Digital Signage is Changing the Way We (Wait to) Fly

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With different layouts in every city, airports can be stressful to navigate. This is especially true if you are on a layover and have to get to your next gate quickly. Searching for a sign listing gate information is often difficult, especially if there are none that are centrally located or eye-catching. With the introduction of LED video screen technology into airport designs, terminals across the world are gaining the ability to provide instant, attention grabbing information to the waiting passengers. In fact, a single LED display can provide passengers with dining and shopping information, gates and flight times, interactive experiences and art displays, all while bringing in ad revenue for the airport.

Those waiting for flights are known in the marketing industry as a captive audience. With little to do other than read or look at their phones, passengers’ eyes can easily be drawn to a well designed and deployed LED video display. Be it advertising promoting events and local business in the airport’s city, or even just giving information on the various bars and restaurant options available in the terminal. Traditional printed displays are becoming less effective in an age when everyone is staring at the screen on their personal device. Digital displays have become a necessity to promote and capture the attention of your consumer base.

The technology goes beyond merely displaying images and video, however. Modern displays actually give passengers an opportunity to interact. Particularly effective with wayfinding information, interactive displays vastly improve the overall customer experience. Passengers can plot their own route to their gate or even take a virtual tour of their terminal, learning about the various stores available to them along their route. This level of interaction turns waiting in the airport from a collective, depersonalized experience to one that is very individual focused, making the passenger feel as though their needs are of the utmost concern.

Perhaps the most surprising but most popular up and coming uses of LED digital signage is utilization for creative art experiences in the airport. Because the technology provides the ability to show vibrant, visually stunning content, airports have begun to implement it into their design in ways that are geared towards providing an aesthetically interesting experience to the passenger. In Denver, the airport train takes you through a tunnel decorated with LED lights and hundreds of small propellers. In Miami, international arrivals waiting in line are given a series of creative displays to engage them and make their waiting experience go by much quicker. While their ability to relay information is certainly ideal for the airports that use them, LED displays can also clearly be used for creative endeavors as well.

Whether it’s providing a more visually appealing space or giving passengers access to information quickly and easily, LED displays in airports are changing the way passengers wait for their flights. PixelFLEX® is an innovative American-based LED manufacturer that offers creative solutions, dependable products, and reliable service for their award-winning LED display technologies and solutions. Check out the PixelFLEX® Product Selection Tool to find the ideal LED display for getting people where they need to go in your airport.

Understanding the Technical Side of LEDs Can Help You Choose the Perfect Digital Signage Display for Your Needs

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While content and messaging are the more exciting aspects of LED digital signage, the technical details matter as well. In order to create the best viewer experience with the greatest impact, the technical factors that affect LED digital signage must be understood and optimized. Specifications such as pixel pitch, resolution, brightness, and color calibration can help create successful displays that yield results. In this blog, PixelFLEX will explain a few of the technical features of LED signage and why they matter.

First of all, a light-emitting diode, or LED, is a semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current passes through it. LEDs require much less power than other light elements, making them more energy efficient. In addition, since they do not have filaments like those in incandescent lamps, there’s nothing to burn out or fail, giving them significantly longer life.

Here are some technical aspects of LED digital displays to consider:

Pixel Pitch

Pixel pitch is simply the distance from the center of one LED pixel to the center of the next pixel, measured in millimeters. The smaller the pixel pitch, the more pixels make up the image on a display, improving the resolution. However, this improved image quality comes at a higher cost. Pixel pitch typically ranges from 1mm up to 20mm for indoor LED displays and 6mm to 34mm for outdoor displays.

Resolution

Overall resolution is determined by pixel pitch, pixel technology, display size, and viewing distance. If your LED video wall has very detailed images or graphics or needs to be viewed clearly at a close distance, you’ll generally need a higher resolution or pixel pitch. This can be accomplished by creating a larger screen for lower resolutions, and smaller screens at higher resolutions. There are, of course, other factors that affect legibility, including font size and contrast.

