Johnson Controls, partners to create first sports and entertainment “smart city” for NFL Hall of Fame Village

by Brianna Crandall — December 5, 2016 — Global multi-industrial technology provider Johnson Controls and Hall of Fame Village LLC (a partnership between the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Industrial Realty Group) have entered into a historic 18-year agreement to create the first sports and entertainment “smart city,” which will carry the name Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village.

The partners say the agreement represents shared values of honoring the past and building a future driven by innovation and creating comfort for everyone who comes to the Village to honor the legends who have played the game, and the project will serve to inspire generations of fans as a showcase for state-of-the-art technology products and services to deliver world-class fan experiences.

Rendering of Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village smart city

Rendering of Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village: The company will provide its building management systems, HVAC equipment, fire and security systems, and other technologies to assure world-class environments and operational cost savings.

Under the terms of the deal, Johnson Controls will become the “Official Smart City Partner” of Hall of Fame Village, which includes venues such as a virtual reality, state-of-art Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Experience. Additionally, the company will also be the presenting sponsor for the annual celebration in Canton each summer that will be known as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls.

A professional services contract calls for Johnson Controls’ products, services and solutions used within the Hall of Fame Village including the museum. This will provide for the creation of a showcase “smart city,” with the company providing its building management systems, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) equipment, fire and security systems, and other technologies to assure world-class environments and yield significant operational cost savings over the life of the agreement.

Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village is the largest project currently under construction in Ohio and will be a top tourist destination for millions of visitors per year. It is projected to bring $15.3 billion dollars in economic impact to the region in its first 25 years as it transforms the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s campus to impact the lives of people by focusing on programming rooted in values learned from the game of football — commitment, integrity, courage, respect and excellence.

In addition to the naming rights of the Village, Johnson Controls also receives the entitlement to The Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Experience, one of the nine landmark components being developed within Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village. The estimated $120 million state-of-the-art virtual reality amusement park experience is set to open in early 2019.

Johnson Controls retained IdeaQuest, Ramsey, NJ, to help establish and activate the partnership. The Hall of Fame retained Premier Ventures, Los Angeles, CA, to advise them on various activities within the nearly $600 million Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village development project. In addition, TSAV, a global technology consulting and integration firm, was retained to provide guidance and leadership regarding technology systems integration and realization of the overall vision for the smart city.

The agreement is said to rank in the top 80th percentile of sports naming rights deals and to be the largest ever for the market size. The completion of Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village in 2019 coincides with the NFL’s 100th season and subsequent Centennial celebration in 2020. The Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village will be an anchor of the league’s celebration.