University of Illinois Chicago

When the University of Illinois Chicago left the Horizon League to join the Missouri Valley Conference, the university felt it needed to upgrade its athletic facilities. Credit Union 1 Arena, home of the UIC Flames basketball and volleyball teams, was built in 1982 and has been a focal point of the UIC campus for over four decades. With the change in conferences and a desire to modernize the multi-purpose arena, improving the fan experience by adding new videoboards was the most logical next step.

Watchfire, in conjunction with Wolf Electric, developed three new LED videoboard solutions for UIC to increase visibility, amplify engagement, and build more revenue through added advertisement opportunities. Two of these displays are within the arena, providing the audience with a better in-venue experience. The third serves as an outdoor message board to engage those walking or driving through the busy UIC campus, which sits on Chicago’s west side.

Hanging high above the arena floor is a custom-built Watchfire 5.9mm LED centerhung ring, a quick and easy place for the audience to check the time and score. The ring measures 2.5 feet high with a diameter of 25 feet and can be seen from all angles in the arena’s 8,000-seat seating bowl. In addition to serving as a scoreboard, the centerhung ring can also display other messages before, during, and after events.

Wrapping around the arena’s horseshoe-style seating bowl is a Watchfire 5.9mm LED ribbon board that can serve several purposes. The ribbon board, which is 1.6 feet high and stretches 465 feet, allows the venue to display scores, stats, ads, and other messages and animations throughout games and other events. Both the centerhung display and the ribbon board are managed with Motion Rocket sports video software.

Used primarily as a campuswide solution, a Watchfire 16mm LED videoboard hangs outside the building, high above the main entrance. Measuring 3 feet high by 24 feet wide, this on premise marquee promotes upcoming games and events, and displays sponsor ads and logos. The display is powered by Watchfire’s Ignite OPx cloud-based software, allowing facility administrators to update messages in real time from anywhere, whether prepared in advance or updated on the fly.

All three of the Watchfire displays are part of the greater digital signage network that stretches across the entire campus. Managed by UIC Creative & Digital Services, this network of signs promotes programs and services throughout the university.

These additions from Watchfire helped bring the 40+ year facility into the modern age, giving fans and event spectators a high-level viewing experience and providing new ways for the university to increase revenue through advertisement and sponsorship opportunities.