College of the Holy Cross Bleacher Wraps

Introduction

When Nathan Pine became director of athletics at the College of the Holy Cross in 2014, the Worcester, Massachusetts, institution was beginning a broader campus rebranding initiative. Pine recognized an opportunity to bring that same renewed identity to the college’s athletic facilities.

Holy Cross had a highly visible NCAA Division I athletic program, but many outdoor venues lacked consistent logos, colors, and branded graphics. The college needed a unified visual system that would represent the institution professionally, strengthen recognition, and create more engaging environments for student-athletes, fans, alumni, recruits, and campus visitors.

Working with BIGSIGNS, Holy Cross enhanced multiple outdoor facilities with custom athletic windscreens, GrandStand™ Bleacher Section Wraps, and BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps. The phased project introduced a consolidated athletic identity across soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, track, and football venues while helping the college make strategic improvements within its available budget.

BIGSIGNS did not construct or renovate the athletic facilities. Instead, the project demonstrates how coordinated graphics can enhance existing stadiums, fences, and bleacher sections while supporting a larger institutional rebranding effort.

The Challenge

Holy Cross was already known nationally for academic excellence, but athletics also played an important role in how many people experienced the college.

The institution supported 27 varsity teams, and approximately 25 percent of its students participated in sports. According to Pine, that represented the highest student participation rate of any Division I program at the time.

Despite the size and visibility of the athletic department, its facilities did not yet present one consolidated brand.

Outdoor venues for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and track had limited school branding. Fences and other prominent surfaces lacked logos and visual elements that clearly connected them to Holy Cross.

The football stadium presented another challenge. Built to accommodate approximately 20,000 spectators, the venue typically drew attendance closer to 11,000. Open upper-end-zone seating could make the stadium appear less full while dispersing fans away from the more desirable sideline seating areas.

Holy Cross needed an athletic facility branding strategy that could:

  • Support the college’s broader rebranding campaign

  • Establish a consistent athletic identity across multiple venues

  • Introduce school colors and logos into underbranded facilities

  • Improve the appearance of the football stadium

  • Guide spectators toward preferred seating areas

  • Present the Holy Cross brand effectively during streamed events

  • Increase visibility to passing traffic near the lower campus

  • Make strategic improvements without exceeding the available budget

  • Build support among administrators, alumni, athletes, and the campus community

Pine also understood that the appearance of athletic facilities could influence how people perceived the program.

Signs, banners, windscreens, and bleacher graphics were not simply decorative additions. They helped communicate pride, professionalism, and attention to detail.

“We really didn’t have a consolidated brand, so we took the opportunity with the campus looking at it to be part of the bigger initiative, which got a lot of buy-in across our campus.”

Nathan Pine, Director of Athletics

The BIGSIGNS Solution

Holy Cross worked with BIGSIGNS to develop a phased athletic facility branding program that could extend the college’s refreshed identity across multiple sports and venues.

The project began with custom windscreens at outdoor facilities used by soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and track. These graphics introduced Holy Cross logos and branding to areas of campus that previously lacked a strong visual connection to the institution.

The windscreen designs were planned according to their locations and audiences.

Graphics positioned inside the venues typically featured the school logo. This ensured that spectators watching in person—and viewers seeing the facilities through streamed broadcasts—could clearly identify Holy Cross.

Exterior-facing graphics featured images of student-athletes representing different sports. These displays helped the college connect its athletic identity with the broader campus and surrounding community.

The next phase focused on the football stadium ahead of the 2015 season.

Large custom bleacher covers were installed across upper-end-zone sections using GrandStand™ Bleacher Section Wraps and BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps. The graphics helped close off portions of the larger stadium while directing fans toward premium seating areas along the sidelines.

This strategy addressed an operational challenge and a branding opportunity at the same time.

Rather than leaving underused seating sections visually open, Holy Cross transformed them into prominent branded displays. The result improved the appearance of the stadium, concentrated spectators in preferred areas, and introduced school imagery in locations visible from inside and outside the venue.

The football stadium’s position near the lower part of campus created additional value. Pine estimated that approximately 100,000 vehicles passed the area each day, giving the new branding exposure beyond game-day audiences.

Throughout the project, BIGSIGNS maintained close communication with Holy Cross while reviewing imagery, confirming dimensions, and proofing the graphics. This collaborative process helped ensure that the products arrived correctly and were ready in time for the athletic season.

