Stage enhancements for Aug. 7 Enshrinement

The 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony will have a new look. As if having the Class of 2010 – Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Dick LeBeau, Floyd Little, John Randle, Jerry Rice, and Emmitt Smith – and more than 80 returning Hall of Famers on the Enshrinement Ceremony stage isn't impressive enough, the August 7, nationally televised event will incorporate several new stage and show enhancements. The changes will provide a more streamlined and visually spectacular show.

The ceremony, which starts at 7 p.m. ET, will include new dramatic features, not the least of which is a massive 32-foot-wide on-stage LED video screen backdrop. Video clips and selected images will be projected on the colorful suspended video wall. Further enhancing the stage's presence, the flooring will be covered to look like the football fields upon which the enshrinees distinguished themselves.

An important and often emotional element that will remain unchanged is the unveiling of the enshrinee's bronze bust. As is tradition, each enshrinee and his presenter will unveil the enshrinee's bronzed likeness together. The unveiling occurs immediately after the presenter's four-minute video introduction of his enshrinee. As a part of streamlining efforts, presenters will no longer deliver speeches but will be featured in the condensed video presentations.

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Additionally, even the way in which the Hall of Famers and their presenters emerge onto the enshrinement stage will be more dramatic. When introduced, each will step out from behind one of the seven 16-foot-tall photo murals depicting the enshrinee in game action.

 

Another noticeable enhancement to the ceremony involves the seating of the large number of returning Hall of Famers. The Hall of Fame alumni will be highlighted in a specially created "orchestra pit" seating area to the left and right of the podium. This will provide for a more intimate setting as the new enshrinees will be flanked by the veteran members of the Hall of Fame as they deliver their speeches and are officially accepted as the newest members of pro football's most exclusive fraternity.