Brightness

LED displays measure brightness by nit, which is the total brightness over one square meter of the display. This value takes into account all of the contributing factors to brightness, such as the number of LEDs per pixel, the pixel pitch, and the brightness of individual LEDs. The optimal brightness for a digital display depends on the sign’s exposure to the sun and whether the messaging must be readable both day and night. Brighter nits are better able to compete with the sun. Brightness typically ranges from 2,000 to 8,000 nits for outdoor displays and 1,000 to 2,000 nits for indoor displays. However, should an interior screen be exposed to a lot of natural light, a brighter display may be more desirable.

Color Calibration

Color calibration relates to brightness and contrast as well as the actual color desired. The video signal and the internal hardware are calibrated at the factory to make sure colors display true. This particular technical factor is directly related to the quality of the LED screen itself and can’t be changed with software or settings.

When purchasing LED digital signage, you’ll need to consider several aspects including viewing range, content, imagery, and messaging. With a complete understanding of the technical factors, viewing area, and content, you can choose the LED display that’s optimized for your intended audience. The experts at PixelFLEX have the knowledge and options to help you choose the ideal LED display to fit any need.

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LED Advertising Displays Encourage Visual Engagement and Brand Sensitivity

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Billboards have been used for centuries to convey information on goods and services to those passing by. One major drawback to printed billboards, however, is that they require continuous replacement and frequent updating. Their one-dimensional format with minimal contrast can actually discourage visual engagement. Fortunately, as is typical in most industries—competition and innovation have generated improvements and driven quality. Today’s billboards use digital displays LED to captivate passersby. With digital communication as the premier tool for transmitting information and directing social interaction, businesses can more effectively promote their brand by using LED display technologies. As LED technology improves, so do opportunities to connect a proven marketing method with a contemporary digital approach.

According to a 2010 study by Arbitron, LED digital signs reach an astounding number of Americans: 70 percent have seen a digital video display in the past month, versus 43 percent on the Internet. In addition, 52 percent of teenagers and adults have viewed a digital display within the past week, and 75 percent of commuters recall seeing a digital billboard within the past month. Another study found that 63% more people noticed LED signs than traditional static advertising signage and billboards. Following a recent digital billboard campaign, the online platform Monster reported that Google searches for relevant keywords spiked by 20 to 25 percent. It makes sense then, in this context, that dynamic LED billboards ensnare the attention of potential buyers, stimulate sales, enhance the company’s image, and increase visibility to the business.

An estimated 71 percent of consumers claim to view and absorb large format advertising messaging. In fact, those who interact with outdoor advertising are 17 percent more likely to engage than those exposed to advertising on their mobile device. Let’s compare these trends to other marketing channels, such as TV and radio. Marketing through these media has become avoidable and in fact seen as a nuisance to consumers. Consumer marketing needs are evolving as buyers become savvier at thwarting advertisers. By 2020, the practice of ad-blocking is forecasted to cost advertisers and publishers between $16 and $35 billion in lost revenue.

Commercial properties are utilizing digital LED display billboards as another means to generate revenue and encourage business traffic. In most cases these properties are in highly trafficked areas, perfect for engaging potential customers. Brands get in front of many more eyes than would be possible with print and gives commercial landlords a second income source. Areas like entertainment and shopping centers in the downtowns of large metro areas are ideal locations and can reach thousands of people each day with effective LED signage.

Although there are various considerations to make when choosing and using LED billboards, it’s still a great investment compared to static print signage. One benefit of LED digital signage is cost savings over their print counterparts because updates on LED happen in real-time. Changing a printed sign requires time, money, and other resources. So, for technology beyond tradition, LED creates ads that enthrall the senses of the viewer. With LED signage, movement and animation attracts the eyes, giving brands a more impressive stance.

PixelFLEX® is an innovative American-based LED manufacturer that offers creative solutions, dependable products, and reliable service for their award-winning LED display technologies and solutions. The FLEXStorm™ is a truly breathtaking LED solution, designed and built with an IP-65 weather rating that withstands adverse weather conditions. This outdoor compatibility and endurance, coalesced with an optimal viewing pitch of 6.67 mm, makes premier outdoor LED displays an option that businesses can trust. The high brightness LED display generates vivid images between 6500-7500 Nits to get your brand noticed instantly.

