With Christmas Day on the horizon, consider treating yourself, or somebody who is a huge sports fan, to a great gift – a “TEAM” membership for the first-ever Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame membership drive. It costs as little as $10 per month to join. Gear and other benefits are the stocking stuffer. And that is not the best part. More on that below.
First, however is a special appeal to the Natchitoches community. Yes, it is the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and the membership drive is a statewide initiative. Yet our town was fortunate – and deserving, for those who know the history of how NSU “took in” the hall over 50 years ago when nobody else in the state did – to be selected as the permanent site of the Hall of Fame Museum when it opened in the Natchitoches Historic District 10 years ago. It would make a resounding statement from the top to the tip of the “L” if the museum’s “home team” took a strong sense of ownership in the membership drive. Let’s show ‘em, Natchitoches!
Membership drive funds will be designated to install cutting edge technology at the museum, which is structurally in good shape but is behind from a technological perspective. The question – and a fair one – might be “can’t the state pay for those updates?” and the answer would be “the state provides funding for basic operating costs but not for enhancements.” That falls on the shoulders of the Hall of Fame Foundation.
At the two-month mark since the drive was launched, the TEAM roster is halfway to its first-year goal of 100 and the plan is to reach that target by December 31. Think about this – odds are good that you could have a better than 1:100 chance to win the “Ultimate 2024 Hall of Fame VIP Experience” drawing in early January if you sign up by the end of December. The ultimate package includes two tickets to all induction weekend events, including the Friday night “VIP Taste of Tailgating,” the Saturday “Roundtable Luncheon,” and later that day, a VIP reception at the Hall of Fame Museum followed by the induction ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center. Also included is exclusive access to the Thursday afternoon press conference with the inductees, plus more. The value of this package is over $1,000!
The 2024 induction class includes New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees, LSU two-time Naismith National Women’s Basketball Player of the Year/four-time WNBA champion Seimone Augustus, national/international award-winning martial arts performer Daniel Cormier among a star-studded list of Louisiana greats.
Postscript – the three-day annual Hall of Fame induction weekend has a local economic impact of $1.1 million!
Becoming a member is easy. Simply log on to lasportshall.com and click on “Join the Team,” text LSHOFTEAM to 41444 or send a check payable to “LSHOF Foundation” to 500 Front Street in Natchitoches (71457).
Thank you for the consideration and a blessed and joyous holiday season to all!
Greg Burke
Director of Business Development and Public Relations
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation
