An Atlanta attorney has been named president and chief operating officer of the firm in charge of building and operating the national College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

John Stephenson has been named to head Atlanta Hall Management, Inc., a nonprofit responsible for the project.

Stephenson attended the University of Georgia School of Law and has worked as a corporate attorney since 2000.

In late January, construction began on the more than 94,000 square-foot, $66.5 million facility, which is slated to open in 2014.

The College Football Hall of Fame was located in South Bend, Ind., near the campus of Notre Dame, for 17 years. It closed last year. Organizers expect the new site to generate $11.8 million in annual retail and ticket sales.

Tags: college football hall of fame, john stephenson, atlanta hall management