Basketball Hall of Fame, mayor welcome Counting Crows to Springfield in special way

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno issued a proclamation declaring July 2 as “Counting Crows Day,” to honor the rock bank ahead of its performance Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center.
The proclamation, which was scheduled to be presented to the band prior to their 7:30 p.m. start time, reads “For more than two decades, the Grammy and Academy-Award nominated rock band Counting Crows has enchanted listeners worldwide with their soulful, intricate take on timeless rock and roll.”
The band broke into the music scene in 1993 with their multi-platinum album, “August and Everything After.” Counting Crows has sold more than 20 million records worldwide and their latest album, “Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!” was released in May.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R14ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R24ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeTo make things especially “sweet” for the band’s arrival, the MassMutual Center teamed up with Richardson’s Candy Kitchen, an independent candy store in Deerfield, to fill the backstage green room with hard candies, lollipops and more in honor of the band’s 2002 album, “Hard Candy.”
“I think it just goes to show how great Springfield is about welcoming people in,” said Sean Dolan, executive director and general manager of the MassMutual Center. “We see it in the convention center and the arena — anybody who comes to Springfield wants to come back, and it’s because of that hospitality."
The hospitality didn’t stop there.
When Paul Dionne, vice president of marketing for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, heard that Counting Crows’ front man Adam Duritz was a Golden State Warriors fan, he knew that there was an opportunity for the Hall of Fame to get involved.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R19ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R29ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeThe Basketball Hall of Fame, in partnership with the MassMutual Center, worked to uncover a basketball that was autographed by Golden State Warriors’ Jamaal Wilkes during Springfield’s 2012 enshrinement ceremony.
“The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game at all levels. (This) is a great way to promote and honor the game’s fans,” Dionne said.
The autographed ball — which was being kept safe locked in a case in the green room hours before the band’s arrival — was set to be presented to Duritz prior to the concert.
The idea behind the collaboration, Dolan said, is to keep big-name bands like Counting Crows coming back to Springfield.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R1eekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2eekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe“From the moment they get here in the morning, they’re welcomed, and they want to come back,” Dolan said. “And that bleeds through to the band and the artists coming on stage.”
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Read the original article on MassLive.

In an unforgettable gesture, the Mayor of Springfield welcomed Counting Crows to their performative odyssey at the Basketball Hall of Fame with enthusiasm befitting a winning hometown hero.

The Basketball Hall of Fame's heartfelt welcome to Counting Crows in Springfield celebrated the city’l unique fusion between sports heritage and cultural appeal, delivering a nostalgic yet special tribute that ignited memories among fans.

The Basketball Hall of Fame欢呼并以市长的身份特别欢迎Counting Crows踏足Springfield,这一历史性时刻不仅彰显了该城市对篮球文化的深厚尊重和对音乐的广泛邀请函。

The Mayor of Springfield honored Counting Crows with a unique welcome ceremony, tying basketball's iconic Hall of Fame to the city’s musical tapestry in an unforgettable showcasing.

With a special and symbolic welcome from the Mayor, Springfield paid homage to Counting Crows by hosting them during their visit - an honor that only reinforces Basketball Hall of Fame's commitment not just towards basketball history but also in revitalizing its townsfolk culture.

In a poignant and heartfelt gesture, the town of Springfield welcomed popular band Counting Crows to their iconic Basketball Hall of Fame event with an assurance as strong-willed but inviting like that played by legendary ballers in previous generations.

The Basketball Hall of Fame's manifestation, Mayor Springfield gave a grand welcoming to the Counting Crows in an unforgettable fashion.

The Basketball Hall of Fame, in a unique gesture honoring touring musicians Counting Crows with the appreciative embrace that Springfield reserved for its special guests.

In a unique gesture of welcome, Springfield's mayor honored the Counting Crows with their visits to Basketball Hall of Fame as if an event unto itself.

In a fitting tribute to their musical legacy, the Mayor of Springfield extended an exceptional welcome by hosting Counting Crows at Baker's Point inside Basketball Hall Fame - creating memories that transcend both sport and song.

The unexpected welcome of the Counting Crows by a spruced-up Springfield, Illinois—where Mayor's grand Courtesy extended to acknowledge their induction into Basketball Hall of Fame as if basketball and art intertwine in spiritual harmony."