On July 21, 2011, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement that few fans wanted to hear. Despite a breakthrough in the collective bargaining agreement negotiations between players and owners that could end the four-month lockout, the annual Hall of Fame Game scheduled for August 7^th in Canton, Ohio had to be cancelled.

 

“Time is just too short,” Goodell said at a press conference, referring to all the training time lost. He cited safety as the key issue as teams were prohibited during the lockout from conducting official workouts, spring practices or minicamps.

 

Up until July 20, bookmakers had been taking wagers on the event. The 11-5 Chicago Bears were a 3-point favorite to beat the 7-9 St. Louis Rams on the turf of Fawcett Stadium. But the real money wasn’t being bet on the spread. It was going for a prop, “Will the NFL Hall of Fame game take place on August 7^th as scheduled?” Those who put their money on “No” just got rewarded at odds of 9/10.

 

No doubt those pessimistic bettors are the only ones happy about the cancellation. For the Pro Football Hall of Fame (HOF), it means refunding 14,000 pre-sold tickets. The anticipated revenues from primetime TV rights, advertising revenues, gate receipts, souvenir sales and concessions all disappear.

 

But it is more than just a preseason match-up that’s being cancelled. Every year since 1967, the Hall of Fame Game has been the focal point of Canton’s summer, linked at the hip to the annual HOF enshrinement ceremonies. It’s an institution, a tradition and a commercial pillar. For the city, this cancellation spells lost hotel room nights and restaurant income from some 23,000 visitors who spend upwards of $1,000 each for travel and entertainment.

 

A press release by the HOF attempted to downplay the significance of the cancelled game, stating: “Although the game is an important part of the 10-day, 18-event Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, it is important to remember that the most important event is the Enshrinement Ceremony which will be held on Saturday night August 6 as scheduled.”

 

Among the inductees this year are Richard Dent, Marshall Faulk, Chris Hanburger, Les Richter, Ed Sabol, Deion Sanders and Shannon Sharpe. Dent played for the Bears, of course, and will now miss the opportunity to stand on the field with them one last time.

 

And for the first time in NFL history, an asterisk will appear in the record books where the Hall of Fame Game scores appear. 2011* – Cancelled due to an inability to end the lockout in a timely manner.

 

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