TENNESSEE SPORTS HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TENNESSEE LOTTERY

Aug. 3, 2021 – NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced a partnership with the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation, which will see the Hall rebranded as the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Tennessee Lottery. Visitors can explore displays on College Football, College Basketball, Tennessee Olympians, Auto Racing, and more, plus learn about individuals like Peyton Manning, Wilma Rudolph, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Pat Summitt, and others. Additionally, visitors can see new memorabilia from the Class of 2020, and many others who have impacted the history of sports in Tennessee.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with the Tennessee Lottery as we continue to tell the history of sports in the state of Tennessee,” Brad Willis, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director said. “Our mission is built around teaching the lessons learned from sports to the next generation, and the Tennessee Lottery helps us do that, while continuing to provide funds of over $6 Billion to date to Tennessee-based education programs.”

“The partnership between the Lottery and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is a natural fit, presenting a fantastic new way to engage with players and fans in Tennessee,” Lottery President and CEO Rebecca Paul Hargrove said. “We are thrilled to be a part of bringing Tennessee sports history alive, and we want to thank Brad and everyone at the Hall of Fame for this opportunity.”

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Sponsored by the Tennessee Lottery is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and is located inside Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville. Attendees can enter through the Visit Music City Visitor Center, at the corner of Rep. John Lewis Way and Broadway.

The Hall recently aired the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Special, presented by the Tennessee Titans. The programs aired online and statewide the weekend of June 26 and 27. All three Grand Divisions of the state were represented in our 2021 Inductees and our 2021 Honorees. Titans running back Derrick Henry was named the 2021 Tennessean of the Year, in addition to a Class that included US Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone, Nashville Predators GM David Poile, the Voice of the Tennessee Titans Mike Keith, former Tennessee Baseball and Colorado Rockies star Todd Helton, Vanderbilt women’s basketball trailblazer Cathy Bender, ETSU basketball legend Tommy Woods, wheelchair basketball champion Brandon Rowland, Tennessee Football legend Bill Bates, Tennessee Basketball legend Reggie Johnson, MTSU linebacker and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers Coach Mike Caldwell, and Memphis women’s basketball coaching legend Mary Lou Johns.

The two-hour special also included a salute to the Nashville 6, the six Metro Nashville police officers who evacuated residents on the morning of the Christmas Day bombing on 2nd Avenue. This year’s special marks the second statewide TV special for the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, which honored the Class of 2020 with a television special in Aug. 2020.

About the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

Established in 1966, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame enshrines and honors athletes, teams, coaches, sports writers and sports administrators who have made an impact on the history of Tennessee sports. The Hall serves as a platform to connect athletes, coaches, sports fans, and supporters by acknowledging life achievements implemented through sports. The Hall celebrates athletes of all forms, from all across the state. Additionally, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame aspires to educate youth about the importance of healthy habits and the positive impact they have on lifestyle choices. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame is located at 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information, visit www.tshf.net.

About the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation

The Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation operates entirely from the revenue it generates through the sale of its products. Since January 20, 2004, the Lottery has raised more than $6 billion to fund designated education programs, including college grants, scholarships, Drive to 55 initiatives and after-school programs. In addition to the educational beneficiaries, players have won more than $16.5 billion in prizes and Lottery retailers have earned more than $1.5 billion in commissions. For additional information, visit tnlottery.com and follow the TEL on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mary Katelyn Price

Marykatelyn.price@tn.gov