Products Used

The College of the Holy Cross athletic branding project included:

  • GrandStand™ Bleacher Section Wraps

  • BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps

  • Custom athletic windscreens

Together, these products supported a coordinated visual identity across fencing, stadium seating, and several outdoor athletic facilities.

Project Highlights

  • NCAA Division I athletic facility branding initiative

  • Project coordinated with a broader campus rebranding campaign

  • Windscreens added at soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, and track facilities

  • School logos featured on interior-facing venue graphics

  • Student-athlete imagery displayed on exterior-facing graphics

  • Football stadium bleacher sections covered before the 2015 season

  • Underused end-zone seating transformed into visible branded displays

  • Fans guided toward premium sideline seating areas

  • Graphics visible to significant daily traffic near the lower campus

  • Branding designed to improve both in-person and streamed presentation

  • Phased approach allowed future facility enhancements to remain possible

The Results

The new graphics gave Holy Cross a more consistent and recognizable athletic identity.

Outdoor facilities that previously lacked prominent branding gained school logos, athlete imagery, and visual continuity. The improvements helped each venue feel more connected to the college’s larger institutional identity.

At the football stadium, the bleacher wraps delivered several benefits at once.

Covering portions of the upper end zone helped guide fans toward preferred sideline seating. It also replaced the appearance of open, underused sections with large-format Holy Cross branding.

The result was a more intentional stadium environment that looked better during games and created valuable visibility from surrounding areas.

“It’s been very well received and it certainly dressed up the facility and makes it look nice. We have about 100,000 cars go by it each day, so a lot of people are seeing the branding down there at the lower part of our campus.”

Nathan Pine, Director of Athletics

The graphics also strengthened the presentation of Holy Cross athletics through digital media.

The college streamed more than 400 games through the Patriot League network, extending the reach of its athletic programs far beyond campus. Placing recognizable school logos inside the venues helped ensure that broadcast viewers could identify the institution and experience a consistent Holy Cross brand.

The project generated positive feedback from alumni and encouraged the athletic department to continue looking for additional enhancement opportunities.

“We’ve gotten good feedback from our alumni about what we’ve done, so it encourages us to keep adding on as we see things that can be enhanced.”

Nathan Pine, Director of Athletics

Rather than approaching facility branding as a one-time installation, Holy Cross created a foundation that could support future phases. After reviewing every athletic venue, Pine was able to identify lower-priority areas where additional improvements could be made over time.

Lessons Learned

Connect Athletic Branding to Larger Institutional Initiatives

Facility branding projects can gain stronger internal support when they align with broader campus goals.

Holy Cross coordinated its athletic improvements with the institution’s larger rebranding campaign. This helped the athletic department establish a consistent identity while generating buy-in across campus.

Schools and universities planning similar projects should consider how athletic graphics can support existing brand standards, campus improvement plans, recruiting strategies, and communications initiatives.

Be Strategic About Facility Priorities

Not every venue or surface needs to be improved at the same time.

Holy Cross began with outdoor facilities that lacked branding and then moved to a highly visible football stadium project. This phased approach allowed the college to address immediate opportunities while identifying additional locations for future improvements.

Prioritizing high-traffic, high-visibility, or frequently broadcast areas can help organizations create stronger initial impact.

Use Graphics to Address Operational Needs

Athletic graphics can solve more than appearance-related challenges.

At the Holy Cross football stadium, bleacher covers helped close off underused seating areas and guide spectators toward premium sideline sections. The same solution created large branded surfaces that improved the venue’s appearance.

Facility managers should evaluate whether graphics can also support crowd flow, seating presentation, privacy, visual screening, sponsor recognition, or wayfinding.

Design for Broadcast and Digital Visibility

Athletic facilities are no longer seen only by people attending games in person.

Holy Cross streamed hundreds of athletic events, making the appearance of its facilities important to remote audiences. Logos placed inside competition areas helped strengthen brand recognition during broadcasts.

When planning graphics, schools should review camera positions, streaming angles, photography locations, scoreboard views, and sightlines from spectator seating.

Plan Interior- and Exterior-Facing Graphics Differently

Different audiences may see opposite sides of the same facility perimeter.

Holy Cross used school logos on graphics facing into its venues while exterior-facing displays featured student-athletes. This allowed the college to tailor the visual message to each audience.

Schools should consider what athletes and fans need to see inside the venue and what passersby, visitors, and the surrounding community will encounter outside it.

