of KeyCorp. “This partnership between KeyBank and the Hall of Fame is rooted in shared values; namely excellence, community and opportunity.
“Through our partnership, we are proud to support financial literacy, programming for youth, engagement with Hall of Famers and educational outreach that will empower future leaders,” Gorman continued. “We are proud to work alongside the Hall of Fame, the City of Canton and all the partners making this vision a reality.”
Gorman noted that KeyBank is celebrating its bicentennial this year.
“There is no better way to honor our history than investing in the future of Northeastern Ohio,” he said. “The KeyBank Center will be a place where people come together to learn, to lead and to be inspired for generations to come.”
In addition to the partnership with KeyBank, a significant grant from the Timken Foundation completed the funding necessary for the project, Porter noted. He thanked Tim Timken, a member of the Hall’s Board of Directors, and the entire Timken Foundation.
With any project, the Hall of Fame wants to ensure “we can finish it to the end,” and the grant makes that possible, he said.
The KeyBank Center at the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be the largest event center in the area of its kind and will be utilized for Hall of Fame events, including Enshrinement Weekend festivities beginning in 2027. The venue also will be used to support community occasions.
Event center space on the first level will total nearly 12,000 square feet, and the KeyBank Center will include such significant features as an integrated 27-foot-wide glass system that opens to the adjacent field turf area, full kitchen capabilities and a rooftop terrace. The second level will include a café, VIP Club and 6,580 square feet of turf rooftop space for parties or other events.
“This building that we are we are going to celebrate today is going to change this region forever,” Jim Porter, president & CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said at the groundbreaking event. “Today is a celebration of the Hall’s future, and this community’s future, and a celebration of the great partners who have made this all happen.”
Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Robinson, Hall of Fame board members, business partners, community leaders, state and local government officials, and friends of the Hall were in attendance. Robinson, a Class of 2013 enshrinee, was among the 15 individuals who took part in the ceremonial shovel turn.
“Our vision for this event center really comes down to how can we make this community stronger. Of course, we’re going to use this event center for events the Hall of Fame puts on, but this an event center that we want to share with the whole community and really start making a difference,” Porter said.
Porter also said the project, “cannot happen without KeyBank.” The Hall of Fame and KeyBank forged a partnership to make the project a reality.
“As we break ground on the KeyBank Center, we are not just starting construction, we in fact are building a legacy,” said Chris Gorman, chairman and CEO of KeyCorp. “This partnership between KeyBank and the Hall of Fame is rooted in shared values; namely excellence, community and opportunity.
“Through our partnership, we are proud to support financial literacy, programming for youth, engagement with Hall of Famers and educational outreach that will empower future leaders,” Gorman continued. “We are proud to work alongside the Hall of Fame, the City of Canton and all the partners making this vision a reality.”
Gorman noted that KeyBank is celebrating its bicentennial this year.
“There is no better way to honor our history than investing in the future of Northeastern Ohio,” he said. “The KeyBank Center will be a place where people come together to learn, to lead and to be inspired for generations to come.”
In addition to the partnership with KeyBank, a significant grant from the Timken Foundation completed the funding necessary for the project, Porter noted. He thanked Tim Timken, a member of the Hall’s Board of Directors, and the entire Timken Foundation.
With any project, the Hall of Fame wants to ensure “we can finish it to the end,” and the grant makes that possible, he said.
The KeyBank Center at the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be the largest event center in the area of its kind and will be utilized for Hall of Fame events, including Enshrinement Weekend festivities beginning in 2027. The venue also will be used to support community occasions.
Event center space on the first level will total nearly 12,000 square feet, and the KeyBank Center will include such significant features as an integrated 27-foot-wide glass system that opens to the adjacent field turf area, full kitchen capabilities and a rooftop terrace. The second level will include a café, VIP Club and 6,580 square feet of turf rooftop space for parties or other events.
Previous Article
128 Modern-Era Players nominated for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Thirteen players in their first year of eligibility are among the list of 128 Modern-Era Players nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, presented by Visual Edge IT.
Next Article
Hispanic Football Hall of Fame established to celebrate Hispanic excellence
The Hispanic Football Hall of Fame was established Wednesday in order to recognize and honor "the extraordinary contributions of Hispanic players, coaches, and contributors at every level of the game."