Groundbreaking set to begin on College Football Hall of Fame

ATLANTA — Groundbreaking will begin on the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta next month.

The hall will be west of Centennial Olympic Park in an area known as the green lot. Channel 2's Carol Sbarge was downtown as state leaders made the announcement Monday morning. Gov. Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed were among those in attendance.

"Atlanta is the heart of college football," Deal said.

The groundbreaking will begin Jan. 28, but the Hall of Fame is scheduled to open by the football season in 2014. Deal said it will be interactive, especially to appeal to young people.

The Hall of Fame is located in Sound Bend, Ind., but football legend and National Football Foundation board chairman Archie Manning said Atlanta is a better choice now because more people pass through the area.

"You already have a very vibrant downtown area, a lot going on in the Centennial Park district and some great venues there. We'd just like to add another one. I know of the passion that people in the Atlanta area, in this part of the country, have for college football," Manning said.

State and city leaders said the new tourist attraction is good for the city's economy and jobs.

WSBTV