By Digital Output Staff
Along with presenting information, signage found within stadiums and arenas extend an opportunity to add character and enhance branding.
Jared Ostendorf, owner, Minuteman Press franchise of Fayetteville, NC, is a hockey fan and expert print provider. He aligned his two passions as the go-to print and sign provider of the Carolina Hurricanes NHL hockey team.
Ostendorf took ownership of the Fayetteville Minuteman Press franchise in 2009 and continued to build his business and expertise. The shop operates a 11,000 square foot facility, 5,000 of which is dedicated to printing, 5,000 for signage, and 1,000 for its website work. The print service provider (PSP) staffs 14 employees, in addition to Ostendorf.
Above: A Buffalo Brothers’ wall graphic is found inside of the PNC Arena—home of the Carolina Hurricanes. It was designed, printed, and installed by Minuteman Press franchise of Fayetteville, NC.
Fan to Partner
Minuteman Press of Fayetteville, NC focuses on delivering high-quality products and excellent customer service, landing it a variety of local work.
Since the 2021/22 NHL hockey season, the Carolina Hurricanes has made the PSP’s client list. “I was a season ticket holder prior to becoming a corporate partner. When I heard about the opportunity to become the ‘print and sign provider’ of the Carolina Hurricanes I reached out and had lunch with an executive. After supplying professional references and answering questions centered around their sense of urgency and meeting deadlines, we shook hands and I told them I would do my best to meet their expectations,” comments Ostendorf.
For the past three seasons, Minuteman Press of Fayetteville has delivered on that promise. It produces signage regularly for the Carolina Hurricanes, the main tenant of the PNC Arena.
It has done outside graphics for the PNC Arena, signage for the playoffs and win tracker, inside locker room graphics, dasher boards—the decals around the walls of the ice, graphics behind the benches, penalty boxes, and Olympia ice resurfacer wraps.
Tight Turnarounds
When it comes to high-profile clients, an essential part of the job is meeting tight deadlines.
“The first season we did the graphics it was a quick turnaround from the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs. With rain in the forecast days ahead and a kickoff tailgate party set for Saturday that same week, we walked into the arena as the crowd was exiting the last regular season game to install new graphics on the benches and penalty boxes. Once traffic cleared, we started outside around 11:00 p.m. We worked through the night to meet the deadline and they were very pleased with the results,” says Ostendorf.
In addition to planning installations around schedules and weather, there is often a corporate timetable to adhere to. “As is expected with an NHL hockey team, everyone affiliated with advertising and promotions for the Carolina Hurricanes is under a timetable. Corporate sponsors pay to advertise for the regular season as well as the playoffs, so the bulk of our work comes just prior to opening night in October and playoffs in April,” he adds.
On the Walls
Wall graphics present unique creative and branding opportunities for PNC Arena, with each wall a potential canvas.
“Wall graphics create an environment more than anything. You can really make a room look completely different using various backgrounds, colors, and use of lights,” says Ostendorf. “It’s always nice to be a part of the fresh graphics done at the beginning of each year. The head coach Rod Brind’Amour really pushes team play and it’s evident in the artwork the organization creates.”
To encourage and promote team camaraderie, Minuteman Press franchise of Fayetteville, NC worked with the Carolina Hurricanes on a collage featuring its players, installed along the walls of the locker room.
“Each player that is on the current team roster is depicted in the collage. The organization is focused on a team atmosphere. Aside from the player images, there are consistent messages the coaching staff uses—phrases and ideas that provide a consistent message to help get to the end goal, which is another Stanley Cup,” explains Ostendorf.
The locker room wall graphics were produced using Oki ColorPainter wide format printers as well as a Roland DGA Corporation device. For media, it printed to 3M Controltac Graphic Film and a 3M laminate. “We typically use matte laminate on any graphics that are interior so there isn’t much of a glare from interior lights or camera flashes,” shares Ostendorf.
The print provider also handled installation for this job. The entire project took about two hours start to finish.
On the Ice
Three seasons into the partnership and Ostendorf feels lucky to be a corporate partner for the Carolina Hurricanes. “There aren’t many opportunities to see our work on a national level so it’s been extremely rewarding. Everyone we work with within the organization are good people to start, which is the main reason why I think the organization has become so successful in recent years.”
Whether it’s more traditional signage or a modern wall graphic, Minuteman Press franchise of Fayetteville, NC is up to the task.
Mar2024, Digital Output
