Vandalism temporarily closed Brantford Sports Hall of Recognition

Vandalism temporarily closed Brantford Sports Hall of Recognition

The Brantford Sports Hall of Recognition, located within the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, was temporarily closed this week due to vandalism.

“The trivia booth… was damaged following a weekend tournament,” Brantford’s director of communications Maria Visocchi said Friday. “No artifacts were accessed or impacted in any way.”

She said the sports hall reopened Friday but the trivia booth remains temporarily closed.

It is thought that a liquid was poured onto the booth, damaging its electronics.

Visocchi said there are several security cameras in the sports hall. Staff will share the footage as part of a formal report submitted Friday to Brantford police, she said..

Staff are also considering improved security, including the possibility of additional cameras, she said.

Bob McGeein, chair of the hall’s executive committee, said his group is disappointed by the vandalism.

“It’s a shame to see this kind of thing happening,” he said.

“Everyone (on the committee) is upset about it, but I think we can improve on some things.”

He said the committee supports the city looking at additional security measures.

“When these events are on, we need to perhaps look at additional support in the building so these things don’t happen in the future.”

McGeein said the executive committee inducts into the hall athletes from Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, who have achieved high levels of success.

The original sports hall opened in 1984, and for several years set up temporary exhibits in the cafeteria at the Gretzky centre. In November 2014, the sports hall celebrated moving into its current home as part of a renovated Gretzky centre.

The sport hall now occupies 3,000 square feet and features interactive displays, uniforms, trophies, and other memorabilia of local sports legends, including a Wayne Gretzky tribute area.

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