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Pulse Technology hits a home run with Gary, IN RailCats SteelYard baseball stadium

  Pulse Technology  ·  3 minute read

Batter up!

We recently completed the design and installation of a new, 17’x20’ two-sided, billboard display for the semi-professional baseball team South Shore RailCats in Gary, IN.

The RailCats marquis sign provides high-visibility messaging aimed at motorists traveling along the I90 interstate and serves as a source of ongoing revenue for the team.

The SteelYard Stadium, where the RailCats play their home games, is owned by the City of Gary. Several years after installing a sign 70’ in the air, to provide advertising messages to motorists on the I90 interstate, the city and the team encountered problems with their billboard. The original provider was unable to provide replacement parts. As a result, the sign was inoperative and the team—and the city – needed a solution.

The RailCats were feeling the pressure of downtime. Without a functioning sign, advertisers who contracted for specific times to have their messages displayed were not getting their messages out. The RailCats organization pressured the city to find a solution and find one quickly. Without the ability to showcase display advertising, there was less incoming revenue – not to mention dissatisfied advertisers.

Hitting it out of the park!

The first sign had only been in use for a few years when the breakdown occurred, and that is when Pulse Technology got the “at bat” to provide a solution. Paul Miceli, our Director of Audio Visual, said, “The existing sign from their previous provider did not provide a good ROI for the city. With no parts available, leading to extensive downtime, they needed a solution that would help them get a sign back up and once again generate revenue through advertisements. It was important for them to get it right.”

Because Pulse partners with a number of leading sign manufacturers, including Watchfire and Sharp, we were able to provide a state-of-the-art sign to meet the specifications needed, while working to determine the best resolution for the display’s images (in this case, 16mm for optimal view from the nearby interstate). A deciding factor in Pulse’s selection as provider for the city is that Pulse offered a ten-year service contract to cover parts and labor for the sign.

Now, when the RailCats play a home game, their advertisers can take confidence in knowing that their messages are being delivered in a crisp, sharp-looking fashion.

Points to consider for partnering with an AV provider

If you have an AV project you are considering for your business or your community, who you partner with can make all the difference between a home run and a strikeout. Here are a few things to consider:

  1. Does the provider have previous experience in this area?
  2. What is the right pixel size for a sign? In simple terms, a pixel is a tiny dot of light on a display screen. Each pixel lights up in different colors and levels of brightness. When thousands of pixels light up, the eyes blend them into letters, pictures, logos and video. It’s the same idea as a TV screen, a phone screen, or a computer monitor – just much bigger and brighter for outdoor use.
  3. What is the AV provider’s relationship with sign manufacturers in the industry? If one manufacturer cannot provide the parts, a partner with multiple resources can avoid a delay in service. You ideally want a partner/provider who has a number of manufacturers to choose from to offer you the best possible option.
  4. Do the providers stand behind their work? Does the AV provider offer a service contract to maintain the equipment and provide parts and repairs as needed? This can be a critical part of any agreement with any AV partner. An ongoing service and maintenance program helps identify potential problems before they become actual problems.
  5. Is AV a main offering of the company or instead something that they occasionally “dabble in”?

Audio-visual can be a very powerful marketing tool!

In planning the overall marketing strategy for your business, don’t overlook the benefits of A-V. It can help you in many important ways, from the lobby greeting marquis to a full videoconferencing setup in a conference room, and to outdoor displays such as the City of Gary and the Village of Schaumburg have done.

Is your business utilizing AV to the fullest extent? We are the AV “go to” people and can help with any questions you may have.

Please give us a call at 888-357-4277 or visit https://pulsetechnology.com. With seven decades of industry experience, we can help you with whatever your technology needs are. Now is a good time to take stock of what you might be able to do to spice up your marketing and promotional efforts, whether that’s on the ballfield or in the boardroom. We are here to help!