Manatee County to Host 2025 Florida Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony
November 18-19, 2025
The Florida Sports Hall of Fame announced today the 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony will be held at the newly expanded and renovated Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto, FL. The Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau will be a presenting sponsor of the Enshrinement of the Class of 2025.
Since 1961, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame has been recognizing, honoring and celebrating the state’s greatest contributors to sports in an enshrinement ceremony held annually in different locations around the state. This enshrinement will be the first for the Bradenton area. Two days of celebration are planned. Tuesday, November 18 is the Exclusive Party with the Stars! VIP event at historic LECOM Park, the “southern home” of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1969. On Wednesday, November 19, the class of 2025 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony that includes a pre-party, dinner, and inspiring stories from each of the new class members. The organization will announce its 2025 Class as part of its Celebrity Golf Weekend, June 27 in Port St.Lucie, FL.
“We are absolutely thrilled to host our largest event of the year in the Bradenton area - and for the first time ever,” said FSHOF Board Chair Keyna Cory. “The whole area is simply stunning and a beautiful backdrop for our Enshrinement Ceremony. The things to see and do in the Bradenton area will be very attractive for our inductees, their families and their fans! We are grateful for the support of our presenting sponsor, the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau, and their efforts to make this happen.”
“We are honored that this is the first major event at the newly expanded and renovated Bradenton Area Convention Center,” said Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione. “Coveted ceremonies like these allow us to showcase the Bradenton Area’s unique characteristics, including our world-class beaches as a popular destination for meetings, conventions, and events.”
Located in the Bradenton area’s urban core on the north bank of the Manatee River, the Convention Center is undergoing a $53 million renovation and expansion project including an expansive Grand Ballroom for up to 800 guests. The adjacent 252-room Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa will serve as host hotel.
LECOM Park, originally built in 1923 and opened as McKechnie Field, serves as the longtime Spring Training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and houses the Bradenton Marauders, a Pirates minor league affiliate playing in the Florida State League.
About the Florida Sports Hall of Fame:
Since its establishment in 1961, The Florida Sports Hall of Fame has served as a driving force for celebration, inspiration and encouragement. By enshrining the state’s greatest sports figures, we use their inspirational stories, plus proceeds from our events and fundraising, to support organizations focused on encouraging Florida’s youth to participate in sports, especially those in underserved areas. The Florida Sports Hall of Fame attraction is housed in the MidFlorida Events Center in Port St. Lucie, FL. Visitors can walk among, and view more than 60 memorabilia exhibits from some of Florida’s most well-known sports stars, including legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus; Coach Bobby Bowden; National Hot Rod Association legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits; golfer Andy Bean; tennis great Chris Evert; football legend Bob Griese, and many more. For more information, visit https://www.flasportshof.org/
About the Bradenton Area Convention Center:
The Bradenton Area Convention Center is a state-of-the-art facility conveniently located near the heart of downtown Bradenton. The convention center is undergoing a $54 million renovation and expansion project to make it the picture-perfect companion for the premier Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, which will be connected via a climate-controlled corridor. Easily accessed from two international airports and multiple major highways, the Bradenton Area Convention Center can host events of up to 4,000 people right next to world-class beaches and a vibrant urban core. For more information, visit https://www.bradentongulfislands.com/venues/convention-center/.