Museum Honoring the History of Soccer

After years of trying to keep the Soccer Museum open on the regular basis, the museum recently announced it will be closed to the public except for certain weekends during the year. The museum hopes this will not be a permanent development, but efforts to raise enough funding to keep the museum operating daily were not successful. Their goal is to "... identify more cost effective ways to serve its constituents and enhance its reach to the growing community of soccer players and fans across the country.''

The mission of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, "To celebrate the history, honor the heroes, inspire the youth and preserve the legacy of the sport of soccer in the United States,'' continues. Admission to the museum on the days in September and November is it open ranges from $7.50 to $12.50. There are discounts available for children and seniors, making it a great addition to a trip to the soccer tournaments.

The Hall of Fame is located in Oneonta because of the presence of the Hartwick College, a school featuring a strong competitive soccer program. They are frequent participants in national soccer championships and won the 1977 NCAA Division I national soccer championship. During the subsequent championship celebration, someone asked where the soccer Hall of Fame was located and the museum was born.

Opened in 1970, the Hall of Fame is home to memorabilia affiliated with United States soccer history. The Hall of Fame recognition began in 1950 when members of the Philadelphia Oldtimers Association decided to honor soccer achievements. The Hall of Fame recognition combined with the museum in Oneonta and became the National Soccer Hall of Fame, recognized by the U.S. Soccer Federation, in 1983. There are more than 100,000 items in the museum, which is one of the largest collections of soccer memorabilia in all of the world. Included in the collection are North American Soccer League archives, records from the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Major League Soccer archives, and memorabilia from the U.S. National teams participating in World Cup challenges. The museum also features several soccer-related photo collections.

The museum was originally located in downtown Oneonta. In the 1990's it purchased 60 plus acres of land that included four soccer fields and moved to the outskirts of the town. In 1995 the Hall of Fame was given a $4 million plus grant from New York to design and build a new museum. This museum was opened in 1999. The current museum is 40,000 square feet and is considered a state of the art museum facility.

Oneonta is a quaint destination with a small town feel. There are numerous restaurants including chain establishments, as well as The Broad Street Grill, Jay's Place, Mama Nina's, and the Neptune Diner. Visitors can stroll through the charming downtown area and visit the Little Red Caboose, the Seeley Doll Center, or the Yager Museum. Sporting events are often big attractions in the town, and many people enjoy browsing Main Street featuring shops, culture destinations, and classes. Soccer fans across the country will enjoy a trip to Oneonta. If you are in town for a soccer tournament, be sure to pay a visit to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.