La Roche College Baseball Facility Branding

Introduction

After reaching the NCAA Division III College World Series in 2016, La Roche College had established itself as a high-level baseball program. Its facilities, however, did not communicate the same sense of achievement.

The baseball field featured mostly bare fences, simple hand-painted lettering, and limited visual branding. The weight room also lacked the energy and identity expected from a successful athletic department. Head Baseball Coach Chase Rowe wanted to create a stronger recruiting environment and give athletes, fans, and visitors a clearer sense of what La Roche represented.

Working within the realities of a Division III budget, the college partnered with BIGSIGNS to enhance its existing facilities through custom athletic graphics. Championship banners, branded fence screens, backstop pads, a batter’s eye, wall graphics, and additional athletic banners gave the baseball field and weight room a dramatic new identity without requiring a costly construction project.

The Challenge

La Roche baseball had proven itself on the field, but the visual presentation of its facilities had not kept pace with the program’s success.

The team’s appearance in the 2016 Division III College World Series demonstrated the quality of the players, coaches, and program. Yet prospective student-athletes visiting the campus encountered a baseball field with mostly bare walls and fences.

Existing branding consisted largely of hand-painted “Redhawks” and “LRC” lettering on black and red fence screens. While those elements introduced some school color, they did not create the polished, consistent environment Rowe believed the program needed.

The weight room presented a similar challenge. It did not fully represent La Roche athletics or provide the kind of motivational environment that could inspire athletes from across the department.

Recruiting made the issue more urgent.

La Roche needed to compete for talented student-athletes against other programs that were also investing in their facilities and presentation. The school wanted to show recruits that its baseball program was established, ambitious, and continuing to move forward.

A major reconstruction project was not realistic. Rowe knew that replacing the field with turf would require an investment far beyond the available budget.

The challenge was to find a cost-effective facility improvement that could:

  • Strengthen baseball recruiting

  • Celebrate the program’s achievements

  • Improve the field’s appearance

  • Build a more recognizable athletic identity

  • Motivate athletes in the weight room

  • Create value without major construction

“We were looking to raise the bar in our facility and keep the pace with the other programs out there. We wanted to figure out a cost-effective way to give our facility more of an appeal.”

The BIGSIGNS Solution

La Roche College chose BIGSIGNS to develop a coordinated athletic facility branding program for the baseball field and weight room.

The college selected BIGSIGNS after reviewing examples of previous facility projects and comparing the company’s work with other providers. According to Rowe, the quality, service, and overall value helped make the decision clear.

“Our rep was awesome. They were cheaper and better than the competitors. So we stuck with them.”

BIGSIGNS worked with La Roche to identify the most visible and influential surfaces throughout the existing facilities. Rather than focusing on one isolated graphic, the project used several coordinated products to create a more complete branded experience.

At the baseball field, BIGSIGNS installed DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners and DuraScreen84™ Windscreen around the fencing. These graphics replaced the previous understated appearance with a stronger display of school colors, logos, and Redhawks identity.

A large redhawk head measuring 20 feet by 90 feet became a major visual focal point on an existing wall. This oversized graphic gave the facility an unmistakable La Roche presence and helped establish a memorable first impression for players, fans, tournament visitors, and recruits.

Additional baseball branding included:

  • BannerChamp™ Championship Banners recognizing program success

  • BrandPad™ Backstop Pads integrating identity into a functional field feature

  • GatorMesh™ Batter’s Eye supporting the field environment while maintaining coordinated branding

  • DuraLast™ Banners extending the visual system into additional high-visibility locations

The branding initiative also expanded beyond baseball.

La Roche moved its weight room into former racquetball courts that were no longer being used. Custom wall graphics then transformed the repurposed space into a more energetic athletic environment.

Instead of highlighting baseball alone, the weight room graphics represented all La Roche sports programs. This inclusive approach allowed athletes throughout the department to see their teams and accomplishments reflected in a shared training space.

BIGSIGNS did not build the baseball field, construct the weight room, or complete the underlying facility renovations. Its role was to enhance the existing spaces with custom graphics and coordinated athletic branding.

Products Used

The La Roche College athletic facility branding project included:

  • BannerChamp™ Championship Banners

  • DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners

  • BrandPad™ Backstop Pads

  • GatorMesh™ Batter’s Eye

  • DuraLast™ Banners

  • DuraScreen84™ Windscreen

  • Custom athletic wall graphics

Together, these products gave the baseball field and weight room a more consistent La Roche look and feel.

