Welcome to another edition of issues too funny ten hi Steve Macintosh. A -- a bit of shop talk this morning before we get started this program has won a second place trophy. In the Kansas association of broadcasters awards competition. For our look at child abuse and we've won -- the third place awards from the KEB in the in the past as well. In the eleven years of the issues program has been on the -- so -- just -- girl -- just a bit. Ted Hayes president of the Kansas sports Hall of -- welcomed the -- against it now could be back you know what it's been awhile since we've talked. Has been a couple of years and yeah lot's been happening with the Kansas sports Hall of Fame. And the last time we have you on the show you -- you're an old town. Tell us about the changes over the past few months but at all.
Well we've. And had so many exciting lives are no where to start really we've opened up the Kansas force museum -- Chisholm trail center in Newton. And down and also we made the move from old town and it into the completely renovated beautiful boat house. And down we're gonna be having some events coming up here ribbon cutting and so forth we can talk about a whole bit bit it's been a transition. I've missed some tremendous growth steps that we've taken and very busy very exciting time just tell me a little bit about Newton I'm not really up to date on netbooks and there we opened up a museum. The Chisholm trail satirist 40000 square feet to Stephen and when we knew we were moving over the boat house we also realize we just did not have the room when you're gonna need. To display the great memorabilia. Oh yeah exhibit's and so forth that we had it was just not gonna happen at the -- house is just not enough room and so rather than returning the artifacts are putting them in storage we decided do you know this is this is worthy of being out on display so we located. You know and had an opportunity. -- to go into that right beside interstate 135. Great location and great space so we opened up the Kansas force museum which is a branch. Of the Hall of Fame. Well so you -- branch offices down. But they -- it up there in the gym -- like settled Netanyahu and they've just been wonderful I mean right now we have a great exhibit that's traveling exempt from the Pro Football Hall of -- that's on right now it's called pro football the American spirit it's about pro football players who served our country in the armed forces. It's got Roger Staubach and -- rose of course Pat Tillman in there. Their stories memorabilia. There's video. Just a dynamite traveling display well and that's in Newton and how many prisoners usually get enough. Oh right now its eyes -- to pick up you know as you get back to vacation time in this traveling displays attracting quite a few people. You know is nowhere close to what -- used before the economy bottomed out on this but now we're get several thousand people through.
Okay enough -- going the interstate up. 135 -- northbound and coming -- so what wears it as it comes to jump on it it's the first accidents exit 28 on the south in the Newton. Is on the left side to merchants on the west side on the left okay where's that from that outlet mall it is was thrown out a -- okay yachts now like colonel senator yeah. Yeah now -- is all right great. That's sounds that sounds fantastic. On all the -- house. Has -- continues in several years when you took over what what kind in this shape was facility is when you arrive there today and well you know it world.
Before the renovation took place. There was some damage had been done there was some -- that need to be done on the roof and of course of floors and been weathered in undergone some some distress through the years bit. Com domain the main thing was all the utilities had to be back out there are some vandalism had taken place a lot of brass and copper and so forth have been taken out of that in. And those things all had to be repair or replace the air conditioning units tend to be fixed. But structurally. And really for the most part to Billings was in pretty good shape. It did take about 600000 dollars to to repaint everything reach initial floor worst. They put in new bathrooms on the first floor. That town you a lot of things were were a static. As opposed to structural now who's used to development. Bill Coke. -- hope -- governor bill code that after the blamed -- yeah he really you know there were two things going on with bill that were passionate. Things for him. One is obviously the boathouse is always been very very close to him and his family in -- and turn to be able to have an opportunity to renovate that was something he wanted to do. And at the same time you know he's always been tremendously supportive of the sports Hall of Fame -- inductees in the hall of fame and so. He's trying to support these two entities and he saw the opportunity to maybe Mary that team together and so it was his idea. And to approach to city Wichita and say you know I would like to see this picks back up again I'm willing to pay them. Expands to get it fixed backup. And like it to be dome for the Kansas sports hall thing. And you know the city. Will -- embraced that with open arms and really. What city manager Bob -- stepping up to the plate to city councilman mayor all got behind this concept and just made it happen and -- Iowa. That's been kind of a joint joint effort and I'm good for everybody involved and and not just recently that could do work was done we moved in in May in so we'll give him a grand opening yourself.
