When we pulled up in the parking lot, staring back at us wasn’t no ordinary signage project. Towering above us like a hulking monster was FedEx Field, the stadium for the Washington Redskins. The team had asked us to do not only the outdoor signage for the stadium but also some crucial indoor pieces, including two Redskins murals.
There was no question that of all the projects we’d ever done at Bloomingdale Signs by Tomorrow, this would be our biggest. The Redskins weren’t the only team we collaborated with either, as we partnered in the effort with Rich Kraft of the Signs by Tomorrow in Beltsville, Maryland.
It may sound cheesy, but you want to do right by this place for a variety of reasons. Not just because of the magnitude of it and how that impacts your reputation, but also because of who you’re doing the work for and the proud history behind this team.
You don’t have to be a Redskins fan to appreciate it.
Here was Lombardi’s last stop. Where Joe Gibbs hoisted trophies. Where Theismann handed off to Riggo and threw to Art Monk. The “Hogs.” The team fight song. They’ve built something special in Washington over several decades and having a few down years doesn’t change that.
NRG and Verizon Entrance Signage
Corporate giants NRG Energy and Verizon obviously saw a great opportunity for brand visibility when they explored creating signage near stadium entrances. As Redskins fans would pour into FedEx Field, they’d pass by these company logos with messaging above their heads, making them impossible to miss.
Still, no matter how big and prominent, clarity means everything. If the message is hard to read, the average fan isn’t going to stop on the way to the game. They need to be able to glance upward, see the message and absorb it as they’re continuously shuffling toward the entrance.
With this readability in mind, our installation team assembled, panel by panel, what needed to look like a seamless picture of each brand.
You can see how this part of the project came together with these photos below. To get a perspective on just how large the signage was that our team was dealing with, take a look at the NRG photo with the two men on the crane – one person is only as big as one panel!
The “Hail To The Redskins Walk” Mural
Our job didn’t get any less challenging indoors. After all, here was where we were tasked with installing new murals in which each decade of the Redskins franchise gets retold. One mural is located near the locker room, so as each player makes his way into or exiting the area, he passes by many great moments in Redskins history.
Check out some of our images from the mural here.
The fans can experience the mural as well, as we installed an identical mural on the club level at FedEx Field for their enjoyment too. Television screens inside these murals really bring the decades to life and create memorable moments.