To learn more about PixelFLEX® and their award-winning LED product FLEXStorm™ and how it is the most efficient way to create any size billboard and outdoor signage visit our product page!

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Beat the Heat with LED Signage

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As digital signage becomes more popular as a tool to attract buyers, make announcements, and convey relevant information to the public, more installations are showing up outdoors to capture the attention of commuters, shoppers, and other passersby. Outdoor advertising is projected to be worth almost $51 billion by 2020, and most of this growth is in digital signage. That means digital signage solutions must be durable in the face of extreme temperatures, especially high heat. Fortunately, LEDs fit the bill.

The temperature is 100°F or more for a third of the year in Phoenix, Arizona, with the hottest temperature ever recorded being 122°F. So, if you live in Phoenix, or any other city where temperatures can get this hot, you will need outdoor digital signage able to withstand such sweltering temperatures. Believe it or not, winter sun is even harder on digital signs. The summer’s hazy skies can cut down on UV rays, while the crisp, clear winter sun lets everything through, and can really heat up a display.

Most light systems produce their own heat, forcing you turn the system off and wait for it to cool down before you can clean it, and with gasses or glass tubes, you have to worry about leaks and breaks. Florescent lamps also perform poorly under low temperatures. LEDs, however, are resilient under very high and very low temperatures, do not produce their own heat, have long lifespans, superior brightness, and are efficient and easy to clean.

Because LEDs don’t produce their own heat, you can place LED signage in places where heating from conventional sources would cause problems. The last thing you want to do is place a hot light near flammable objects like textiles, let alone foods you want to keep cool. Since LEDs don’t produce their own heat, they are less likely to be in an environment where they overheat—like being outdoors during the hottest summer days in Phoenix.

LEDs are a great outdoor signage solution because of their heat resistance. Standard electronic components are not well-suited to extreme temperatures unless they are designed from the outset to do so. The average digital display operates best between 32°F and 102°F. But what if you are in International Falls, Minnesota, where the average January day gets no higher than 15°F? Or in Phoenix in the thick of the summer? For LED digital signage systems, these extreme temperatures pose no problems.

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX® offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven toward excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX® offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event, or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens.

Working with architects, designers, engineers, and consultants, PixelFLEX® is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience.

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Dynamic LED Walls Visually Captivate Audiences

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LED walls and screens are a fantastic way to create drama and add excitement, and they can be creatively incorporated into any event or occasion. Designing fun and exciting interactions with attendees is the best way to make an event unforgettable. An LED wall connects with guests and visually captivates audiences, all the while getting your brand noticed and message delivered. Having a dynamic LED wall gains the attention of visitors and helps motivate social interaction and brand awareness. LED walls enhance your company image while increasing visibility to your business. Budget restraints may deter companies from purchasing a LED video wall, but purchasing is not the only option when it comes to customizable LED applications. LED walls can be rented and configured with custom options tailored to the user’s needs.

When choosing an LED wall or screen rental for an event, it is critical to understand the available options and configurations in order to create the most enthralling environment possible. Unfortunately, researching LED options can be at first overwhelming. Industry jargon can be hard to wade through, but understanding the different aspects of display technologies will ultimately help make the best decision for the event and space.

There are three main components to consider: screen size, pixel pitch, and screen structure.

Screen size is one of the most important features when selecting the right LED wall because inappropriate size can hinder the audience’s interaction. There is a vast array of sizes to choose from for many different locations and crowd size. There is no magic formula, but first consider the size of the audience, total size of the location, and what will be displayed on the screen. A good rule is with 500 viewers or more, chose a screen of at least a 17 feet wide for optimal visual influence.

Pixel pitch is another important property and is defined as the distance in millimeters between two pixels on an LED board. Pixel pitch directly correlates the display resolution and optimal viewing distance. A lower pixel pitch means more pixels are used to make up the image, thus improving the resolution and optimal viewing distance. The lower the pixel pitch, the closer a viewer can stand to your display and still have a great resolution. Pixel pitch is important in determining the minimum required viewing distance for a clear image. The higher the pitch, the farther the required viewing distance.

