The Pro Football Hall of Fame sent me to cover some of their events during Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. Every year the Hall of Fame has a big presence at the game. Thursday night the Hall of Fame hosts a private reception for the new induction class finalists and their families. Hall of Fame Experiences gives Super Bowl package holders the chance to attend the Merlin Olsen Luncheon, Gold Jacket autograph session, and the Gold Jacket Club tailgate party. The Hall of Fame traveling exhibit is also on display at the Super Bowl Experience convention center. And finally, their main highlight is the announcement of the new Class of 2019 Enshrinees’.
I always love capturing off stage candid moments of the Hall of Famers interacting with each other and these events gave me the perfect opportunities to do so. Thursday night's reception was a celebration of how far the finalists and their families have come. Everyone was smiling and catching up, but there was still an excitement and nervousness in the room of who would make the final Class of 2019 and who wouldn’t.
The Merlin Olsen luncheon was hosted in the amazing Atlanta Marriott Marquis hotel. I have such a love for cool architecture, and I was in heaven from the moment I stepped into the building.
At the autograph session, I learned that Charles Haley is such a character. He had the whole room laughing throughout his time there!
The Gold Jacket Club tailgate party was held at the Georgia Freight Department, an old train depot from 1869 that now hosts all kinds of events. The interior brick of this place cast warm tones and mixed with concert lighting created a beautiful environment to shoot in.
