Due to a huge increase in interest, Michael Jordan?s induction ceremony into the Basketball Hall of Fame will be moved from the Hall?s 1,200-capacity Center Court room to Springfield Symphony Hall, with seating for 2,611.

Hall president John Doleva believes the bigger venue could be used in future years, as more high-profile players are inducted. ?No question, people see this as a special class,?? Doleva said. ?This is the next step in the evolution of the Hall. In this era of Hall inductions, so many recognizable names will be eligible and enshrined. You are eligible five years after retiring. In the ?60s and ?70s, we had Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, and Bob Cousy. Then, Larry Bird and Julius Erving and Magic Johnson took it to another level, and then Michael Jordan. You had so many recognizable names in the ?90s.??