I must say your quick story my brother in law is. Is a native of Greece grew -- in the water and on the water in the Greek islands his father was a fisherman. And when he came to visit Kansas for the first and only time in his life couple years ago. One of the things that I took him -- was that was the -- and he was impressed. Yeah that was pretty cool.
Well it it is is such an impressive. An artifact and you know the fact that it was used to win the most prestigious. -- sports race in the world. And we've got one of those that sit right here on them you know dry dock trying to decide your Kansas river it really makes it that unique and very special.
Very unique. What kind of shape is a boat house in right now how would you describe it to and.
It's completely been renovated Steve. You know the floors are raw brand new -- just is just beautiful palm. It's -- all completely newly painted inside and out the woodwork is just. In -- breathtaking when he stepped in there. It's been extremely popular I mean we've been hosting a lot of events right now today we have the muscular dystrophy. Event going on all day today we've had. A dozen or so weddings already in there of the downtown development corporations go go Wichita has had meetings there. It's just been real popular as a as a venue and now that's exactly what we wanted to have happen.
I know that's and others it's quick story -- house of several years ago when we have one of our. -- school class reunions -- let's go right across a river over there westside but it. We had a reunion there and we Garcia upstairs and it was fantastic everybody loved it now this has been. But few years ago yeah well it's been really been return.
Pretty much to the same state that was in when people remembered it before it what was vacated. It's been brought back to that same stadium people walk in there and saying you know we have so many people tell us I was here for a wedding -- and my class reunions here are a lot of those kinds of advance and that's exactly what we're trying to bring back and it's just working very well. When it comes to this the sports Hall of Fame the actual museum part tell me about the admission price in the hours for the please. -- well -- at the boat house we are not gonna charge admission we have all of the inductees gallery. Com you know and in some of the things on the first floor of the boathouse is a kids' sports Hall of Fame inductees gallery and we're not there's no admission for that. A harsh or Sports Museum opinion the admission prices seven dollars and that includes seeing him doing the traveling display. And now veterans getting him. And at no charge to see that that we have you know we have reduced rates for seniors and school groups and those kinds of things for the museum admission.
Yeah what about sorry I haven't been up to you and and you know while I about the signage kit and when you're driving up there yet pretty good -- to see -- it's over there.
We are. Within a couple weeks I hope we have the final approval you have to brown highway state signs assists Kansas force museum exit tornadoes will be keep coming up here real shortly. It's taken a long time to get those good to. But there are about done now.
I'm -- kind of -- about the pollutants thing here but got back to the bonus how many visitors use and so far they have opened very long -- how many visitors so -- how does that compare with your Saturdays in old town.
Oh I I really don't think there's any comparison I mean. You know we're we're dealing literally two different audiences that we had over 2000 people attend events at the boat house in the first six weeks. And we have 28 more events already booked between now and the end of the year and this includes Christmas parties weddings wedding receptions business meetings and that kind of thing. And we're still booking those kinds of events and so -- so you don't have 2000 people go through the first six weeks and we haven't even cut the ribbon on the place yet. You know word word just kind of blown away about the potential.
Ted and and not to be crude but. Those kind of events that you -- that's a place for you can generate some revenue is it not.
Well and that's that's the intention Steve is you know the Hall of Fame has had a a history of financial struggles and and you know trying to get the state legislature to help fund the the organization that they created has never. Never come to pass told unfunded man in front of I PS. But. You know we've we've survived because the generosity. Of don't worse and you know certainly don't coach John Q hammonds are gonna number of people who have really stepped up to the played two years and support just that. Have a live venue like the boat house we saw at the very beginning was that. This has the potential to create a revenue stream -- just uses a facility rental place. Hand and you know is we seen them but the evidence of that is a good business.
Journalism like political drugstores -- a -- I mean yeah yeah it. Again you know another thing that's happening you'll be -- you know will be announcing this today that we cut the ribbon on August 30 that night were having a membership kickoff event Steve. And Gale Sayers is coming in and -- and other you know people would have been inducted into the Kansas sports Hall of Fame. And the idea here is to build a group of people. That support the mission of the Kansas sports Hall of Fame by becoming a member. And we intend to have speakers like Gale Sayers and max -- and stinging and you know frank Martin bill Snyder Bill Self. You know -- of them that marquee name coaches coming in an athletes coming in on a regular basis to speak to the members. I haven't you ever have an opportunity to mingle and meet these people. We're gonna have some members only events and parties -- Super Bowl party a Final Four parties and things like that. All which will help the mission of the sports Hall of Fame in the -- you know of course they can. You know that I have the benefit of being able to -- the facility themselves for their business or private use at reduced rates so. We're just really encouraging people that have an interest in sports or the or the boathouse. To jump on board with this membership.
