Address
100 Hall Fame Avenue, Springfield, Mass. 0110
Phone Number
(879) 446 - 6752
Date Visited
12/22/2015
Website
Basketball Hall of Fame
Description
The Basketball Hall of Fame is located at 100 Hall Fame Avenue, Springfield, Massachusetts. Paved parking lots at both the north and south ends of the building have a total of 14 handicapped spaces. Cut curbs lead to flat brick walkways to the entrances. Free underground parking with elevator access to the Hall is also available.Handicapped assist push buttons open both outer and inner doors simultaneously.
Multi-stall, handicapped accessible restrooms with the handicapped stall closest to the entrance can be found in the lobby and on the second level. Baby-changing stations are located there. Restrooms have two sets of doors to enter and exit.
Built-in benches are in the lobby. There is no seating on the third level. There is some seating on the second level.
There is room to navigate on all levels. The third level is the narrowest, yet still fully accessible.
There are steps to get to auditorium seats. A wheelchair area is at the rear. There is wheelchair access to the stage.
Seven eating establishments are located in this building.
- Surface of lot: paved
Distance to venue: close
Terrain: flat
Paths and walkways: brick walkways
Doors: handicapped-assist push button
Number of floors: 3
Elevators: 2
Steps and staircases: to all levels
Width of aisles: spacious
Places to sit: not on 3rd level
Location of restrooms: main floor and 2nd floor
Type of restroom: multi-stall, handicapped accessible
Ease of entry and exit: 2 sets of doors to enter and exit
Baby changing station: yes
Available food services: 7 eating establishments
Friendliness of staff: friendly and helpful
Notes: * Free parking is also available in an underground garage with elevator access to the Hall.
Having passed the huge basketball-shaped building many times on our way to Vermont we finally made time to stop and visit.
The Hall is located just off Route 91 in Springfield, Massachusetts, where basketball was invented in 1891. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is “recognized…as the premier institution entrusted with recording and disseminating the history of the game of basketball and recognizing, honoring and celebrating the achievements of its greatest players, coaches and contributors…” (brochure)
The Hall is located in a mall-like building housing seven eating establishments and two radio stations.
Parking lots at both the north and south ends of the building have a total of 14 handicapped spaces throughout. Cut curbs lead to flat, brick walkways leading to glass door main entrances with handicapped assist push buttons. The buttons open both the outer and inner doors simultaneously. Free underground parking with elevator access to the Hall is another option.
Once inside we found a spacious lobby area, reminiscent of a movie theater, with the ticket booth in the center. Several of the restaurants can be entered from here. Some of the others must be entered from the street. The lobby area also houses the auditorium, which has steps to the seats. A wheelchair area is at the rear. We were told that there is wheelchair access to the stage if needed. Built in benches can be found in the lobby.
Multi-stall, handicapped accessible restrooms with the handicapped stall closest to the entrance are located in the lobby. Unfortunately, one has to go through two sets of doors to enter and exit. Baby-changing stations can be found here. Comparable restrooms are located on the second level.
The building is in the shape of a basketball, with a regulation size court on the main floor and two balcony type areas overlooking it.
We purchased our tickets and took one of the two large elevators to the third floor. This balcony has “plaques, artifacts and biographies of more than 300 individuals and teams that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.”(brochure) Unfortunately, there is no seating on this level.
Level 2 is “comprised of 4 galleries named “The Game, Players, Media, Coaches and Teams.”” (brochure) We found areas where visitors were happily interacting with Vertical Hoops, Vertical Leaps, trying their skill at announcing, and Pop-a-Shot. It was fun to watch, and if there had not been long lines, I might have tried my hand at Pop-a-Shot.
Back on the main floor we found many kids engaged in a variety of activities on the court.
Everyone we met was quite hospitable and eager to chat.
If you are interested, tours can be arranged if you call in advance.
In order to exit we, of course, had to go through the store, chock full of basketball souvenirs.
As always, we at Destination Accessible, advise you to check a venue’s website, www.hoophall.com, when planning a visit, to “know before you go.”
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