Strong National Museum of Play details vision for sports museum

Posted at: 10/24/2012 7:04 AM | Updated at: 10/24/2012 1:20 PM

The Strong Museum is considering being a part of a first of it's kind museum in Buffalo that would focus on sports, play, competition and character.

The name of that museum would be the North American Museum of Sports and Culture.

The museum would only be part of a proposed 150,000-square foot stadium, park and entertainment complex along Buffalo's waterfront.

The $1.4-billion dollar project would also include a hotel, restaurants and retail.

The president and CEO of the Strong Museum said there is no museum anywhere like the one they are proposing. It would include exhibits featuring sports like hockey, football, fishing and boating.
     
G. Rollie Adams said, “This project intrigues us so much, because sports and culture are fundamental to play. Sports are a sub set of play, we are about play. Every time we are watching a sporting event, or you're participating in one, or you're talking about it, reading about it or writing about it, that's a form of play. So this just gives us an opportunity to expand our mission, and to reach a larger audience.”

Officials from the Strong Museum said they will not be providing capital for the project and it would be managed and operated by Buffalo staff.

No formal agreements are in place yet but they are excited about the prospect. will be at the Strong National Museum of Play Wednesday as it unveils new details about its plan to build a major sports museum in Buffalo. The announcement is set for 10 a.m.

The museum would be part of a newly proposed $1.4-billion waterfront sports and entertainment complex.

Also in the plans -- a new 70,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof for the Buffalo Bills. The blueprints are from a Dallas-based architectural firm that designed Cowboys Stadium and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The first thing the developer is doing is asking Buffalo city officials to acquire the land. Then he says he will approach Governor Cuomo, the Bills and the NFL.

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