National Sports Museum to open in Canyon of Heroes.

Philip Schwalb, Founder and CEO of The National Sports Museum (NSM) announced that he has secured a home at the foot of the Canyon of Heroes for the nation's first "Smithsonian of Sports."

Joined by dozens of sports figures and directors of 30 North American sports halls of fame, museums and organizations who have partnered with the NSM, Schwalb announced that the interactive venue will be housed in almost 90,000 square feet in the landmark former Standard Oil Building at 26 Broadway.

The building is located just steps from the Statue of Liberty ferry and four blocks from the World Trade Center site.

The $60 million museum, scheduled to open in early 2006, will be designed jointly by architects Beyer, Blinder, Belle, and museum designers Gallagher & Associates. Jones Lang LaSalle is serving as project manager for the development. The museum, created in partnership with 30 of North America's major sports halls of fame, museums and organizations, will be the first comprehensive museum of sports in the country. The project will be funded through a combination of public and private sources.

Among those at the announcement were NBA Hall-of-Famer Bob Cousy; NHL Hall-of-Famer Pat LaFontaine; former Ranger and Stanley Cup-winning goalie Mike Richter; Women's Hockey Gold Medal Team Captain Cammi Granato; Former Major League Baseball great Roberto Clemente's sons Roberto, Jr. and Luis Clemente.

"We are thrilled that the country's first major museum celebrating all of sports will be located in Lower Manhattan," said Schwalb.

"Sports-hungry New Yorkers and tens of millions of people who visit our city each year from all over the world will be able to share in our nation's rich sports legacy. We are also pleased to provide exposure for terrific partners such as the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA, the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City, MO and the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. We are also proud and excited to be part of the effort to revitalize Lower Manhattan."

"The National Sports Museum represents one of the most important initiatives in Lower Manhattan's revival," said C. Virginia Fields, Manhattan Borough President. "I believe that the NSM's alliances with major halls of fame and sports institutions, combined with the location of the museum in Lower Manhattan, will be a victory for New York City's economic and cultural development."

The National Sports Museum will present memorabilia and history for particular sports such as baseball, basketball, football, hockey, auto racing, golf, tennis, boxing, track and field, collegiate athletics, soccer, swimming, the Olympic Games and more. Other exhibits will be organized according to themes common to all sports (inspiration, innovation, diversity and community).

All 30 sports partners will receive annual donations and have a presence in the new Museum's "Hall of Hails" celebrating North America's varied sports halls of fame. Three per cent of all annual ticket sales will be donated to a grouping of charitable partners, including: The Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Autism Coalition, and Pat LaFontaine's Companions in Courage Children's Charity.