STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford Athletics is set to unveil its Home of Champions, an interactive, constantly-evolving space designed to showcase more than a century of excellence and innovation.
The public opening of the Home of Champions is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23, from noon-6 p.m. and admission is free. The first of five formal tours will take place at the top of each hour, beginning at 1 p.m. Later that evening, Stanford football hosts UCLA in its home opener at 7:30 p.m. in Stanford Stadium.
Designed by Nashville-based experiential design firm Advent, the Home of Champions is an 18,000-square foot space inside the Arrillaga Family Sports Center. Planning for the facility began in 2014, and the finished product includes over 40 displays chronicling the prestigious 126-year history of Stanford Athletics. The Home of Champions is located on the space previously known as Dallmar Court.
"We envision the Home of Champions to be a consistent reminder of the values we uphold, the rich history of Stanford Athletics, and a unique way to celebrate our most iconic moments and individuals," said Bernard Muir, Stanford's Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics. "This project would not be possible without the generous support from key donors. We are extremely proud to highlight the contributions and successes from the many trailblazers, scholars, coaches and champions who have called Stanford home. The ability to update displays in real time will result in an even more dynamic experience for our visitors."
"Stanford Athletics has a storied history and it was an honor to collaborate with the team to bring it to life," said John Roberson, Advent CEO. "We designed the Home of Champions to engage audiences in an extraordinary way through vivid storytelling with unprecedented interactive elements. Often halls of fame are focused on trophies. The team challenged us to focus on how their students study, train, compete, overcome challenges and move on to career passions. The result is an unforgettable hall of fame honoring Stanford's remarkable 126-year history of scholar-athlete triumphs."
Among the most notable displays:
Scholar-Athlete and Alumni Voices: Vertical, high-definition screens display life-sized video of scholar-athletes and alumni as they share their stories. An interactive interface allows visitors to select interviews with 21 Stanford greats, including Olympian Ogonna Nnamani, water polo champion and astronaut Steve Smith, and up- and-coming golfer Maverick McNealy.
Women of Stanford: From the first women's intercollegiate basketball game in 1896 to the 2016 Summer Olympic summer games domination, Stanford women have been a driving force in college athletics and beyond. Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver and water polo champion Brenda Villa are among those recognized here.
Directors' Cup: Slightly visible from the main floor, but tucked away to enhance mystery, is the Learfield Directors' Cup, the Waterford crystal trophy awarded annually to the best college athletics program in the nation. Stanford has won this prestigious award 23 consecutive years.
Letterwinner Books and Hall of Fame Interactive Table: This is an unprecedented piece of interactive storytelling and a showpiece of the Home of Champions. Thousands of athletes have competed for Stanford since 1891, and almost 15,000 names are now recorded in 10 custom books, organized by decade. When a book is placed on the interactive Hall of Fame table, the names of that decade's Hall of Fame members float to the table's surface, unlocking individual stories, photos and more.
Stanford Innovations: Here Stanford's notable history of sports innovation is highlighted. From Ernst Brandsten's early 20th Century diving board to the latest in virtual reality and concussion studies, Stanford's blend of scholarship and unparalleled athleticism is on display.
Corner Displays: In this area guests encounter other great landmarks of Stanford athletics, including Jim Plunkett's Heisman Trophy, the Honda Cup and the legendary Stanford Axe. Specialty glass film creates a visual effect, blurring the contents when viewed at a 45-degree angle, and providing full clarity when viewed head-on.
The Home of Champions will be open weekdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays) and on weekends from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free. Please refer to the website for hours on football gamedays, as those will vary pending announced kickoff times. The Home of Champions is a self-guided experience, however staff is available on site to answer questions.