The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement for the Class of 2024 is currently on a weather watch with threatening conditions continuing to be forecasted, something that was feared after the preseason game was cut short on Thursday night.
A band of severe weather is circling over the greater Canton, Ohio, area and has contingent plans coming into play. Here’s what we know about the plans of the NFL when it comes to the event honoring seven all-time greats.
Will the Hall of Fame Ceremony Be Canceled?
Update: The gates to the Hall of Fame ceremony are now open. The event is tentatively set to start between 1:45 and 2:00 p.m. ET.
We are back on the air on @nflnetwork at 130pmET and being told the @ProFootballHOF ceremonies will start with Dwight Freeney’s speech soon after that.
Doors are open in the stadium, fans are entering and music playing on speakers for first time all day. pic.twitter.com/RmW102Lkkw
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen)
The NFL has no intentions to cancel this ceremony, but there is a chance they will be forced to pivot. Rain, by itself, will not be enough to force their hand, but with high winds and other complications creating a dangerous atmosphere, they will have no choice but to move away from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
If that is the case, the Umstattd Performing Arts Hall at McKinley Senior High School has been tabbed as the backup location. The event would go on as planned at this new location, but the size of the venue will certainly come with limitations in terms of guests and media.
This event might look different than we are accustomed to, but the plan is to still hold it today, with the ultimate goal of not moving it from the traditional location.
The NFL could be forced to improvise, something that so many members of the 2024 class excelled at. Devin Hester’s iconic kick returns landed him in this class along with defensive stalwarts that routinely wrecked offensive game plans in Patrick Willis, Julius Peppers, and Dwight Freeney.
Joining that quartet is Andre Johnson (11th on the NFL’s all-time receptions list) and a pair of impactful defenders from yesteryear in Steve McMichael and Randy Gradishar (1978 DPOY). These players all left their fingerprints on the game we all love and they will be honored for doing as much today — even if a location change is needed.