The video just go back to the from the aspect of tourism and visitors and so forth if -- been able to tell. Here in -- also -- you can where your visitors come from -- people from all over the country all over the world order to have you been able to meet.
Yeah. Well it's obviously most of them most of misery are from the state Kansas. And you know typical of most kansans and I guess for you probably people everywhere. Oftentimes things in your own around town or two things that you necessarily go and see it's people coming to visit. It through one of the exceptions to that -- would be the boathouse I mean the people have a real passion and I've followed the story and have you know ties to that building. Have been. Very very you have much the load of people would come of the boathouse and and from Wichita. -- and moved. The Kansas forced museum really attracts people from all over the state I mean we've got high school and college testing goes you know to all four corners of Kansas and then does attract people from all over.
You're listening to issues 2010 on the Entercom radio stations our guest this week's Ted Hayes. President of the Kansas sports Hall of Fame intended just backtrack a little bit on your history and you Helen you've been with the the whole thing -- sport's all time. Last month it was nineteen years and you were actually with the -- when it was up in -- and gambling you know I I before that it was summer before that was in the now Lawrence Lawrence -- in so it's you know it said some growth steps through the years and hopefully this is this is last stop. Public -- what's your first loves its sports or is it running museums and -- grownups I know you probably would be something well. Now going to be a Major League Baseball. They're hackers are good Leo and didn't work out so I know that -- stories about a.
being involved in preserving the history of sports for the stage and and you know it's been a passion of mine is young -- native Kansan and and I've seen her grow up in a small town and so I have seen the importance to sports hands on on young people particularly. And also a lot of the things that can be learned from being. Involved in sports familiar star player not mean there's things that you learn by being involved in athletics as a child. And then the people that have become very famous that are inducted in the halls of fame. Across the country tell you the same thing I -- they took those. Principles and values that they learn by competing in sports. And they've applied them to be coming doctors and bankers and business people successful professional people in every walk of life. So a lot of won't point back to you. They're high school coach or of the things that they learned while they were grown up your own NB a ball players so that's part of what we're trying to preserve.
I'm just reading the book about it they came a couple of years ago about the yeah. The football program in Smith Center and which is incredible. And did not only a terrific football program that twinge every game every turn and run but the whole community is built. Around that. That football program right -- let's go.
It really -- and I mean it's it's it's kinda typical is certainly that kind of success isn't typical good. But when you have the success in the in the towns of Kansas. That community never forgets it I mean as you drive them back roads you see Kansas and you come into some small towns. You know you see that slowing they're welcoming you Dwight Kansas home of the 1966. State basketball champ yes. You know and and is something that every community you know they embraced that moment of grace greatness and right now coarseness -- is at the top of their game in and nationally prominent in their accomplishments so. And we do have you know we have and there are Jersey and some helmets and pictures of that great Smith Center dynasty in Hutchinson courses -- six state championship in a row -- we have some memorabilia from them. One of the displays of we have coming up this kind of exciting along the same line here Steve is that after the pro football display leaves. -- you are going to be putting -- play our own. History of eight -- football in the state of Kansas. And you know there's some great dynasties in these small towns and one state championships and and just. A history of the whole game trade him for a moment will be on display from October through December. -- news that we need a lot of folks of of that day nervously right now don't realize that there is eight man football. Well you know it there's there's over a hundred schools more than a third of the schools and state Kansas they're close to a third play eight man football and and US population trends grove away from the rural areas and into the metropolitan areas a lot of schools are used to play eleven -- having to drop downs and and played -- anthropologist cousins numbers.
I do I was pretty good is that you -- treatment football -- death here that the cold front yard football -- free for all as we go all the listen -- we're talking a little bit about this -- facility and you're talking about does the news the that the other parts of it. Lend themselves for under another to entertainment uses and you have talked a little bit about that the tell me about this and some of the uses that are people are using for the upstairs.
Okay. Well we have to high school programs that are already booked for next spring which helped me get this area square foot -- about 4000 little undervalued can I -- a couple of hundred people which you can we can -- comfortably 200 people at roundtable sort of sanction him you know if you go classroom lecture style you can see more than that. You know and if it's a cocktail reception or sustain and -- type of thing we can probably get to 5300. In their very comfortably good. You know they had wedding dances up there and they've had. Like you said meetings then and gatherings. -- trade show. This Eurasian yeah I'm you people senators pool tables and in their backdrops and have a small trade show in their -- So you know there's no real -- that I concede to the potential. You know for group about to say 200 people.