LED screens are only as effective as the structures that support them. Screen structures can either be mobile or modular. Mobile screens are prebuilt and attached to a vehicle or other means of transportation. Mobile units are more cost effective and quicker to activate but may be limited by space constraints. When opting for mobile structures, ensure the venue has adequate space to navigate and place the screen. Modular units come in small LED tiles that are built out using trussing. Modular walls are popular with custom shapes and indoor events since they are built out on-site and can be fully customized to the available space.

PixelFLEX is the one stop shop for all things Live Production: audio, video, lighting, and LED rental. Partnering with this experienced multimedia firm allows for amazing service and guidance throughout the entire rental process. A great partner will listen to the user’s needs and understand their goals. PixelFLEX is a privately-owned, leading supplier of the most up-to-date audio, video, and lighting technologies today. With over 85 years of industry experience, their team of dedicated professionals knows how to pair the right technology with any vision.

To bring creativity, excitement, and motivate social interaction at your next event visit our rentals page today!

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LED Technology Makes LCDs Obsolete with Superior Efficiency and Maintainability

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LED technology has drastically evolved from the first dimly lit, red diode invented in 1962 by General Electric. From space exploration to gigantic stadium screens, LED systems are now used in many industries for their efficiency and brightness. Video walls and other digital signage solutions have long been a way to create a visually captivating experience to enthrall viewers and attract attention. Seamless video integration across multiple screens adds an additional wow factor that produces an eye-catching display. Older technologies like LCD and Plasma displays are becoming obsolete due to the intrinsic properties of LEDs like brightness, efficiency, maintainability, and sustainability. LEDs save on costs via easier maintenance and lower energy demands, which can make a huge impact on ROI for the consumer.

The LED display market has seen strong growth as the technology becomes better integrated and continues to improve. Since LEDs draw much lower power, components like ballasts and power supplies are less likely to malfunction from heat and other inefficiencies that higher power products produce. Maintenance costs decrease since these hard to reach components last longer and fail less. Most large video walls require boom lifts and other equipment in order to change faulty components and the cost of renting the equipment is significantly more than the cost of the replacement.

Advantages of LED displays offer excellent brightness, fast response time, wider viewing angles, and a higher degree of reliability than traditional LCDs. As LED technology improves, products are being invented that can be viewed from up close, eliminating what was a huge advantage for LCDs. With LED displays of 1.25 mm pixel pitch or smaller coming on the market at an ever-increasing rate, some industry experts are predicting the demise of LCD screens as a component of large video displays.  In the past, this quality reduction at close proximities has hindered LED applications. While LCD displays had long held an advantage over LED in terms of their interactive capability, that difference is quickly waning. LED touch displays are expected to appear on the market in the third quarter of 2017 with many other technological advancements forecasted.

The main advantage of LED displays over LCDs is the fact that there is no bezel, which allows for a completely seamless image. Another key advantage over LCDs is LEDs’ ability to be constructed in irregular shapes, as they allow for the creation of unique displays that can be a centerpiece of any venue. That flexibility makes them the perfect fit for environments such as retail stores, corporate lobbies and other high-end settings. The fundamental brightness of LED displays opens the door for video walls to be deployed in areas not previously possible, such as in store windows or other areas where light pollution may be a problem. LED-based displays are inherently brighter and more visible than LCD displays, and thus, much more visible and captivating across a myriad of applications ranging from low light to bright sunlight environments.

As with any evolving technology, ease of serviceability and sustainability go a long way in determining the degree to which video walls and LED displays are accepted over the long term. The American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX ® offers clever solutions, reliable products, and faithful service for their industry-leading LED display technologies. PixelFLEX® offers a one-of-a-kind design for any LED installation through their award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. PixelFLEX ® works alongside the industries best architects, designers, engineers and consultants, to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience.

Due to its intrinsic properties, LED technology has greatly evolved and is currently the premier choice for any type of digital signage solution. To learn more about PixelFLEX’s ® award winning LED solutions, visit https://pixelflexled.com/products/.

