Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) and Hall of Fame Village LLC (a partnership between the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Industrial Realty Group) have entered into a historic 18-year agreement to create the first sports and entertainment “smart city” that will carry the name Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio. For the Hall of Fame and Johnson Controls, this agreement represents shared values of honoring the past and building a future driven by innovation and creating comfort for everyone who comes to the Village to honor the legends who have played the game. 

“This is an extraordinary partnership between esteemed partners that celebrates excellence everywhere. Johnson Controls and the Hall of Fame share strong values and a vision of improving others’ lives and making the world a better place,” Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker stated. “This historic agreement will ensure that the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village will be the first ‘smart’ sports and entertainment city and will serve to inspire generations of fans as a showcase for state-of-the-art technology products and services to deliver world-class fan experiences.”

Under the terms of the deal, Johnson Controls will become the “Official Smart City Partner” of Hall of Fame Village, which includes venues such as a virtual reality, state-of-art Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Experience. Additionally, the company will also be the presenting sponsor for the annual celebration in Canton each summer that will be known as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls.

A professional services contract calls for Johnson Controls’ products, services and solutions used within the Hall of Fame Village including the museum. This will provide for the creation of a showcase “smart city” with the company providing its building management systems, HVAC equipment, fire and security systems and other technologies that will assure world-class environments and yield significant operational cost savings over the life of the agreement.

“Our innovative, integrated, technologies will provide the right combination of safety and security at the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village in an environment that demonstrates how we connect ‘cities’ that run smartly and reliably,” said Kim Metcalf-Kupres, vice president and chief marketing officer, Johnson Controls. “We are proud to celebrate the greats of the game who are enshrined in the Hall of Fame and create a winning experience for visiting fans.”

Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village is the largest project currently under construction in Ohio and will be a top tourist destination for millions of visitors per year. It is projected to bring $15.3 billion dollars in economic impact to the region in its first 25 years as it transforms the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s campus to impact the lives of people by focusing on programming rooted in values learned from the game of football – commitment, integrity, courage, respect and excellence. 

“Today’s announcement is a terrific day for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame’s growth is great for this game and the millions of fans who love it. I’m thrilled that a company like Johnson Controls chose to be part of this very special project taking shape in Canton,” stated Jones. 

“This is one of the most outstanding projects with which IRG has ever been involved. We are very excited to join forces with a distinguished and innovative company like Johnson Controls to create the first-ever state-of-the-art and world class sports and entertainment ‘smart city’ around America’s most passionate sport,” Stuart Lichter, president and chairman of the board for Industrial Realty Group said. 

In addition to the naming rights of the Village, Johnson Controls also receives the entitlement to The Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Experience, one of the nine landmark components being developed within Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village. The estimated $120 million state-of-the-art virtual reality amusement park experience is set to open in early 2019. 

“This partnership for the first-ever sports and entertainment ‘smart’ city is historic and far reaching. Johnson Controls’ commitment to Hall of Fame Village will not only have a positive impact on our project, but on our community and region, as well as the game,” commented Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Trustees Chairman Randy Hunt. 

The agreement ranks in the top 80 percentile of sports naming rights deals and is the largest ever for the market size. 

Johnson Controls retained IdeaQuest, Ramsey, N.J., led by Founder & President, Eric Bechtel to help establish and activate this monumental partnership. The Hall of Fame retained Premier Ventures, Los Angeles, Calif., to advise them on various activities within the nearly $600 million Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village development project including the negotiations related to this agreement led by Jeff Marks, president and co-founder. In addition, TSAV, a global technology consulting and integration firm, was retained to provide guidance and leadership regarding technology systems integration & realization of the overall vision for a first of its kind connected sports & entertainment smart city. 

The completion of Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village in 2019 coincides with the NFL’s 100th season and subsequent Centennial celebration in 2020. Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village will be an anchor of the league’s celebration.