Project Highlights

  • NCAA Division III baseball program

  • Baseball field and weight room branding

  • Championship recognition displays

  • Branded fence graphics surrounding the field

  • 20-foot-by-90-foot Redhawks wall graphic

  • Custom backstop padding

  • Branded batter’s eye

  • Athletic banners throughout the venue

  • Multi-sport graphics in the weight room

  • Cost-conscious alternative to major construction

  • Recruiting-focused facility improvement

  • Added exposure during summer tournaments

The Results

The finished graphics gave La Roche College the facility transformation it needed without requiring an expensive structural overhaul.

The baseball field no longer felt visually disconnected from the program’s success. Coordinated graphics, championship recognition, field branding, and the oversized Redhawks logo created a stronger identity throughout the venue.

Players and fans responded positively to the new appearance. The branding made the field feel more established and gave the program a presentation that better matched its competitive achievements.

The project also improved the recruiting environment.

Prospective student-athletes could now see a baseball facility that communicated pride, direction, and investment in the future of the program. The graphics helped demonstrate that La Roche was not simply maintaining its current level of success—it was working to build upon it.

This visibility extended beyond the college baseball season. La Roche’s field hosted summer tournaments, bringing high school players, families, coaches, and community members into the facility.

Those events allowed prospective recruits to experience the new branding firsthand. Even when the college team was not competing, the facility continued to promote the Redhawks program and create awareness among future student-athletes.

Rowe believed the improved environment showed recruits that La Roche had a strong baseball program with positive momentum.

The weight room transformation created additional value across the athletic department. Wall graphics representing every La Roche sport made the space more inclusive and motivating, replacing a stale environment with one that reflected the full identity of the college’s athletic programs.

The final result was a cohesive facility branding program that:

  • Improved the appearance of the baseball field

  • Strengthened recruiting presentations

  • Celebrated championship-level achievement

  • Increased school and team recognition

  • Created a more motivating training environment

  • Extended branding exposure through community events

  • Delivered meaningful impact within the available budget

Lessons Learned

Focus on High-Impact Improvements

Large construction projects are not the only way to improve an athletic facility.

La Roche could not justify the cost of installing a new turf field, but custom athletic graphics allowed the school to dramatically change the facility’s presentation for a more manageable investment.

Schools should begin by identifying the surfaces that visitors notice first, including fences, backstops, walls, scoreboards, entrances, and training areas.

Let Program Success Guide the Story

La Roche had earned a place in the Division III College World Series. That accomplishment gave the school a powerful story to communicate through its facilities.

Championship banners and recognition graphics allow athletic programs to turn past success into an ongoing recruiting, motivational, and branding asset.

Create a Coordinated Visual System

One branded banner can improve a space, but a coordinated system usually creates a stronger result.

La Roche combined windscreens, mesh banners, backstop pads, championship displays, a batter’s eye, large wall graphics, and weight room graphics. Repeating consistent colors, logos, and design elements across these products helped the facility feel intentional rather than pieced together.

Use Functional Surfaces for Branding

Backstop pads, windscreens, batter’s eyes, and fence screens are often necessary parts of a baseball facility.

Customizing those surfaces allows schools to add branding without sacrificing their functional purpose. This approach can generate more value from items the venue already needs.

Consider Year-Round Visibility

La Roche’s field hosted summer tournaments after the college season ended.

Facilities used by camps, youth programs, tournaments, rentals, or community events provide ongoing exposure. Branding installed around those venues can continue supporting awareness and recruiting throughout the year.

Include the Entire Athletic Department

Although the baseball program drove much of the project, the weight room graphics represented every La Roche sport.

Shared athletic spaces should feel relevant to all the programs that use them. Gathering input from multiple teams can help create a more inclusive and unified environment.

Repurpose Existing Spaces Strategically

La Roche moved its weight room into former racquetball courts that were no longer in use.

Repurposing an existing space can be a practical alternative to new construction. Custom wall graphics can then help the converted area feel intentional, professional, and connected to the organization’s broader identity.

Evaluate Value Beyond Initial Cost

The lowest-cost improvement is not always the one that produces the greatest long-term value.

Athletic graphics can contribute to recruiting, athlete morale, fan experience, community perception, and year-round brand exposure. Those benefits should be considered when evaluating the return on a facility branding project.

Why DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners?

Baseball and softball fences offer extensive space for school branding, sponsor recognition, team messaging, and facility enhancement.

DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners help turn plain perimeter fencing into a coordinated visual feature. Custom graphics can incorporate school colors, logos, mascots, achievements, sponsor identities, and other approved content.

For athletic facilities, printed mesh banners can help:

  • Improve the appearance of perimeter fencing

  • Strengthen team and school recognition

  • Create a more professional game-day environment

  • Support recruiting visits

  • Provide space for sponsor recognition

  • Reduce the visual impact of surrounding distractions

  • Coordinate branding across large areas

  • Deliver high visibility during games and tournaments

At La Roche, branded mesh graphics helped surround the baseball field with a consistent Redhawks identity.

Why DuraScreen84™ Windscreen?

Athletic windscreen can serve both a practical and visual purpose.

DuraScreen84™ Windscreen helps improve the appearance of fencing while creating valuable space for custom athletic graphics. When designed as part of a broader facility branding plan, windscreen can help connect backstops, outfield fences, sidelines, entrances, and other venue areas.

For La Roche, the windscreen supported a more complete visual transformation around the baseball field and replaced the understated look of the previous fence coverings.

Why BannerChamp™ Championship Banners?

Program accomplishments should remain visible long after the final game of a championship season.

BannerChamp™ Championship Banners provide a professional way to recognize titles, tournament appearances, historic teams, and other significant milestones.

These banners can help schools:

  • Celebrate athletic achievement

  • Motivate current athletes

  • Educate visitors about program history

  • Strengthen recruiting presentations

  • Reinforce a culture of excellence

For La Roche, championship recognition connected the appearance of the facility directly to the success of the baseball program.

Why BrandPad™ Backstop Pads?

Backstop padding is a highly visible part of many baseball and softball facilities.

BrandPad™ Backstop Pads allow programs to integrate school colors, logos, and approved messaging into this functional surface. Coordinating the padding with fence graphics, banners, and other field elements helps create a cleaner and more unified venue.

Branded backstop pads can also improve the visual backdrop behind home plate, an area frequently seen by spectators, photographers, and visitors.

Why GatorMesh™ Batter’s Eye?

A batter’s eye is an important visual feature at a baseball field, but it can also contribute to the overall presentation of the venue.

GatorMesh™ Batter’s Eye helps create a more finished field environment while coordinating with surrounding windscreens, mesh banners, and other athletic graphics.

Including the batter’s eye in the overall design plan prevents it from feeling disconnected from the rest of the facility.

Why BIGSIGNS?

BIGSIGNS helps schools, colleges, parks departments, and sports organizations transform existing facilities through custom athletic graphics and coordinated branding.

The BIGSIGNS process combines award-winning design, premium materials, custom manufacturing, nationwide experience, and collaborative customer service.

From baseball field windscreens and backstop pads to championship banners, wall graphics, scoreboard branding, dugout wraps, and complete athletic facility packages, BIGSIGNS can support both focused improvements and multi-phase campus initiatives.

For La Roche College, BIGSIGNS helped create a cost-effective transformation that better reflected the quality, history, and future direction of its athletic programs.

Ready to Transform Your Facility?

Your program’s success should be visible throughout the spaces where athletes train and compete.

Whether you are upgrading a baseball field, refreshing a weight room, recognizing championships, or planning a coordinated athletic branding program, BIGSIGNS can help maximize the impact of your existing facility.

Request a FREE Mock-Up today and see how custom athletic graphics can strengthen recruiting, celebrate your achievements, and give your facility a professional identity without the cost of major construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can baseball field branding support recruiting?

Custom windscreens, banners, backstop pads, wall graphics, and championship displays create a more professional environment and help recruits understand a program’s identity, history, and commitment to athletics.

Can baseball fence graphics include custom logos and colors?

Yes. Athletic fence graphics can be designed with approved school logos, team colors, mascots, sponsor identities, championship information, and other custom content.

Can several baseball branding products be coordinated?

Yes. Windscreens, mesh banners, backstop pads, batter’s eyes, dugout graphics, scoreboard graphics, and championship banners can share one coordinated design system.

Is facility branding an alternative to major renovations?

Custom graphics cannot replace necessary structural improvements, but they can provide a cost-effective way to enhance the appearance and identity of an existing facility without major construction.

Can BIGSIGNS create graphics for shared weight rooms?

Yes. Custom weight room graphics can represent multiple teams, school values, athletic accomplishments, motivational messaging, and a unified department-wide identity.