Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Company announced it has signed a lease with Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. to open in the Fan Engagement Zone at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls in summer 2022. Build-A-Bear, a multi-generational global brand focused on its mission to “add a little more heart to life,” will occupy 1,900 square feet and will have a sports-centric theme with merchandise to provide guests with a tangible memory of their experience at the Village, with furry friends and accessories featuring the brands and logos of their favorite professional or collegiate football teams. For nearly 25 years, Build-A-Bear has appealed to a wide array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own “furry friends” to celebrate and commemorate life moments. The Build-A-Bear location at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls will feature a football-themed environment that is staffed by fun, friendly and engaging associates to offer children and their families a memorable and unforgettable experience.

What's more, the store will allow visitors the opportunity to bring their imagination to life by designing and stuffing their own furry friends and personalizing them with outfits, accessories, sounds and scents, and taking part in the iconic heart ceremony. Currently under construction, the Fan Engagement Zone at the Hall of Fame Village powered by Johnson Controls will be a sports and entertainment-themed, 82,000-square-foot promenade located strategically within the campus footprint and offering rooftop views of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. It will be made up of unique restaurants, retailers and experiential offerings, with Topgolf Swing Suites and Don Shula's serving as two of the anchor attractions.

The Fan Engagement Zone, set to be open in time for the 2022 NFL season, will serve as an active hub for the destination where fans can go before, during and after events – be it youth sports contests, football games, concerts or performances, etc. – to have fun, be entertained or eat and socialize.