FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (May 25, 2010) - The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon has announced that it will extend the popular "Pro Football and the American Spirit" exhibit through June 30, 2010. The exhibit, which has been on display since February 27, was originally scheduled to close after Memorial Day. Instead, the exhibit will remain open for an additional month and The Hall at Patriot Place will offer free admission to active military and veterans with military identification.
"We are thrilled to extend this exhibit another month," said The Hall's executive director, Bryan Morry. "It has been a popular exhibit and we wanted to give fans more opportunities to experience it. We also wanted to honor those who have served our country by admitting active military and veterans free of charge. It was something Robert Kraft insisted upon."
[
]()The special exhibit, which has previously only been seen at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, tells the story of professional football players and personnel who served our nation in the military from WWII to Desert Storm and the conflict in Afghanistan.
"It is a compelling exhibit and has drawn rave reviews from our guests," said Morry. "It captures the NFL's involvement and that of the individual U.S. servicemen who were fortunate enough to also be pro football players. To look at Pat Tillman's jersey and comprehend what he chose to sacrifice in order to serve his country tugs at your heartstrings."
With over 2,000 square feet of exhibit space, large graphics, NFL Films video, three flat-screen displays and more than 40 artifacts, "Pro Football and the American Spirit" provides a unique look at the deep historical connection between the National Football League and our armed forces. The exhibit describes how the NFL generated millions of dollars in War Bond sales during World War II, was the first sports organization to send groups of players to Vietnam as part of the NFL/USO "goodwill tours," and how it used its game and resources to raise America's collective level of patriotism during and after such national crises as the Iranian hostage situation, the Gulf War and the events of September 11, 2001.
[
]()The exhibit also has a Patriots element, highlighting players who served in the military as well as those players and cheerleaders that have travelled overseas to visit and support the troops.
Some of the artifacts in the exhibit include Tillman's Army Ranger Uniform, the career medals of General Earnest Cheatham, pro football's highest ranking former player, and Rocky Bleier's Purple Heart from the Vietnam War.
ABOUT THE HALL AT PATRIOT PLACE PRESENTED BY RAYTHEON
The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is the crown jewel of Patriot Place and the only sports and education experience of its kind. Through a dazzling array of interactive multimedia exhibits and artifacts never before viewable by the public, The Hall showcases the tradition of the New England Patriots, explores the history of football in New England, and promotes math and science education for thousands of schoolchildren each year. In 2009, The Hall received a Gold MUSE Award from the American Association of Museums and The Hall's signature film, "Patriots Way," won a CINE Golden Eagle Award. The Hall was named to Boston Globe Magazine's Best of the New, and was a Yankee magazine Editor's Choice recommendation.
Tickets to The Hall are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children 5-12. Children 4 and under are admitted for free. From May 31 to June 30, active military and military veterans will be admitted for free with military/veteran identification. The current hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Beginning on June 18, the summer hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.thehallatpatriotplace.com.
]()The special exhibit, which has previously only been seen at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, tells the story of professional football players and personnel who served our nation in the military from WWII to Desert Storm and the conflict in Afghanistan.
"It is a compelling exhibit and has drawn rave reviews from our guests," said Morry. "It captures the NFL's involvement and that of the individual U.S. servicemen who were fortunate enough to also be pro football players. To look at Pat Tillman's jersey and comprehend what he chose to sacrifice in order to serve his country tugs at your heartstrings."
With over 2,000 square feet of exhibit space, large graphics, NFL Films video, three flat-screen displays and more than 40 artifacts, "Pro Football and the American Spirit" provides a unique look at the deep historical connection between the National Football League and our armed forces. The exhibit describes how the NFL generated millions of dollars in War Bond sales during World War II, was the first sports organization to send groups of players to Vietnam as part of the NFL/USO "goodwill tours," and how it used its game and resources to raise America's collective level of patriotism during and after such national crises as the Iranian hostage situation, the Gulf War and the events of September 11, 2001.
[
]()The exhibit also has a Patriots element, highlighting players who served in the military as well as those players and cheerleaders that have travelled overseas to visit and support the troops.
Some of the artifacts in the exhibit include Tillman's Army Ranger Uniform, the career medals of General Earnest Cheatham, pro football's highest ranking former player, and Rocky Bleier's Purple Heart from the Vietnam War.
ABOUT THE HALL AT PATRIOT PLACE PRESENTED BY RAYTHEON
The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is the crown jewel of Patriot Place and the only sports and education experience of its kind. Through a dazzling array of interactive multimedia exhibits and artifacts never before viewable by the public, The Hall showcases the tradition of the New England Patriots, explores the history of football in New England, and promotes math and science education for thousands of schoolchildren each year. In 2009, The Hall received a Gold MUSE Award from the American Association of Museums and The Hall's signature film, "Patriots Way," won a CINE Golden Eagle Award. The Hall was named to Boston Globe Magazine's Best of the New, and was a Yankee magazine Editor's Choice recommendation.
Tickets to The Hall are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children 5-12. Children 4 and under are admitted for free. From May 31 to June 30, active military and military veterans will be admitted for free with military/veteran identification. The current hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Beginning on June 18, the summer hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.thehallatpatriotplace.com.
