Museum
Hockey Hall of Fame
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The Hockey Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame in downtown Toronto dedicated to the history of ice hockey. It holds exhibits about players, teams, NHL records, memorabilia, and trophies including the Stanley Cup. Visitors can see portraits and biographies of honoured members in the Esso Great Hall, explore the NHL Zone, and try interactive games in the NHLPA Be A Player Zone.
Don't miss
- The Stanley Cup, displayed in the Esso Great Hall (a replica is used when the presentation cup travels)
- The NHL Zone, featuring current team displays, retro memorabilia, and milestones like Wayne Gretzky's all-time points record
- The World of Hockey Zone, dedicated to international hockey including the IIHF Hall of Honour and artifacts from the 1972 Summit Series and the 1980 'Miracle on Ice'
- The NHLPA Be A Player Zone, where visitors can take shots at a computer simulation of goaltender Ed Belfour or play goaltender against simulations of Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky
- The TSN/RDS Broadcast Zone, offering a look at hockey broadcasting and a chance to record messages
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Hockey Hall of Fame
You can visit Hockey Hall of Fame on your own. A guide mainly adds context, what you are looking at and why it matters, and a tour can add transport or combine nearby sights into one day.
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- The Hall is located in downtown Toronto inside Brookfield Place, a complex that includes a historic Bank of Montreal building.
- Entry is paid; the Hall is operated as a non-profit independent of the NHL, with revenue mainly from admissions.
A bit of history
The Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1943 under James T. Sutherland, originally planned for Kingston, Ontario. The first inductees were honoured in 1945 before a permanent home existed. It moved to Toronto in 1958 after the NHL withdrew support for the Kingston site, opening as a temporary exhibit at Exhibition Place. A permanent building opened there in 1961. In 1993, the Hall relocated to its current downtown location inside Brookfield Place and a historic Bank of Montreal building.
Common questions
How many people are inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame?
As of May 2024, there are 299 players (including ten women), 115 builders, and 16 on-ice officials inducted.
When are new members inducted?
An 18-person selection committee meets annually in June to choose new honourees. The induction ceremony is held at the Hall of Fame building in November, followed by a special game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and a visiting team.
Is the Hall of Fame only about the NHL?
While many exhibits focus on the NHL, the World of Hockey Zone covers international hockey, including Olympic competition, the IIHF, and women's hockey. The Hall has been criticized for focusing mainly on NHL players.
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