Former Disney executive to create the ‘Disneyland of football’ in Ohio

Former Walt Disney Company executive Michael Crawford is planning to create the “Disneyland of football” adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

football
Photo courtesy of Blooloop

As reported by Blooloop, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), has shared that Crawford is leading the in-development building of a resort that features football-themed hotels, apartments, and a water park, as well as rides, retail stores, and a research building.

Crawford has said that his investment group is ready for a $300 million investment in the second phase later this year, which that phase expected to conclude sometime in 2022.

“The people’s hunger and desire to consume sports and be in environments like arenas and stadiums and destinations like this will be at an all-time high,” Crawford told WSJ. “We will be building in a down market and opening in an up market.”

Crawford was hired in 2018 to run the development of the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a sports and entertainment destination located next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Before that, he spent 25 years at Disney as senior vice president and general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort and president of Walt Disney Holding Company.

Crawford originally negotiated the construction of Shanghai Disney Resort, which cost $5.5 billion and welcomed more than 1 million guests in its first week.

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