Basketball Hall of Fame Enjoys Attendance Rise

More people visited the new Basketball Hall of Fame in its first two months of operation than in all of 1983, an official announced.

And this year’s attendance is about to surpass the number who toured the old hall last year at Springfield College.

As of last week, 35,393 people visited the $11.4 million showcase. That compares with 33,810 two years ago and 37,197 in 1984.

Attendance at the new hall is slightly ahead of expectations, Hall of Fame executive director Joe O’Brien said. He added the hope is to draw 100,000 people in 1985.

The 27-year-old basketball museum has honored 150 individuals and four teams. Enshrined in July were former players Nate Thurmond and Al Cervi; coaches Marv Harshman, Margaret Wade and the late Harold Anderson, and contributors Bertha Teague and the late Senda Berenson Abbott.

Women were enshrined at the hall for the first time this year. The milestone coincided with the June 30 opening of the $11.4 million Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.