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Let's Be Clear: An open conversation with Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker

'Let's Be Clear' is a series of transparent discussions with Northeast Ohio's newsmakers.

It’s a new way to cover newsmakers. You want transparency, right? Let's be clear, then.

"Let's Be Clear" is all about transparency. WKYC has a clear, mobile newsroom that we’ll be taking across the state over the next few weeks to talk to those making headlines in Ohio. Whether you agree with the guest, disagree, or are a fan of them, we know you have questions for them. 

So you’re going to be the one asking the questions. Write in what you want to know and our Will Ujek will pose it to them… live. 

It all started Jan. 25 with David Baker, President to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He sat down with Will for a 45-minute conversation in which he provided an update on the Hall of Fame village construction, why the Hall of Fame didn't get to host the 2020 NFL draft in conjunction with its centennial celebration and who gave Baker's favorite Hall of Fame speech.

You can re-watch the full conversation in the video above.

On construction of the new sports and entertainment complex

Baker said the first phase is completed on the Hall of Fame's new complex, which will include a hotel, retail space, water park and more. He said $230 million of the $900 million project is done, including the makeover of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, six new fields for the National Youth Sports complex, a new parking lot, an off-ramp and relocation of the power plant.

"Like Walt Disney used to say, I don't think this is ever going to be done," Baker said. "If we do this right, this is going to keep going on forever."

On missing out on the 2020 NFL draft

Baker said the NFL's decision to hold the 2020 draft in Las Vegas likely had to do with a shiny new stadium, despite beliefs Canton would have been the ideal city as the Pro Football Hall of Fame will host the NFL's centennial celebration in September 2020.

"I think the Dallas Cowboys had something to do with with that," Baker said. "I think the Titans are going to have something to do with this year and I suspect Las Vegas and Los Angeles, where they built $4 billion and $2 billion stadiums, all that comes into play."

Baker did say he sees the Pro Football Hall of Fame becoming more involved in future NFL drafts.

"I think they're going to be doing more from here in those drafts," he explained. "And there's only one place you can have the centennial so that's what I'm excited about."

About David Baker

At 6-foot-9, David Baker commands attention everywhere he goes. As a young man, he played basketball at UC Irvine from 1971-75 and in Europe before returning to California to attend Pepperdine University School of Law. Baker is the former Commissioner of the Arena Football League and was the Mayor of Irvine, Calif. from July 1985-86. He joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and was recently given a  five-year contract extension that will keep him in Canton until 2024.

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