Sports enthusiasts got their first peek at the new Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame Saturday.
The gallery held the grand opening of its new location Saturday morning.
Visitors were offered free admission to the gallery to take in the province’s sport history.
Several Manitoba athletes were on hand signing autographs for fans.
Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers James Murphy and Ken Ploen attended as well as former Winnipeg Jets Ab McDonald and Joe Daley. Olympians Susan Auch and Janine Hanson joined them and Winnipeg Goldeye Amos Ramon rounded out the group.
Former Bomber running back Willard Reaves visited the hall with his son Ryan, who plays for the St. Louis Blues in the NHL.
“It's an honour to come out and see some of the fans who remember way back in the playing days,” said Reaves. “It's really good. It's a way to give back to the community because they definitely gave us a lot of opportunities back then”
Reaves was inducted into Manitoba’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. He won the league’s most outstanding player award in 1984 and helped his team nab the 72nd Grey Cup.
The hall of fame is a charitable organization and officials said they hoped the move to the location will encourage more visitors to the gallery, which aims to celebrate sports achievement in Manitoba.
Sports fan Rick Degagne said it was worth the visit. “I like the way (the displays) are set up through the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s. There’s a lot here,” said Degagne.
About 200 people attended the opening.
