I was hoping for some feedback from those who’ve attended. Next June will be my maiden voyage to Canastota when my favorite modern day boxer Juan Manuel Marquez gets inducted. I am planning it around a two week trip to various east coast cities which sees me in Boston first and ending in NYC with trips to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington DC in the middle. I’ll be booking everything fairly soon as I’ve got a friend from the UK joining me on the trip. I’d be planning on arriving around 2pm on the Saturday in Canastota and attending the dinner that night. Does that give me a good enough amount of time to check out the Hall that day? The Sunday I’d be doing all the events and the ceremony of course. I understand the ceremony is done by around 4 so is it worth staying the night? What is the Sunday like after the ceremony? Or is it worth just driving to my next stop that night? Any feedback would be appreciated Thanks
Hey Chris, I just went again this June. It was a fabulous weekend. I got to talk with many legends such as Marvin Hagler, Julian Jackson, Marvin Johnson, Mickey Ward, Sugar Ray Seales, Michael Moorer, Shane Mosley, Buddy McGirt, Iran Barkley, Michael Spinks among others. Going to Canastota is a must for any die hard boxing fan. But, a few words of advice: 1) Canastota is kind of in the middle of nowhere. It is about an hour from Syracuse NY, but, many hours away from anything else you could possibly want to see. (For example it is 4 1/2 hours away from NYC) So, you need to give yourself plenty of time to get there. 2) I think getting there at 2:00 on Saturday is probably too late. There is a 5K race that some fighters run in on Saturday morning, as well as lots of events on the grounds starting by about 10:00 am on Saturday. Furthermore, there is always a professional fight card on Friday night, as well as other events starting on Thursday afternoon. It was my experience that we had more fun running into fighters at Graziano's Bar and the casino than we did at the scheduled events. (Lots of wealthy stiffs at the banquet) There is a cocktail party at 5:00 on Saturday that has lots of fighters in attendance, but it is a good 15-20 minutes from the Casino. (The casino is the only place you would want to stay for the IBHOF weekend in its current configuration). The Banquet starts around 7:30. I recommend both the cocktail party and the banquet (Definitely buy your tickets for both well in advance. Both those events were sold out. I was lucky and scalped tickets. But, they are few and far between by the time of the Induction Weekend).... But, keep in mind that both of those events are formal and CROWDED. You can talk with fighters a little after the banquet, but, it feels more like an autograph session. I much preferred meeting the fighters outside of the scheduled events. Almost all of them were very approachable and friendly. The event used to be more centrally located, but is now spread out between Canastota (where the IBHOF and Graziano's are) and the Turning Stone Casino (20 mins away). Events are scattered between both locations. That being said, you definitely want to stay in the casino. It isn't like Vegas or anything, but it has decent food/lodging/nightlife/IBHOF events. As for the parade and induction ceremony on Sunday, it is one of the more underwhelming parts of the weekend. Lots of fighters in the parade, but you don't get to talk to them. (For the record, I haven't really cared for parades since I was 8 years old). The induction ceremony is okay. For example, Julian Jackson gave a really nice speech this year. But, the fighters are basically on the road as soon as it's over. Unless you speak Spanish, not sure how rewarding it will be for you to watch JMM get inducted. (All of the inductees as well as most of the other champions speak at the Banquet.) You will definitely NOT need to stay there Sunday night. It turns into a ghost town by 4:30 Sunday (If not earlier) Have a great time. DM anytime if you have more specific questions. I will let you know if I go back next year.
Thanks for the response. I’ll defin take your advice and leave on the Sunday night. The earliest I’d be able to get there would be Saturday morning. I’d be driving down from Boston. What time you you recommend trying to arrive?
Boston to Canastota is about 5 hours. I would depart no later than 7:00 am if you want a chance of seeing everything
JMM, eh... @ChrisJS , how would you feel about carpooling from Boston? (I live in the North End ..could take care of gas for the ride..)
I’d be fine with that but from Canastota I’d be going to Pittsburgh. I’m doing a two week East Coast trip. I’m flying from Los Angeles to Boston then back from NYC back home to LA. Oh, I read your posts again. I guess if you’re driving then yes I’ll take care of gas and lunch for you no problem.
Ahh, no, sorry, I was offering to pay for gas, if you were driving. I assumed you were a fellow local.
Oh, no I’m coming from out of town. I’d totally take you no problem but you could be stuck for a ride back since I wouldn’t be going back that way. It will be my second trip to Boston. Wicked awesome town. Funnily enough the Sox are playing the Yankees when I’m there which happened the last time I was there in 2017.
