 The museum was at 26 Broadway, in Lower Manhattan across from Bowling Green, close to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, the Whitehall Terminal of the Staten Island Ferry, Wall Street, and the World Trade Center.Founder Philip Schwalb developed the concept in September 2001 following a visit to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.The museum plan was to celebrate all sports, and the Canyon of Heroes where New York City's famed ticker tape parades originated, was chosen as the location.