Football and golf to keep the Akron-Canton area busy next week

Hall of Fame Festival and Bridgestone Invitational

Photographer: WEWS
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Posted: 07/27/2012

By: Joe McGee, newsnet5.com

AKRON, Ohio - Hotel space will be at a premium in Summit and Stark counties over the next week.

The Bridgestone Invitational will bring the best golfers in the world to the Firestone Country Club starting Wednesday, Aug. 1. The gates open on Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. for practice rounds and the first round of competition is set to get under way Thursday, Aug. 2.

The tournament is expected to wrap up on Sunday, Aug. 5 with the closing ceremony on the 18th Green at approximately 6 p.m.

Two hours later, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game will kick off at Fawcett Stadium in the city of Canton. This year, the News Orleans Saints will battle the Arizona Cardinals.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival has a week of events to is sure to have something for everyone. The week includes everything from ribs to fireworks to a fashion show to the Timken Grand Parade.

The Enshrinement Ceremony will take place on Saturday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. at Fawcett Stadium. The 2012 class includes Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin and Willie Roaf.