How Do You Know Which LED Screen You Need

PixelFLEX LED has taken complicated process of choosing the correct screen for your event or space and broken it down to just six easy clicks. By Just knowing providing your environment (indoor or outdoor), purpose, distance viewers will be, and which side it can be serviced, we can provide you with the EXACT model that is right for you and also provide you a quote to get your process started. To find out for yourself, check out the video to see just how quick and easy learning which screen is right for you, and then click on our Product Selection Tool to get started!

 

 

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Key Considerations for Deploying LED Displays

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Digital signage is an effective solution for attracting eyeballs, displaying creative content, and broadcasting information. In the past, LED displays were mainly used for outdoor applications such as billboards, while their LCD counterparts dominated the indoor market. But recent advances in LED technology has allowed these screens to make considerable inroads into the indoor territories that LCD’s once monopolized. In fact, Transparency Market Research expects the booming LED display market is expected to reach $12.5 billion by 2020, up from $4.8 billion in 2013, for a compound annual growth rate of 14.7 percent. When deciding between LED and LCD displays, consumers looking to deploy LED digital signage either indoors or out should keep the following key considerations in mind when making an investment:

COST

While LED displays have a higher initial cost than those of the LCD variety, their energy efficiency gives them a lower overall operating cost in the long run. Not only do LED displays use less power, they last longer and require fewer maintenance interventions, reducing associated replacement and service costs.

ENGAGEMENT

The mission of digital signage deployment is to attract and hold people’s attention. LED displays have a high brightness aspect that encourages engagement, and gives creators the ability to develop exciting content that will retain interest. And because LED displays offer a wider viewing angle than LCD’s, they are able to capture a larger audience.

SERVICEABILITY

While LED displays are very durable, they may need to be serviced at some point within their useful lifespan. Because most rely on a modular design, repairs typically only require replacing one of the defective modules, and not the entire unit. In this instance, the screen may also have to be recalibrated to ensure uniform color and brightness.

NETWORK CONNECTION

It is important to consider the availability of a network connection when choosing a digital communication solution. A network connection will allow for the easy distribution of content to all displays linked to the network. Users will be able to remotely control their system from an internet connection, placing real-time access and content updates right at their fingertips. This can prove powerful for deploying LED displays across far flung locations, while still maintaining consistency and quality of messaging.

LED displays are poised to continue expanding across sectors, providing captivating communication in both outdoor and indoor spaces. PixelFLEX ® is a leading provider of custom LED solutions offering top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. To learn more about the advantages of LED, visit our LED University!

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What You Should Know Before Purchasing A Digital Display

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Digital signage is an incredible tool for broadcasting content, message dissemination, and advertising. It has applications in virtually every market and sector, from academia to retail to places of worship, both indoor and out. Today’s cutting-edge flat or curved displays add a touch of modernity and aesthetic beauty to any space. However, digital signage technology evolves quickly, and can seem confusing to the uninitiated. To get the most out of their digital display investment, it is advisable that consumers learn some key terminology which can empower them to make a more informed purchasing decision.

I don’t think there is a need for the LCD Display Mention. Unless we discount it by saying it has color calibration issues and Burn in. Led does not have burn in. Maybe we say today we will focus on LED Digital signage.
● LCD Display: A flat-panel display using liquid crystals via a backlight or reflector to produce images.
● LED Display: A display solution utilizing light-emitting diodes as pixels for a video display.
● LED: A light-emitting diode (LED) made up of a two-lead semiconductor which emits light when activated, offering lower energy consumption, longer life, and availability in sizes smaller than traditional light sources.
● Video Wall: A video wall employing multiple displays, tiled or overlapped, to form what appears to be one large screen.
● Pixel: A physical point in a raster image; the smallest controllable element of a picture represented on a display.
● LED Density: Indicates the quantity of LEDs per display or square meter, with greater density translating to higher brightness and higher resolution.
● Pixel Pitch: The distance between pixels center to center on a display screen, usually reserved for LED display technology.
● Fine Pixel Pitch: LED displays with a minimum amount of space between pixels, usually 2.5mm or less; narrow pixel pitches yield clearer displays when viewed up close.

