Inkjet Intl. Preps Dallas Mavericks For Playoffs

For Texans, being a sports fan occurs as naturally as breathing. And, we’ve strived to document signs’ role in boosting fan engagement in the Lone Star State. Elsewhere, you’ll be able to read the story about rebranding AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. The June issue featured new environmental graphics installed at Circuit of the Americas, and last month, we highlighted banners and wall hangings that promote Citicards, an American Airlines partner vendor, at Dallas’ American Airlines Center, home of the NBA’s Mavericks and NHL’s Stars.

Inkjet Intl. (Dallas) brought the Mavericks’ fan experience to the American Airlines Center’s exterior with wall and window wraps installed in time for the team’s home playoff games. Jittu Sarna, the shop’s director, said the company has worked extensively for both the Mavericks and Stars, and arena graphics represent a major component of the 38-employee, 40,000-sq.-ft. shop’s business.

The Mavericks’ marketing and creative staff developed the graphics in-house, and submitted them to Inkjet Intl. as .TIFF files. The shop reformatted the files using Adobe Photoshop, and Inkjet Intl.’s prepress department tiled the program.

The overall, printed-graphics package encompassed 3,400 sq. ft., with a 50 x 50-ft., four-panel section comprising the largest component. Working with the four-panel, tiling pattern, the shop printed the job on its own, imported, 8-oz. mesh material. Sarna said experience with exterior-arena installations, and Texas’ frequent high winds and often-harsh weather, has demonstrated that mesh substrates provide the best solution.

Inkjet Intl. printed the project on its four-color HP Scitex XP5500 UV-cure-ink printer. Using heavy-duty sewing equipment, the shop welded 2-in.-thick, sealable webbing across the banners’ perimeters, and, per installer specifications, grommets were sewn at 2-ft.-wide intervals around the signface. Inkjet Intl. specified the location of fastening screws, which were installed in pre-drilled holes by a subcontracting installer.

To complement the primary banner, Inkjet Intl. also produced twin, 450-sq.-ft. banners that were installed on either side of the main graphic using a similar material, printer and installation method.
 

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