Latest news with #HallOfExcellence
New York Times
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Why Fanatics Fest's ‘Museum of Greatness' almost didn't include Tom Brady's Super Bowl jerseys
NEW YORK — Walk to the end of the 'Museum of Greatness,' a one-of-a-kind exhibit at Fanatics Fest in the Javits Center and you'll see the centerpiece of a collection full of centerpieces: seven of Tom Brady's game-worn Super Bowl jerseys, including his Super Bowl LI jersey, which was stolen after the game and eventually recovered by the FBI. Advertisement A few hours before the show opened, though, the jerseys were nowhere to be found. 'Brady lost his Super Bowl jerseys!' Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin said excitedly Friday morning before making an appearance on ESPN's First Take from the massive three-day celebration of sports fandom. Rubin said Brady had forgotten where the jerseys were, which is actually understandable since Brady had just helped open the Hall of Excellence museum in Las Vegas on Wednesday that now houses all of his Super Bowl rings. Realizing the importance of the jerseys to the museum, Rubin sent a plane down to Miami to retrieve them from Brady's safe. The exhibit wouldn't be complete without the jerseys, in Rubin's eyes. So there was no price too high to make the swift jersey rescue to bring them to the museum that is temporarily housing an estimated $250 million worth of sports trading cards and memorabilia. 'It's the biggest exhibition of trading cards and memorabilia that's ever been brought together,' Rubin said. 'We don't want to be a big company. We want to be a beloved company that makes people love Fanatics. … So we had to have those jerseys to complete the fan experience.' The temporary museum's 10,500 square-foot showcase features trading cards and memorabilia from other all-time sports greats like LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lionel Messi, Serena Williams, Billie Jean King, Lewis Hamilton, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle as well as up and coming stars like Caitlin Clark, Paul Skenes and Elly De La Cruz. Several of these items have never been displayed publicly, with some coming from the players' personal collections, as well as from 30 individual collectors. Among the athletes who contributed their personal items to the museum include Brady, Kevin Durant and Logan Paul, who added his famed 1998 Pokemon Pikachu Illustrator Holo PSA 10 card he wore around his neck for his Wrestlemania 38 ring entrance. Advertisement 'I think we have something for everyone, which is what I think Fanatics is all about,' said Mike Connolly, the company's vice president of collector relations. 'So no matter where you are in your collecting journey or where you are as a fan, the fact that you can come here and see items you've either recognized or heard about or that you can see for the first time, is a very special experience.' There's a heavy security element for the display. A security guard stands by every case and alarms ring if anyone, even authorized museum curators, enter the display case. The items will be under 24-hour surveillance by more than 25 armed security guards, 360-degree cameras, undercover and uniformed police and canine units for the duration of Fanatics Fest. Even with the security, though, collectors and fans are able to get up close to items that may have previously seemed mythical. Some of the other more notable items include: Fanatics Collect CEO Mike Mahan, who oversees trading cards giant Topps, walked around the display before the Fest opened in his Washington Nationals' James Wood jersey almost with his jaw dropped given the amount of 'grail' cards and pieces of memorabilia around him. 'As a professional, I'm blown away by what this is and how it came together so quickly,' Mahan said. 'And with this only in its second year and the way that it's put together, it's truly special. And then there's the kid collector in me who sees all of these things, not only in one place but presented in a way that's frankly befitting of how important and special they are, it's awesome! 'It's really a vision to elevate collectibles in a way that was worthy of the moment. I think this is a manifestation of that. When you're a kid and you open a pack, you hope to have that card come in there someday. That's cool.' The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
Associated Press
19-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
TOM BRADY, JIM GRAY AND JEFFREY SOFFER UNVEIL HALL OF EXCELLENCE AT FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
The first-of-its kind museum officially opens to the public on Friday, June 20 Press conference images and b-roll courtesy of Getty Images for Fontainebleau Las Vegas HERE LAS VEGAS, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady alongside sportscasting legend Jim Gray and Fontainebleau Development Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Soffer proudly unveiled Fontainebleau Las Vegas' Hall of Excellence. The one-of-a-kind museum honors the greatest moments in the history of sports and entertainment. Hall of Excellence officially opens to the public on Friday, June 20. 'Everybody in the [Hall of Excellence] has people that inspired them, that supported them, that held them up,' Brady said at a morning news conference celebrating the museum's opening. 'Nobody can do it alone, we all need each other, we need to support one another, we need to build people up.' 'There's no greater destination in the world for this 'Smithsonian' of sports artifacts. In fact, I don't think the Smithsonian can handle what we put together!' Among those in attendance for the Hall of Excellence debut were: Frann Vettor-Gray, Tom Brady's parents Galynn Patricia Brady and Tom Brady Sr., Kobe Bryant's sister Shaya Bryant-Tabb, author Stedman Graham, former American sportscaster and Hall of Excellence personality Marv Albert, Executive Vice President and CFO at Koch, Inc. Richard Dinkel, Fontainebleau Development President and Partner Brett Mufson, and Fontainebleau Las Vegas President Maurice Wooden. 'The Hall of Excellence is more than a museum, it is a movement,' Gray told the assembled crowd. 'They're living reminders of what it means to sacrifice, to strive, to overcome. May this hall remind us of where we've been, challenge us on where we're going, and always call on us to live, to strive, to commit to excellence.' 'It's come together in such a way, it's beyond what I ever thought it would be,' said Soffer. 'The ability to take you through and relive these milestones, it takes you back to your childhood.' Hall of Excellence features cherished artifacts celebrating the moments, milestones, people, and plays that have inspired generations. Among the pieces on display: all seven of Brady's Super Bowl rings; the bat used by Jackie Robinson to break baseball's color barrier (1947); Muhammad Ali's worn gloves from his iconic fight versus George Chuvalo (1966); Dream Team jersey and opening ceremony uniform (1992); Clint Eastwood's Academy Award for 'Unforgiven' (1993); Kobe Bryant's first nationally televised game jersey (1996); golf ball used by Tiger Woods during his first Masters victory (1997); Billie Jean King's iconic tennis dress (1974); Oprah Winfrey's Presidential Medal of Freedom (2013) and Tony Award for 'The Color Purple' (2016); Las Vegas Aces WNBA Championship rings (2022, 2023); a Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Championship ring (2023), and golf balls and baseballs signed by U.S. Presidents dating back to Woodrow Wilson. Featuring a self-guided audio tour narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, Hall of Excellence allows guests to customize their visit with handheld devices that identify each exhibit, with stories, statistics, and detailed descriptions narrated by icons like Oprah Winfrey, Marv Albert, Jim Nantz, Bob Costas, Mike Emrick, Mary Carillo, Andres Cantor, Tom Brady, Jim Gray, and more. The museum also features an iconic trophy room that includes the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the Heisman Trophy, the Claret Jug, the MLB Commissioners Trophy, Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy (NBA Finals), Wimbledon, U.S. Open Golf and U.S. Open Tennis Trophies, the Pete Rozelle Super Bowl MVP Trophy, Olympic Gold medals, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony® and ACADEMY AWARDS® and many others. Located on the resort's second floor adjacent to Promenade, Hall of Excellence will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Friday, June 20. Admission starts at $35 per person and $20 for guests ages five to 15 years old; with discounted tickets available for seniors, Nevada residents, and military members starting at $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased here. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of Fontainebleau Las Vegas' valet-validation program – allowing visitors dining at the resort's world-class restaurant and bar collection, spending within retail spaces, including the Hall of Excellence, or enjoying a treatment at Lapis Spa & Wellness and IGK Salon to validate their valet. More information about Fontainebleau Las Vegas dining, events, entertainment, rooms and suites can be found at About Fontainebleau Las Vegas Fontainebleau Las Vegas is a 67-story, vertically integrated luxury resort that brings a legacy of timeless elegance and unparalleled service to the Strip. Certified by the Green Building Initiative with three Green Globes, the resort's thoughtful design allows guests to move effortlessly among 3,644 luxury hotel rooms and suites, 550,000 square feet of customizable meeting and convention space, 150,000 square feet of gaming space, a collection of world-class restaurants and shops, exquisite pools, vibrant nightlife, and vitality-enhancing spa and wellness offerings. Located at 2777 S. Las Vegas Blvd., adjacent to the acclaimed Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall expansion, Fontainebleau Las Vegas is created by Fontainebleau Development in partnership with Koch Real Estate Investments. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Travel Weekly
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Iconic sports, show business memorabilia headline Fontainebleau's Hall of Excellence
The Hall of Excellence, featuring curated memorabilia from sports and entertainment, will open at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on June 20. The project is a collaboration with former NFL quarterback Tom Brady and sportscaster Jim Gray and his wife, Frann Vettor-Gray. Artifacts from athletes include Michael Jordan's first pair of Air Jordans (1984) and first NBA championship shoes (1991 NBA Finals), a bat used by Jackie Robinson to break baseball's color barrier (1947), all seven of Brady's Super Bowl rings and Muhammad Ali's gloves from his fight versus George Chuvalo (1966). "The Hall of Excellence is about more than preserving history -- it is about celebrating the relentless pursuit of greatness," Brady said. "These moments, these legends, they remind us of what is possible when passion and hard work come together, and they inspire us to chase our own legacies." • Related: Four museums that tell the story of Las Vegas Additional displays include memorabilia that once belonged to heavyweight champions Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Mike Tyson; legendary football coach Vince