Watchfire Case Study: Watch What Happens.
MUNICIPALITY :: Dodge City Parks & Recreation - Dodge City, Kan.
Background
Dodge City, Kan., is a long way from the longhorn ranches and
gunfights that made it a staple setting in Hollywood westerns.
Nowadays, it's a prototypical American town, home to roughly 25,000
people. And while in days past Dodge City citizens frequented
saloons and gambling halls, contemporary residents prefer more
wholesome entertainment - provided, in part, by Dodge City Parks
& Recreation.
Results
In November 2009, Dodge City Parks & Recreation purchased
three Watchfire LED signs from Luminous Neon, installing them at
community facilities throughout town. In addition to using the
signs to promote local events, Dodge City broadcasts public service
announcements on the signs. In the pioneering spirit of the Old
West, the city also uses the signs to sell corporate sponsorships -
making them not only excellent message centers, but revenue
centers, too.
:: SIGN SPECS ::
| Civic Center XVS 19mm Color LED Matrix: 80 x 192 10 Lines x 38 Characters 5'4" High x 13' Wide |
Legends Park 19mm Color LED Matrix: 80 x 144 10 Lines x 29 Characters 5'4" High x 10' Wide |
Raceway Park 25mm Color LED Matrix: 64 x 192 8 Lines x 38 Characters 6' High x 16'4" Wi |
Case Study
Dodge City may be most famous for being a frontier town of the Old
West. But in late 2009, Parks & Recreation director Paul Lewis
knew it was time for something completely new.
The 30-watt incandescent bulb sign that stood outside the city's
3,000-seat civic center needed to be replaced. Rather than purchase
a new model of the old sign, Lewis and his staff invested in
an
electronic message center - three of them, to be
exact. "We were familiar with the technology, and understood the
opportunities they provide," Lewis said. "We believed such a sign
would be a real asset at three different locations."
Dodge City began the purchasing process by issuing Request For
Proposals to various vendors. Based on the strength of their
proposal and the quality of their work, Luminous Neon, a
Kansas-based full-service sign company with six locations
throughout the state, including one in Dodge City, was chosen for
the job. "The quality of their service, and the product they have
put out over the years made us comfortable going with their
proposal," Lewis said.
After evaluating the city's needs, Luminous Neon recommended three
Watchfire LED
signs that would be capable of displaying animated content.
Lewis said Luminous Neon did a great job of handling installation
of the signs, which now greet residents at the civic center, a
softball complex and a motor sports complex.
Lewis compares the new LED signs and the old bulb sign to "night
and day." "With our old system, all you could do was display a
couple lines of text," Lewis said. "Now, we can use graphics, and
the colors are bright and vivid as they fade in and spin out. It's much more visually
appealing and attractive."
Also attractive, Lewis said, is how the signs are paying for
themselves. Dodge City is taking advantage of the signs' ability to
display multiple messages to sell sponsorship space to local
businesses. Dodge City business owners have been eager to
capitalize on the opportunity. A fast food chain, two local
restaurants and a hospital are among those who have purchased
sponsorships so far.
There were no major hurdles in securing the signs or using them
for sponsorships, Lewis said. "There are sign regulations, sure,"
he said. "We got permits from our city development services
department, and we had to make the signs' overall design conform to their requirements,
but they weren't excessive."
All told, the signs have been a boon for the city. Even those in
charge agree, Lewis said. "The elected officials are very pleased.
They see the value of the signs, and they like what the signs bring
to the city."
"The elected officials are very pleased. They see the value of
the signs, and like what they bring to the city."
-- Paul Lewis, Director, Dodge City Parks &
Recreation
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