Two weeks ago, I reported Blue Wahoos owners Quint and Rishy Studer have formally asked the City of Pensacola to lease — or potentially lease with an option to purchase — the city-owned property at 101 West Main Street in the heart of downtown. Read City_of_Pensacola_101_W_Main_Street_Letter.docx.
The Studers see the spot as a place to honor Pensacola’s rich sports history. It could have retail space to sell sports apparel and merchandise not only for the Blue Wahoos but also the Ice Flyers, American Magic, SailGP, UWF and Pensacola State College. The building could also be a downtown visitor center.
- “In 2005, urban planner Ray Gindroz recommended a visitor center downtown,” Studer said. “Twenty-one years later, we feel this site can include information from the Downtown Improvement Board on what is happening downtown.”
For over 30 years, Pensacola Sports had its headquarters there. The building would be perfect for a Pensacola Sports Hall of Fame.
History Lesson
In March 2004, the Pensacola Sports Association held its annual awards banquet. Its keynote speaker was LSU football coach Nick Saban, fresh off his national championship title after defeating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. Boxer Roy Jones was named pro athlete of the year, and Fred Levin was inducted into the Pensacola Sports Hall of Fame.
Levin began talking with the Pensacola Sports Association and county officials about having a physical building to house the Hall of Fame. He put together a committee and began formulating ideas. One, reported by PNJ reporter Bill Vilona, called for life-size mannequins of Pensacola’s sports stars, along with touchscreen videos of their feats. A fundraiser was discussed, but Hurricane Ivan struck a year later.
During the Community Maritime Park debate, Rev. Wayne Woodard, president of Pensacola Dream Achievers, proposed building a $5 million sports museum to honor acclaimed Escambia County athletes at the park.
Woodward held a press conference at Levin’s office in August 2006. “Escambia County has been blessed with such a unique gift in that we have so many people who developed into world-class athletes, and their talent needs to be showcased. That’s what we’re going to do.”
- The PNJ printed a list of nominees: NFL stars Derrick Brooks (Washington High) and Emmitt Smith (Escambia High), NBA star Reggie Evans (Woodham High), Professional golfers Jerry Pate (Catholic High) and Joe Durant (Escambia High), Boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. (Washington High), WNBA star Michelle Snow (Pensacola High), Olympic swimmers Beth Barr Isaak (Washington High) and Andrea Hayes Dickson (Washington High), Retired Pensacola Junior College women’s basketball coach Vicki Carson, and Former Major League Baseball players Don Sutton (Tate High) and Greg Litton (Woodham High).
Again, the proposal went nowhere.
Will this time be different?
