Second company claims it hasn't been paid for Hall of Fame Village water park work

CANTON − The Helm Group, an Illinois-based contractor, has filed a mechanics lien on the Hall of Fame Village water park property.

The company claims it is owed about $657,876 for "various materials and services" provided between July 10, 2023, to March 1 per a contract with the Wisconsin-based Neuman Pools Inc. The lien, placed on the property at 2301 George Halas Drive NW, was filed Tuesday with the Stark County Recorder's Office.

The property is owned by HFAKOH001 LLC ― an affiliate of the Chicago-based Oak Street Real Estate Capital firm, which has a lease agreement with the HOF Village Waterpark LLC, a subsidiary of the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co.

Representatives of The Helm Group, Neuman Pools and the Village contacted by The Canton Repository on Thursday and Friday did not respond to requests for comment by Friday afternoon.

It's the second lien filed against the Gameday Bay water park project. In April, the Barberton-based S.A. Comunale Co. filed two mechanics liens totaling more than $500,000 against Welty Building Construction, the general contractor, and the property owner. The liens were released days later.

The Village began construction on the 147,000-square-foot Gameday Bay in December 2022 as part of its second phase of attractions surrounding the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was expected to debut alongside a Hilton Tapestry hotel late this year but that was delayed until at least early 2025.

Hall of Fame Resort has said that work has slowed at the water park because of finances.

Last week, Canton City Council agreed to restructure two loans totaling $8.5 million for the Village to aid in financing the ongoing construction. The Village also has asked the Stark County Port Authority and Stark Community Foundation to restructure loans, a city official has said.

Hall of Fame Resort plans to release its 2024 first quarter financial results today, after the close of trading on Nasdaq, and hold a conference call Tuesday morning with investors.

Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn X: @kbyerREP