Senate opens door for music and sports hall of fames to bolt Macon
A simple Senate bill to reduce the size of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame board and give the governor more power to replace the body on a whim, morphed into legislation that could see the sports hall and the Music Hall of Fame move out of Macon.
An amendment to the bill, authored by Republican Chip Pearson of Dawsonville, calls on the state to actively seek “proposals for a new location or alternative ownership, management and operation at the same location,” for both of the halls.
SB 523, which also calls for more collaboration between the two halls, passed unanimously.
Pearson, who chairs the economic development committee, said the goal of the amendment is to send out a message that the state may be interested in seeking alternate funding for the halls.
He said no group or person has come forth to express interest in the halls.
“There may be a white knight out there that doesn’t even know this thing exists,” Dawson said. “We’re hoping that this will pique some interest.”
Asked what were the chances that the halls could move out of Macon within the next five years, Senate Minority Leader Robert Brown, was blunt in sending his own message to the GOP.
“Not if I am majority leader,” said Brown, who represents Macon.
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12 comments Add your comment
A Realist
March 26th, 2010
6:56 pm
Why are they in Macon anyway? Does anyone go to Macon except to pass through going somewhere else? Move it to a location where tourists and residents of Georgia actually go!!!!!!
Dog lookin' for a Bone
March 26th, 2010
7:10 pm
AThens would be a good spot….100,000 sports fan six times a year. ALready home to the NCAA Tennis Hall of Fame.
Bold New South
March 26th, 2010
7:38 pm
Do we really want people to attend these Halls of Fame? If so, best to move them to a large metropolitan area with a tourist draw (hint, hint) in order to attract attendees and corporate sponsors, and with easy flight access for musicians/athletes to enhance the programming at these facilities. Think about how many musicians and athletes already reside in Atlanta and would be willing to support such a move. That being said, Macon has a rich musical history, and I would like to see them showcase it with some type of museum there.
rooster
March 26th, 2010
9:36 pm
Imagine how many more people would likely see the state’s music and sports museums it they could be somewhere near the Aquarium – World of Coke area at Centennial Park. There isn’t a constant flow of potential tourists in Macon. That’s why they are smart to put much of their tourism emphasis on a big annual event, the cherry festival, and they do it very well. Macon does have a number of famous houses for that particular tourist, and a handsome if modest downtown. But from the perspective of tourists coming from out of state, it is right on the cusp of greater Atlanta – just a bit far for a side trip. And within the state, only Atlanta and Savannah have direct interstate links to Macon. Columbus and Augusta and their hinterlands do not. Of course they all have direct interstate access to Atlanta.
Senate opens door for music and sports hall of fames to bolt Macon … | Georgia Today
March 26th, 2010
10:30 pm
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AtlantaPhotog
March 26th, 2010
11:24 pm
It might as well find a home around Centennial Park in Atlanta. The Aquarium and World of Coke are only going to bring so many repeat people down there – you have to have a larger variety of attractions to keep them coming back, and this would fit in well overall with a larger list if they can get them together in that one area within walking distance to each other. That is, unless Macon can build a dozen more attractions, and airport and a rail system to ferry tourists to theirs, suddenly.
ScienceTeacher671
March 27th, 2010
9:06 am
First, get rid of the state funding. If we can’t afford things the state is mandated by the Constitution to do (such as education) we can’t afford these.
If these museums don’t draw enough visitors to be self-sustaining, what’s the economic benefit?
Danceteacher
March 27th, 2010
10:13 pm
Macon has a jewel here and you can’t even see it. You will never get interest in Macon if you don’t support the history Macon has to offer. We have so much beautiful history here and we don’t support it!
We should be part of a guided tour, people go on guided bus tours so why not Macon, because we don’t promote it …
If you can make the Cherry Blossom work, why can’t you find a way to make this work?
The Museum of Aviation located in Warner Robins, in an obscure place. has thousands of people through there all year long, Fund raisers, concerts ect.. They make it work..maybe you should talk to someone there to find out how to make it work.
I am proud to have our Museum and would hate to loose them. It’s the only beautiful thing we have and our history. Promotion goes a long way, people of Macon don’t give up.
Slugworth
March 27th, 2010
11:30 pm
Good ole Pearson. This is him at his best. He’s a dangerous fellow.
Alex
March 28th, 2010
11:48 am
Macon pork from days gone by…..when Democrats were the ones feeding at the trough.
Anti-Alex
March 29th, 2010
9:39 am
Macon pork, huh? So now the Republican pork has moved down 75 a little bit for some pork for Houston County served Sonny-side-up?