MONTREAL -- The National Hockey League has enlisted the help of Disney World to transform its Hockey Hall of Fame into a computerized video entertainment center, NHL president John Ziegler announced Friday.
In what is known as 'Project Enterprise,' the NHL plans to revamp and move the Hockey Hall of Fame, which was first opened in 1961 at Toronto's Exhibition Place on the shore of Lake Ontario.
The new Hall of Fame will likely be completed within three years. Among other devices, it will contain computers and video displays which will allow fans to match up championship teams and players from different eras.
'We have seen from the Expo in Vancouver that the state-of-the-art in presenting ideas, history and participation has great acceptance to the public,' Ziegler said. 'We want to combine the best of that state-of-the-art with the best of hockey -- past, present and future.'
Ian 'Scotty' Morrison will give up his job as NHL vice-president in charge of officiating to head the new project, Ziegler said.
Norman Green, one of the owners of the Calgary Flames, was a member of an NHL committee which contacted Disney World in California for ideas.
'Disney has given us great encouragement,' Green said. 'We want to bring hockey memories alive. We want to make the Hall of Fame entertaining and exciting with electronic technology.'
Preliminary talks have been held with Toronto and Montreal about locating the new Hall in those cities, and informal inquiries have been received from other cities, Ziegler said.
'We'll take it to the city that wants us most,' Ziegler said, adding the Hall could move to the United States.
The NHL will seek government and corporate support to defray building costs, but hopes the new Hall will be self-supporting as an entertainment center, Ziegler said. No price tag was mentioned.
Jim Gregory, director of central scouting for the NHL, and John McCauley, Morrison's former assistant, will divide the responsibilities of Morrison's former job.
Gregory, who will still head scouting operations, will have executive responsibilities for officiating. McCauley will assume day-to-day responsibility as director of officiating.
Referee Bryan Lewis, who is retiring because of knee problems, will help McCauley as supervisor of officials.
