However, realisation of the dream of creating a modern, interactive and high-tech national sports museum in Dunedin could hinge on enthusiasm from the Dunedin City Council, the feasibility of expanding the Edgar Centre indoor sports complex and attracting more backers.
The hall of fame is operating on reduced funding after Sport New Zealand suspended its $100,000 annual grant amid discussion about how to make the facility more attractive and viable.
The hall has been at the Dunedin Railway Station since 1999, but exhibits there are static, doubts have grown about the suitability of the location and alternative venues are being considered.
Sports hall of fame chairman Stuart McLauchlan said the process for determining the museum’s future had yet to be completed, but it was not facing imminent closure and it potentially had an exciting future.
"There will be a sports hall of fame," Mr McLauchlan said.
"My feeling is it will have a very good landing."
A drive to keep the hall of fame in Dunedin received a big boost when Otago businessman and philanthropist Sir Eion Edgar changed his will shortly before he died in June, pledging $500,000 for the technology component of a facility at the Edgar Centre in Andersons Bay.
Investment firm Forsyth Barr, of which he had been chairman, added $200,000 to the cause.
The Edgar Centre is owned by the Dunedin City Council and the venue would need to be expanded to accommodate the hall of fame.
Feasibility of building changes is being looked into by the Dunedin Indoor Sports Venues Trust Board, which runs the Edgar Centre.
Computer graphics innovator Sir Ian Taylor, who could lead the eventual technology-driven fit-out, said New Zealand’s success at the Tokyo Olympics underlined the importance of celebrating the footsteps that led to a small nation shining on the world stage.
"There’s definitely a place for a sports museum and it needs to be modern," Sir Ian said.
"For me, it’s time we did it and did it properly."
Sir Ian said there would be a concerted effort to honour the legacy of Sir Eion and build another attraction for Dunedin.
"We have a lot of ideas about how we can make it world-class," he said.
Mr McLauchlan said Sir Eion was fanatical about sports and he had a strong belief in the importance of an inspirational New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.
"This further donation from Forsyth Barr takes us another step closer to achieving our goal of developing the sports museum New Zealand deserves," he said last month.
Dunedin Indoor Sports Venues trustee Alan McKenzie said the Edgar Centre attracted people who were already interested in sports.
The sports museum fit-out concept was for a more modern offering than had been displayed at the railway station, he said.
The Dunedin City Council has been awaiting more information about the hall of fame before it weighs up funding options and an update is expected to come before councillors in the coming months.
They did not include extra funding in the council’s 10-year plan, adopted in June.
The council also owns the railway station and its financial support for the hall of fame includes offering a discounted rental there.
