FRISCO, TX. — The National Soccer Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 by the Philadelphia Old Timers Association, a group of former soccer players, and was formally recognized by the U.S. Soccer Federation as its official hall of fame in 1984.
Housed in Oneonta, New York, from 1979 to 2010, the NSHOF is reopening this year in Frisco, Texas, after a seven-year hiatus. The brand new National Soccer Hall of Fame will be open to the public on November 2, 2018.
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is taking up residence in a 19,350 square foot complex at Toyota Stadium, home of FC Dallas, comprised of the main museum and exhibit space, the Hall of Fame Club, the Open Cup Club, a media center, locker rooms, and a retail store called Soccer90. The new NSHOF will be the first major sports Hall of Fame located within a stadium.
The National Soccer Hall of Fame Experience, as the main museum display area is called, is quite immersive. The NSHOF has over 400 prized artifacts. Many items will be on permanent display including 1991, 1999, and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup trophies. Other exhibits will be rotated from time to time to maintain repeat visit value or to stay on topic for various events.
Here are 10 things to know when you visit the new National Soccer Hall of Fame Experience.
NEC’s NeoFace facial recognition software
Hall of Fame visitors have the opportunity to customize their Hall of Fame experience. Fans can tell the NSHOF what teams they follow and once they do the exhibits will recognize the fan and tailor the experience to them. Fans can build their own US men's national team side, as just one example, and see how it stacks up with other visitors.
Virtual Skills Challenge
Fans can practice juggling, shooting, and passing with expert instruction from US Soccer legends Alexi Lalas, Shannon Boxx and Cobi Jones. Take your spot on the mark and try to virtually shoot PKs, juggle a ball, or pass like a champion.
HTC Vive Pro Virtual Reality headset
Visitors can imitate US goalkeepers Tim Howard or Briana Scurry’s game-saving heroics. The future of interactive gaming coming to life in complete VR immersion.
Best Team in the World wall
Numerous interactive displays are on 84-inch 4k touchscreens, including this one celebrating the US women's national team, the three-time world champs. Fans can learn more about the legendary USWNT, check out the top 10 moments in USWNT history and browse through the 100 Caps Club.
Major League Soccer wall
Fans can create, design and customize jerseys for their favorite MLS teams | Buzz Carrick
An interactive wall that uses the NEC NeoFace tech to interact with fans. If a fan has tagged themselves as a fan of an MLS team, they will be delivered content tailored to that team. The MLS Wall also includes an interactive display database of every team and player in MLS, showing in-depth info about said player’s background. The design an MLS Jersey station is also in this section where fans can create, design and customize jerseys for their favorite MLS teams and see it projected onto a mannequin for viewing.
Hall of Famers represented
One of the many displays at the National Soccer Hall of Fame | Buzz Carrick
Every National Soccer Hall of Famer is on display at least three times in the NSHOF Experience: On the scarf wall at the entrance, in the soffit of the Hall of Fame Club and in the Legends of the Game Wall. The latter of these is an interactive wall with in-depth bios and pictures of every inductee in NSHOF history. The 2018 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place this Saturday in the Hall of Fame Club.
Live-action Digital Trivia Game
Guests can test their soccer knowledge. Think you know everything there is to know about the history of soccer in the US? Find out just how much you know and see who has the best score at this station.
Design your own scarf
Another interactive display where fans can design and create their own soccer scarf. Then if you want to buy your design, the Soccer90 shop can whip it up for you on the spot to take home. Put whatever you want on your scarf and get it made right there!
Wall of Champions
The Wall of Champions honors all of the current title-holders | Buzz Carrick
A large, wall-sized display case housing the jerseys of all the current domestic champions in the United States. The current champions of MLS (Cup and Supporters Shield), USL, NWSL, NCAA and the U.S. Open Cup all have their jersey on display.
Hall of Fame Photobomb
FC Dallas defender Ryan Hollingshead participates in the Photobomb, while teammate Maxi Urruti looks on | Buzz Carrick
A really fun station that fans can truly get interactive with and place themselves into soccer history. Pick out a historic Hall of Fame photo, pose in front of a green screen, then let the computer do the rest. See yourself inserted into some of the biggest moments in our nation’s soccer past. And if you’re registered with the NSHOF you can get the picture off their website later on to keep.
