College Football Hall of Fame will call South Bend home until January

April 01, 2011|By John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com), Click here to follow John on Twitter | By John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com), Click here to follow John on Twitter

SOUTH BEND -- Friday was an important deadline between the city and the Hall of Fame.

The familiar sounds from the gridiron and other sights at the College Football Hall of Fame aren't going anywhere anytime soon. The city could have terminated its agreement with the Hall of Fame as a tenant in October.

It's not a touchdown, it's better to think of it as a first down of sorts. Both sides agree the College Football Hall of Fame will stick around until the end of the year.

It's possible the Hall will continue to call South Bend home in 2012, but, Don Inks, South Bend's Redevelopment Director, said we won't know for sure until late Summer.

"The next date is the key date August 1," said Inks. "By that date we need to have some mutual agreement that the College Football Hall of Fame will continue for another year or not.

While all eyes are on August, it's no secret the city has been working on finding a new tenant.

"We know that they are exiting the facility and we need to find a new use," said Inks. "That has been our focus."

Two weeks ago, South Bend's Redevelopment Commission approved advertising the sale of the Hall and the bidding process.

The city is accepting bids until April 12.

"We are having some discussions with parties who are interested," said Inks. "But, we're not far along enough where we could release names."

Inks said the city is looking at a mixed-use facility -- a combination of retail/commercial business.

Inks believes the combination could draw people to that section of downtown.

None of our calls to the College Football Hall of Fame offices in South Bend or Atlanta were returned, but we will know more about the Hall's future on April 12.

The city could announce the winning bid or we could learn if the city rejects all bids and if that happens, after 30 days, South Bend has the freedom to enter into an agreement with anyone they want.

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