February 19, 2009

Sports Museum of America closing 'until further notice'

The Sports Museum of America, which opened in Lower Manhattan in May, is closing “until further notice,” according to the message on its outgoing voicemail.

The museum’s website is suddenly offline and the outgoing message states “As of February 20 at 6 p.m., the museum will be closed until further notice.”

“All events booked in the space will be canceled,” Curbed reports, citing an unnamed tipster.

The museum, which is home to football’s Heisman Trophy and hi-tech multimedia exhibits on many sports, has recently been slashing its ticket prices. The museum billed itself as “the nation’s first and only all-sports experience richly showcasing the history, grandeur and significance of sports in American culture.”

In 2005, Reuters reported the museum was being funded by private investors and $52 million of post-9/11 Liberty Bonds.

Before the 35,000-square-foot museum opened, its website announced tickets would cost $27, far above all other New York City museum-type attractions, except Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium. When the museum opened, admission was $24, and in October it dropped to $16 due to the bad economy. It’s been running $10 specials during the past two months.

Update: Sports Museum ‘voted to cease operations’ - NY Times

Image source: Early logo for the Sports Museum of America

Earlier: Sports Museum $10 Hail Mary for Super Bowl Weekend

February 19, 2009 7:11 PM in Downtown, Museums, Sports

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