Women’s Football Alliance inks multi-year deal to play league championships at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio
February 24, 2021
CANTON, Ohio — Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company, the only resort, entertainment and media company centered around the power of professional football and owner of the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls (HOFV), today announced it has signed a multi-year partnership with the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) to host its four championship games at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium beginning this year. This summer’s WFA Championship Weekend will take place on Friday and Saturday, July 23 and 24. The WFA was represented by WaV Sports & Entertainment in the negotiations.
Founded in 2009, the WFA is the largest, longest-running and most competitive women’s tackle football league in the world. Its mission to help women get involved in the game and develop the skill sets they need to compete professionally aligns with HOFV’s vision to grow the sport and provide opportunities for women to excel both on-and-off the field.
“Sharing our world-class facilities with such an important and transformational organization in the Women’s Football Alliance is a true honor” said Michael Crawford, President, and CEO of HOFV. “We are passionate about inspiring the next generation of athletes and believe the future of professional football is one where women are equally celebrated for their successes on the gridiron and provided with the same opportunities for advancement as males. We are excited to work closely with the WFA going forward and are very much looking forward to Championship Weekend at Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls this July.”
The WFA has empowered numerous female athletes to break barriers and achieve new heights. It was the first women’s football league to play a national championship game in an NFL stadium and have its games broadcast on national television. Additionally, more than 15 of the league’s players have earned coaching and scouting positions in the NFL, including Katie Sowers (San Francisco 49ers), the first female to coach in a Super Bowl, Lori Locust, the first female coach to win a Super Bowl (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Callie Brownson (Cleveland Browns), the first female position coach in an NFL game, and Jennifer King (Washington Football Team), the first female African-American coach in the NFL.
Women’s tackle football leagues have existed for over four decades, yet growth and interest in the sport have exploded over the past five years. The level of competition in women’s tackle football is the strongest it’s ever been, while the number of teams is at an all-time high.
“As a league, we are indebted to the multiple organizations that have helped women’s football grow to where we are today and couldn’t be more excited to partner with Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company, to be able to host our championships at their world-class facilities, and the birthplace of professional football in Canton Ohio” said Lisa King, WFA Commissioner. “We came in with a plan to take the game to another level, and are proud of our efforts so far. This partnership allows us to continue to increase the popularity of the sport and level of competition as we shine a light on our league in the place where football was born.”
“WaV Sports is honored to represent WFA and the hundreds of athletes that help make WFA the most successful women’s professional football organization in North America. We believe in all that they stand for and are thrilled to be a part of the process to further advance the mission of their organization,” said WaV Sports CEO, Brian Klaasmeyer.
About the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company
The Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: HOFV, HOFVW) is a resort and entertainment company leveraging the power and the popularity of professional football and its legendary players in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Headquartered in Canton, Ohio, the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company is the owner of the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls, multi-use sports, entertainment, and media destination centered around the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s campus. Additional information on the Company can be found at HOFREco.com.
About the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls
Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls is a multi-use sport, entertainment and media destination centered around the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s campus in Canton, Ohio. It currently has over $250 million worth of assets under management and is one of the largest ongoing construction projects in Ohio. Phase I of the project entailed the construction of the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, a world-class 20,000-seat sports and entertainment stadium, and the National Youth Football and Sports Complex. Phase II, currently under construction, will add the Constellation Center for Excellence, the Center for Performance, a retail promenade, the Hall of Fame Waterpark, and a Hilton Tapestry Hotel. Phase III is currently in the planning stages. For more information, visit HOFVillage.com.
About Women’s Football Alliance
The Women’s Football Alliance is the largest, longest-running, and most competitive women’s tackle football league in the world. With 60 teams and over 2,000 players, the WFA has created opportunities for women to compete and learn the game at the highest level. The professionalism and success of the WFA has been recognized by major corporate sponsors and it’s recent television network agreement with Eleven Sports will expand its audience reach across the country. For more information, visit wfaprofootball.com.
About WaV Sports and Entertainment LLC
WaV Sports & Entertainment is a global sports marketing firm that specializes in sports property representation, brand side representation, and the management and production of unique sporting and entertainment events. WaV exclusively represents the Women’s Football Alliance. Additional information on the Company can be found at WaVsports.com.