(From left) Milwaukee attorney Jason Abraham, Melinda Davenport of WISN-TV (Channel 12), Olympic speedskater Bonnie Blair and former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver test out a virtual reality sausage race game.
Courtesy of the Milwaukee Business Journal
Discovery World is partnering with the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame on a new exhibit at the Milwaukee lakefront museum, which will celebrate the state's past, present and future sports heroes.
The new exhibit, which was announced during an event at Discovery World Monday, will open on Jan. 24, 2019, in conjunction with the Hall of Fame's 69th anniversary induction ceremony, when Kohler Co. chairman Herbert Kohler Jr., Milwaukee Bucks forward Marques Johnson and former Green Bay Packers general manager and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Ron Wolf will be honored at Discovery World.
The exhibit will be housed for several months in an area that is part of Discovery World's expansion. The project, which includes a new pavilion on the museum's north lawn and the repurposing of nearly 15,000 square feet inside the museum, is currently projected to cost roughly $12 million.
The pavillion was recently completed and hosted its first outside events this past weekend.
Brian Lammi, executive director of the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, said the exhibit could include attractions such as a virtual reality sausage race, “Meet the Mascots," Women in Sports weekend, a leadership wall, radio broadcaster for a day and create your own trading card.
“This exhibit will allow Discovery World visitors to learn more about our illustrious athletes and the amazing feats they were able to accomplish,” he said. “It will also allow kids and families to have interactive, technology-focused experiences featuring current athletes.”
Former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver said the exhibit is a natural extension of the Hall of Fame, the first state athletic Hall of Fame created in the country.
“It’s an incredible honor to make the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame because it’s the best of the best across all sports. This exhibit will allow us to extend our reach and give our youth a chance to dream about what they can accomplish, and to be reminded that athletics are a crucial educational tool for life,” said Driver, a Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Member and board president.
Discovery World president Joel Brennan said adding the exhibit to the science and technology center is a great chance to allow guests more interactive experiences.
“This museum is about education and having fun and this exhibit will feature both of those,” he said.