Lombardi and running back Jim Brown; baseball immortals Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays; basketball Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; golf greats Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus; and global soccer superstars Pele and Lionel Messi. The trophy room features the Vince Lombardi Trophy (awarded annually to the Super Bowl winner), the Commissioner's Trophy (Major League Baseball), the Heisman Trophy, Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy (NBA), the Wimbledon trophy and the Pete Rozelle Super Bowl MVP Trophy. Showbiz shares the stage Entertainment memorabilia include Clint Eastwood's Academy Award for "Unforgiven" (1993) and Oprah Winfrey's Presidential Medal of Freedom (2013) and Tony Award for "The Color Purple" (2016). Elvis Presley and the Beatles are represented, and Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Academy Awards are also exhibited. Golf balls and baseballs signed by U.S. presidents dating back to Woodrow Wilson are also displayed. • Related: Is this the steamiest show in Vegas? Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman narrates the self-guided tour. Visitors can also hear stories and descriptions of artifacts narrated by Winfrey, Brady, Gray, Marv Albert, Jim Nantz, Bob Costas and Mike Emrick, among others. The Hall of Excellence will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Admission is $35 (plus tax and fees) and $20 for guests 15 and under. Discounted tickets are available for seniors and military members.
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Where Legends Live On: Tom Brady's And Jim Gray's Hall Of Excellence In Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Jim Gray and Tom Brady attend Jim and Frann Gray in ... More Partnership with Tom Brady and The Tom Brady Family Collection Bring Hall of Excellence to Fontainebleau Las Vegas at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo byfor Fontainebleau Las Vegas) In a city built on spectacle, well-known legends just raised the bar on what it means to honor greatness. Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, iconic sports journalist Jim Gray and his wife Frann have joined forces to launch a one-of-a-kind experience inside the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. It is called the Hall of Excellence and it lives to its name. This Hall is not just a museum—it's a cathedral of greatness. Inside, you'll find the fingerprints of champions: Brady's Super Bowl rings, Muhammad Ali's gloves, Tiger Woods' golf ball from his first Masters win, equipment used by tennis legends like Billie Jean King and Serena Williams. But this Hall doesn't stop at the stadium gates. It pushes beyond the arena and into every corner of human achievement—with treasures like Oprah Winfrey's Presidential Medal of Freedom, Clint Eastwood's Academy Award, and artifacts from American presidents. Visitors can see all of this and more, while being guided through the museum with Morgan Freeman offering the narration. Brady offered some valuable insights on some of the items in the Hall that continue to impact him. 'There's something powerful about standing in front of Jackie Robinson's bat and understanding what that moment in history meant—not just for baseball, but for an entire country,' Brady said. 'Or seeing Oprah's Medal of Freedom and thinking about how she used her platform to lift others. And of course on the sports side, every artifact we have represents a symbol of what's possible.' ATLANTA, USA - FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady and his daughter Vivian Brady being interviewed by Jim Gray ... More after New England Patriots win in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams by the score of 13-03. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images) The Hall of Excellence is a place where the extraordinary isn't just displayed, it's felt. Jim Gray, whose voice and reporting have guided fans through some of sports' most memorable moments—from Ali to the Olympics—has always had an eye for greatness. But this, he told me, is something different. 'I got to see the work ethic and what it took to be great,' Gray said in an interview with Forbes. 'You can be great, but you're not always excellent.' Gray understands that great isn't the same as excellent. You can be great in a moment, but excellence is earned over a lifetime The idea of the Hall of Excellence first took root years ago, in a conversation Gray had with legendary Raiders owner Al Davis. From there, Gray started kicking around the concept of what it might look like to honor not just the athlete, but the excellence that defines the person behind the performance. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 31: (L-R) Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, sportscaster Jim Gray ... More and Las Vegas Raiders owner and managing general partner and Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis talk during halftime of a game between the Connecticut Sun and the Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 31, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Sun 89-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) When Brady reflects on the Hall, he does not speak as an athlete, but as a student of excellence. What stood out to him wasn't just the names, but the mindset they shared. 'Whether they were on a stage, on a field, or changing lives through their leadership, the one thing they all had in common was an unrelenting drive to pursue greatness, not for recognition, but because they felt called to it,' Brady said. For Brady, that call to excellence has always been personal. 'My parents and sisters showed me what commitment looked like,' he said. 