When it leaves downtown South Bend in a year, what should go in the place of the College Football Hall of Fame?

The Hall of Fame draws bigger numbers in South Bend than in its prior home, Cincinnati, and 75-percent of its visitors are from out of town.

On Tuesday night, residents considered those facts when they met for a town hall meeting. There were separate ideas, combined ideas and certainly some unique ones. The Hall of Fame is a non-for profit entity, so people did question if that will continue, and right now, all ideas are being considered.

Mayor Steve Luecke, the city controller, director of economic development, and the design team that built the hall said a few words before the crowd took over.

People stood up and gave suggestions like a science museum or getting involved with the Indiana artisan trail. People also highlighted the importance of considering something that would produce tax revenue and jobs.

“Whether the community wants a casino, I don't know, but I think it would be one for-profit use that could have some viability,” says resident Jed Eide.

One man suggested a Guinness Book of World Records museum, a retail spot like Shipshewana, or a combination of several ideas.

One factor to consider is that the University of Notre Dame is the second largest attraction in the state of Indiana.

Ken Herceg says, “Focus on the history of South Bend and Notre Dame. Part of it could be a Notre Dame football museum. Continue to allow the visiting team to meet there. I love it. I mean every Friday afternoon on a home game I can hear the bands from the visiting teams.”

Mark Tarner, President of South Bend Chocolate Company which has a cafe just steps away from the Hall of Fame, is hoping the replacement will be one that will draw as much national attention.

When we asked if he hopes it keeps a football connection, he said, “You know, I think it's a natural. Someone brought up a Rockne museum to me the other day. We've got to get the Domers and visitors south of Angela into our city and have them spend money there.”

Mayor Luecke says the city will also follow up with a man who says he's from a small group of private investors that expressed interest in an I-Max theater. They'll also visit different attractions people brought up as ideas.

The way the hall is built will, of course, play a big factor.