We head into -- to my reunion we had about 200 people there and it was us it was a summer night. Some of this one on the patio are in the -- out there are to the west and watched -- to baseball thing going on across river a beautiful lady I mean you could have a really. Memorable time.
Oh there's no question about it in the view into Dumont stadium is spectacular. And of course a fireworks display you know that takes place over there you've got. Ringside seat for that kind of thing in and you're right that balcony is is as attractive for you know when the weather's nice. As a museum side so -- got a lot of things that can be done a lot of flexibility that we can -- with an inventor.
Let me ask you about the the sports Hall of Fame. How do how do you becomes one become a member how do you select people for the sports often and I presume that's an ongoing thing it is digital abducting people.
Yes we have an induction ceremony coming up in October on third and we do it every year. The way people are inducted Steve -- sound any Kansan can nominate. For induction into the into the sports Hall of Fame we take a look at the criteria and there is certain criteria depending on what -- I've -- player coach and so forth. That we take a look at wanna make sure they've established real strong ties to the state of Kansas. But then if they qualify they go on the ballot and then there's sound 75 people from across the state not include sports writers and sports -- or so a sports this story and some athletic director some people have been around and and impartial. Two. -- Select the right people they make the first. I'm ballots. And it's a two step process. From that first committee. Then we narrow it down to toiling in the board of directors selects from that warning. Those that will be inducted into. They support those home look at American visiting Mountain -- you -- was just like to see that we have coming up on the thirtieth we have eleven bar living inductees are going to be coming back just to be there helpers kickoff for membership drive -- there's some you know there's some interest -- names -- Gale -- Ernie Barrett -- Max far Christine Curtis McClinton Linda Hargrove. -- Kissinger is just inducted into the college football Hall of Fame. He will be there. You know there's that's a good group of people that you know people are joining up as members. We'll have an opportunity to meet them and talk to them and get to known and they really are genuine nice you.
It was now is if people more information about. The boathouse a Hall of Fame all the beautiful central phone number -- all.
Yes we do it's 2622038. Or they can go online to KS HO dash dot ORG.
Kate -- HOF Kansas all of plane dot ORG. Got it yes. Can you determine at all at this might be an impossible became and you determine who the most popular figures in all. Had kept separate that that would be very unscientific and you're well you know.
Obviously you know as far as popularity is concerned. Obviously Barry Sanders NBC news Monica Gale Sayers. And Dean Smith. Bill Snyder. You know those -- gallon.
Now you talked a little bit about. Some of the upcoming events. You've got -- what's in the future for the chance for toll payment. -- religion in next -- so.
Well we're gonna continue to. Look for those exhibits and special displays we've got to put out that -- museum in Newton that right now. That world you know preserve that history. Com and that's some more of the main objectives in Newton. At two at about what else here we have some great speaker -- lined up -- we're gonna have I'm Gayle sayers type event. You know on a regular basis give something special to our people who are joining us remember -- and let them see that this is worthwhile supporting. The other thing would be. Utilizing our growth to really develop our outreach programs for kids.
Well -- just on behalf of the community if I remain. I -- thank you and and bill Coke. And the city leaders as well forget and the vote house back in shape I mean. It was so sad to watch it go down -- facility and now I think we we may have gotten just right mixer. Those looks like. You've got the right approach and it did make it real success again bill thank you. Are you thinking that way.
Well and no doubt about it you know and we can tell we're definitely on the right course. And making great strides. Response we've received -- has been fantastic how how about that in some good comments -- people oh you bet and you know -- surveyed everybody knew who grants -- facilities so we can learn from what we're doing right what we're doing wrong how can we improve and -- the feedback from that has been mostly positive and we have had a few things suggestions that have been good --
So you're you're pretty optimistic about what's going on them and yes I am horrible will wanna thank you again for being our guest and if you wanna contact. The Kansas sports Hall of Fame the -- house will be facility and speak to her in Newton as well the -- 262. 2020382622038. In the web site is. What is it KS HOF dot ORG. Okay thanks Ted appreciate it our guest is Ted Hayes president of the Kansas sports Hall of Fame. That's all for this edition of issues 2010 and of course will be back next week thank you for listening. I'm Steve Macintosh.