Confirm Measurements and Proofs Carefully

Large-format graphics depend on accurate sizing and properly prepared artwork.

BIGSIGNS maintained communication with Holy Cross throughout the proofing and measurement process. That attention to detail helped the graphics arrive correctly and remain on schedule for the season.

Future customers should confirm dimensions, installation surfaces, viewing directions, graphic orientation, artwork quality, and site access before production.

Treat Facility Appearance as a Strategic Investment

Branding influences how athletes, recruits, fans, alumni, and community members perceive an athletic program.

Pine encouraged other administrators to remain aware of facility appearance and to approach improvements with clear objectives.

“Be strategic about what you’re trying to do with those facilities. It’s a very smart investment.”

Nathan Pine, Director of Athletics

Why GrandStand™ Bleacher Section Wraps?

Large or underused seating sections can affect how a stadium looks and feels, especially when attendance does not regularly reach the venue’s full capacity.

GrandStand™ Bleacher Section Wraps help turn those seating areas into prominent branded displays. Instead of showing rows of empty bleachers, schools can use the available space to reinforce logos, colors, program identity, and institutional messaging.

Potential benefits include:

  • Improved appearance of underused seating sections

  • Stronger stadium branding from long viewing distances

  • Guidance toward preferred spectator seating areas

  • Large-format visibility for school colors and logos

  • Better presentation during broadcasts and photography

  • More intentional use of existing stadium structures

  • Greater recognition from nearby roads and public areas

  • Coordination with windscreens and other athletic graphics

  • Facility enhancement without structural expansion

For Holy Cross, the bleacher section wraps helped close off portions of the football stadium while introducing branding in one of the venue’s most visible areas.

Why BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps?

Bleacher structures provide extensive surface area, but they often remain visually plain or disconnected from the rest of a stadium’s branding.

BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps help convert those existing structures into custom visual assets. They can reinforce school identity, improve spectator-facing areas, and create a more complete game-day environment.

When coordinated with athletic windscreens, banners, scoreboard graphics, and other stadium products, BleacherSkin™ can support a unified appearance across the entire venue.

For Holy Cross, the bleacher graphics contributed to a football stadium environment that looked more polished, concentrated spectators in preferred areas, and increased brand exposure to both game-day visitors and passing traffic.

Why BIGSIGNS?

BIGSIGNS helps colleges, schools, athletic departments, parks, recreation facilities, and sports venues enhance existing environments through custom facility graphics.

The team combines award-winning design, collaborative planning, custom manufacturing, premium materials, nationwide experience, and responsive customer service.

From GrandStand™ Bleacher Section Wraps and BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps to athletic windscreens, scoreboard graphics, banners, wall graphics, and coordinated multi-venue branding programs, every project is developed around the customer’s identity, facility, audience, and operational goals.

Whether the opportunity involves one stadium section or an athletic department-wide rebranding initiative, BIGSIGNS helps customers create professional environments that strengthen recognition and inspire pride.

Ready to Transform Your Facility?

Your bleachers, fences, stadium seating, and other existing surfaces can become valuable parts of your athletic identity.

Custom bleacher wraps and athletic windscreens can improve facility presentation, support spectator flow, strengthen broadcast visibility, and create a more recognizable experience for athletes, fans, recruits, alumni, and visitors.

Request a FREE Mock-Up from BIGSIGNS and see how your logos, colors, athlete imagery, and program messaging could transform your athletic facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can bleacher wraps cover underused seating sections?

Yes. Custom bleacher section wraps can visually close off selected seating areas while introducing school branding and helping guide spectators toward preferred sections.

Can bleacher wraps coordinate with athletic windscreens?

Yes. Bleacher wraps and windscreens can use consistent colors, logos, typography, imagery, and messaging to create a unified stadium branding system.

Can different graphics face the inside and outside of an athletic facility?

Depending on the product, installation, and project requirements, graphics can be planned for different audiences and viewing directions. Interior-facing and exterior-facing messages should be considered during the design process.

What should schools consider when planning bleacher graphics?

Important considerations include section dimensions, viewing distance, spectator sightlines, seating access, installation conditions, graphic orientation, and how the wraps will coordinate with other stadium elements.

Can BIGSIGNS help brand multiple athletic venues?

Yes. BIGSIGNS can develop coordinated branding programs for football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, track, baseball, softball, tennis, and other suitable athletic facilities.