'I wasn't the most gifted athlete as a kid, far from it, but I was lucky to grow up surrounded by examples of what hard work and perseverance really meant. I saw my sisters wake up at dawn to chase their dreams. I saw my dad treat people with respect and integrity, no matter the situation.' Brady's family built the foundation that allowed him to pursue greatness, and, now, he's building one for others. 'This place isn't about fame or glory,' he said. 'It's about the journey behind the moment. It's a tribute to those who dared to dream big, who pushed through pain, doubt, and failure to create something extraordinary. If someone walks out thinking, 'I'm ready to chase my own version of excellence,' then we've done our job.' Now, that seed has grown into a legacy. Gray and Brady have worked with organizations and individuals across the sports world to curate the new museum, including several Halls of Fame, and he remains awestruck by the trust that icons have placed in the Hall of Excellence. 'They're trusting us with their most personal prized possessions,' he said. 'It's truly an honor that they have allowed us to do that.' With more than 40 million visitors passing through Las Vegas each year, the Hall of Excellence is poised to become more than just a destination. It just might spark a movement, a renewed commitment to excellence. 'I want this to be the greatest experience of its kind,' Gray told me. 'I want everybody to leave the Hall of Excellence feeling inspired by it. They get to relive their fondest memories, or teach their kids something and inspire them.' HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 31: After he finished his media duties and headed out of the room, New England ... More Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, shares a moment with sportscaster Jim Gray, right, with whom he did a radio interview weekly on Westwood One during Monday Night Football games this season. The New England Patriots had a media availability session at their team hotel, the JW Marriott Galleria in Houston, TX on Jan. 31, 2017. The Patriots face the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI in Houston on Sunday. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Brady agrees. For him, this is about legacy—not as a quarterback, but as a builder of belief. 'Every story in the Hall speaks to discipline, resilience, and a deep commitment to purpose,' he explained. 'These people didn't just have talent, they cultivated it with consistency and courage, especially when things got hard.' That's the kind of excellence that doesn't fade with time. That's the kind of excellence this Hall was built to honor. And if you're lucky enough to walk through its halls, you'll leave with more than memories. You'll leave with a treasure just as valuable as those displayed in the museum: the challenge to be excellent.
CNA
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Tom Brady, Jim Gray opening sports, entertainment museum
Tom Brady's seven Super Bowl rings will be among the memorabilia on display in the Hall of Excellence, a museum set to open June 20 under the direction of Brady and his partners. The legendary quarterback, joined by sportscaster Jim Gray and his wife, Frann Vettor-Gray, have spearheaded the creation of the museum, located at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel. It will include items from the Tom Brady Family Collection, as well as treasures from athletes and entertainers of the 20th and 21st centuries. "The Hall of Excellence is about more than preserving history - it is about celebrating the relentless pursuit of greatness," Brady said in a news release. "These moments, these legends, they remind us of what is possible when passion and hard work come together, and they inspire us to chase our own legacies. So much of this memorabilia represents the incredible journey that I, like so many others, have been fortunate enough to experience. Artifacts like these do not belong hidden away, they should be shared with the fans who were along for the journey with us. I'm proud to share these moments, and grateful this collection now has the perfect home at Fontainebleau Las Vegas." The items in the collection spread far beyond Brady's. Visitors to the museum will see items that include the bat used by Jackie Robinson to break baseball's color barrier (1947); Michael Jordan's first pair of Air Jordans (1984); Clint Eastwood's Academy Award for "Unforgiven" (1993); a golf ball used by Tiger Woods during his first Masters victory (1997); Oprah Winfrey's Presidential Medal of Freedom (2013); and golf balls and baseballs signed by U.S. Presidents dating back to Woodrow Wilson. Additional memorabilia comes from events involving icons such as Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Roger Federer, Simone Biles and Michael Phelps. "The Hall of Excellence is the most extraordinary collection of historic sports and entertainment artifacts ever assembled. It's a tribute to iconic legends whose achievements exceeded even their boldest dreams. This museum takes you back to the unforgettable moments that shaped generations," Jim Gray said. "By sharing these remarkable treasures, we hope to inspire future generations to strive for excellence. We are deeply grateful to all the superstars who generously contributed their most prized possessions." Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman narrates the self-guided tour of the museum, but numerous big names - including Winfrey, Marv Albert, Bob Costas and Snoop Dogg - offer stories about specific items. Admission to the Hall of Excellence is $35, with discounts available for seniors, youths, Nevada residents and military memebers.
