When you walk into the entrance of your school or athletic facility, do you have an ugly, blank wall staring back at you? If so, what do you do? After being in thousands of high schools, colleges, field houses, stadiums and other athletic facilities over the years, we have found that most people choose one of three options:
- Option 1: Paint the wall “institutional beige” and walk away. This is the most popular tactic and is great at confusing visitors as to whether they are in a prison, school or the basement of a hospital. Little to no effort needs to be expended to maintain this boring look, and the longer you are in a facility, the easier it is to ignore.
- Option 2: Paint the wall an off-brand color and hang an undersized “welcome to…” sign off-center. You may also choose to add a directional sign that will point visitors to only one of the many locations in the facility. Sure, you practically live there, but visitors can probably just ask someone where to go or wander around the halls. Visitors wondering the halls without direction isn’t a school-security issue, is it?
- Option 3: Grab your visitor’s attention with an eye-catching wall graphic that sets the tone for who you are as an athletic program or school. Install the sign in the visual center of the space and let people know where they are. Include clear directions to point your visitors in the right direction so they don’t have to wander the halls confused.
When someone new or even one of your biggest fans enter your facility, you want to make a big impression. You want everyone to know exactly where they are and help get them to where they’re going. A large, custom entrance sign demands attention and says “Welcome to this awesome facility. We are proud of who we are, and we’re glad you’re here.”
A custom-cut logo and lettering is a great upgrade to a typical “welcome to…” entrance sign because it will make the entire piece pop. These custom-cut elements can be used alone, like on a custom logo shape, or added to a face of a traditional sign to add dimension and impact.
Right next to the oversized “welcome to…” sign, include a directional sign with key locations and arrows pointing the way. Think about where you want people to go when they enter. Do you need everyone to stop by the office to check in? Do you want visitor fans to enter a different door than the home fans? Where are the bathrooms? Am I at the right school? These are all great questions that can be answered easily and clearly right at the entrance. Include the school’s main phone number at the bottom should anyone be confused and need to call for assistance. Help your visitors out and point them in the right direction.
By choosing option 3, you offer a great first impression and maximize the impact your school has on visitors. Let us help you make an impactful first impression. Reach out to one of our professionals to discuss ideas and options to dress up your entrance.