When it comes to LEDs, there is more that consumers should understand as part of their research. LEDs do not use filaments, making them highly efficient as nearly all of the electricity is converted to light rather than heat. This efficiency also displays itself in maintenance costs. Filaments and light engines in standard lights burn out as a result of this heat. The frequent replacement of these parts is costly. LEDs require less time and money to maintain. However, LED displays do require a module replacement every few years, depending on usage.LED diodes naturally lose about 20% of their initial brightness after the first 2,000 hours of use (or 3 months), and that brightness will slowly degrade until it dies at about 100,000 hours (or 11 years). Thus, it is important to note that the manufacturer’s claimed display brightness will drop about 20% after 2 to 3 months of operation.

Buyers should also ask the following questions when shopping for digital displays:

1.) How does the unit stay cool?
2.) Where is the device’s service access point? How is it serviced?
3.) Is the display good for both indoor and outdoor use? Only indoor? Only outdoor?
4.) Who manufactures the driver and switch integrated circuits (ICs)?
5.) Do all pixels come from the same bin?
6.) Is the fill factor of the screen (how much of the screen is covered by light-emitting pixels) at least 40%?What % is the fill factor of the screen?

Digital signage can be of great advantage, but only if the solution meets an organization’s unique needs. Through education and asking the right questions, consumers can ensure their satisfaction with their display, and PixelFLEX®, your partner in digital signage, is pleased to clarify these concepts. Put your new LED knowledge to use and check out the PixelFLEX products page!

 

 

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LED Video Signage is Essential for Today’s Game Experience

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It’s no secret that fans attend games for an experience. Today’s organizations are more focused on bringing fans an engaging atmosphere off the court more than ever. State-of-the-art venues are a key resource for teams to drive revenue and increase fan satisfaction. With this, innovative signage plays an important part of game day for any sporting event.

Fans probably never realize the impact digital, interactive signage makes during the game. Imagine announcing a starting lineup without the visual effects of a LED ribbon or quality scoreboard.

Creative uses for LED signage increase the demand for top technology and operation of these solutions. Location, content, and optimization are key elements for venue upgrades and stadium development. Today’s LED signage can be seen in elevators, at concession stands, VIP suites, and even bathrooms.

From Entrance to Exit
A fan experience begins from the moment a patron parks. Thin LED window hangs offer a new opportunity for external messaging without sacrificing internal natural light. The slim, low-res mesh design is versatile for creative design and graphics. FLEXClearTM is a unique, LED display that is 65-75 percent transparent.

Clear - Sports

Ribbon boards are the norm throughout the sports industry. They continue to evolve, increasing in size and resolution. LED ribbon boards are utilized for court activities, crowd commands, sponsorship elements and score updates.

With the help of LED solutions, the sports industry can leverage the main focal point of any event – the sporting floor. Whether it’s the court or concourse, floor graphics immerse the fan in a full 360 experience from the moment they step into the arena. In-floor lights, like LumiFLEXTM surface and floor products, can provide consistent, head-turning content from the upper deck to the hardwood. The possibilities are endless and add additional features to the entire game day presentation.

Floor_Sports

Increased Demand for Engagement
No matter the venue or event, at any given moment all signage should enforce the team brand. Features that display the logo, sponsors, and opportunities to create fan engagement are important parts of the entire patron experience.

With digital signage, fans now have an opportunity – and expectation – to be part of the action while in the stadium. The demand for fans to interact with content, such as social channels, contests, and polls through smartphones, make LED solutions more important now than ever.

PixelFLEX®, an industry leading LED solutions provider, has created LED signage solutions for many sports arenas and stadiums. PixelFLEX® is dedicated to providing top tier customer-focused support throughout the entire client experience.

Learn more about how PixelFLEX ® has been a leader in sports LED signage. Check out its portfolio of sports case studies.
Sports case studies link: https://pixelflexled.com/portfolio_entries/sports/