Introduction

Libertyville High School in Libertyville, Illinois, already had a baseball field with character. Brick walls along the foul lines, elevated spectator views, and repurposed seats from Dodger Stadium gave the ballpark an atmosphere few nearby high school venues could match.

However, the landlocked campus offered little room for expansion or major construction. To improve the facility without changing what made it special, Libertyville partnered with BIGSIGNS to enhance existing fences, scoreboards, bleachers, and other visible surfaces with custom athletic graphics.

The completed baseball facility branding project gave the Wildcats a more polished home field, celebrated program achievements, and created a stronger experience for players, spectators, alumni, and visiting teams.

The Challenge

Libertyville’s baseball field was bordered by busy streets, limiting opportunities for expansion and large-scale facility upgrades.

The venue already attracted local crowds and had a distinctive ballpark feel. Short brick walls ran along the left- and right-field lines, while nearby football bleachers gave spectators an elevated view from behind the third-base side.

The field also featured clusters of bright orange seats that had once been installed at Dodger Stadium. Libertyville transported approximately 100 of the seats back to Illinois and gradually incorporated them into the ballpark, adding another memorable detail to the venue.

Despite this character, several high-visibility areas were not contributing to the Wildcats’ identity. Outfield fences, scoreboards, the nearby football press box, and other athletic surfaces represented opportunities to improve the facility without undertaking major construction.

Libertyville also had a rich athletic history worth celebrating. The baseball program had recently completed a 33-4 season and advanced to the state championship game. Other school programs, including football, girls volleyball, and boys swimming, were also competing at high levels.

The school wanted the facility to recognize those accomplishments while creating a more complete and professional appearance.

Timing added another challenge. Libertyville wanted the new banners and graphics installed before hosting the state regional playoffs. Accurate measurements, coordinated production, and close communication would be essential to completing the project before the end of the season.

The BIGSIGNS Solution

Libertyville High School worked with BIGSIGNS to identify existing facility surfaces that could become valuable branding opportunities.

Rather than altering the ballpark’s distinctive layout, the project enhanced the venue through coordinated athletic graphics that complemented its established character.

BIGSIGNS replaced the existing outfield fence screens with new custom graphics. The updated DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners helped create a more polished perimeter while reinforcing Libertyville’s colors and Wildcats identity.

The back of the scoreboard also became a storytelling surface. DuraFlex™ Scoreboard Wraps were used to display a concise history of the baseball program’s achievements, including conference championships and appearances in the state finals.

Because the football field and press box were located just beyond the baseball outfield, Libertyville extended the project into this highly visible area. The press box displayed the team’s schedule, helping the nearby structure contribute to the overall baseball presentation rather than appearing disconnected from it.

The documented product package also included:

• DugoutSkin™ Dugout Wraps

• BrandPad™ Wall Padding

• BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps

These coordinated products allowed Libertyville to carry its athletic identity across a variety of functional facility surfaces.

The project required precise coordination. Measurements had to be accurate, and the schedule had to remain aligned with the upcoming state regional playoffs. Libertyville and BIGSIGNS worked closely together, completing the improvements approximately one week before the end of the season.

BIGSIGNS did not construct or renovate Libertyville’s baseball stadium. Its role was to enhance the existing venue through custom sports facility branding and graphics.

Products Used

The Libertyville High School baseball branding project included:

• DugoutSkin™ Dugout Wraps

• BrandPad™ Wall Padding

• DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners

• DuraFlex™ Scoreboard Wraps

• BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps

Together, these products helped turn existing facility features into coordinated Wildcats branding opportunities.

Project Highlights

• High school baseball facility in Libertyville, Illinois

• Landlocked campus with limited expansion opportunities

• Updated graphics along outfield fencing

• Baseball history displayed on the scoreboard

• Team schedule added to the nearby football press box

• Coordinated branding across existing athletic surfaces

• Project completed before state regional playoffs

• Precise measurement and production timeline

• Sport-specific color and visibility considerations

• Positive responses from athletes, spectators, and alumni

The Results

The improvements gave Libertyville’s baseball field a more finished and intentional appearance without changing the character that made the venue special.

Head Football and Baseball Coach Jim Schurr described the graphics as the finishing detail that completed an already appealing facility.

“Other coaches like playing on our fields, so by doing what we did with this it was just kind of like the garnish or the star on the Christmas tree. We got it done right before hosting the state regional playoffs last year, so it kind of finished it off nice.”

The updated outfield graphics strengthened the visual perimeter of the field. The scoreboard branding gave Libertyville a prominent location to celebrate its baseball history, while the schedule displayed on the nearby press box helped connect surrounding athletic structures to the Wildcats’ game-day environment.

Community feedback demonstrated that relatively focused facility improvements could still create a meaningful response.

“I’ve gotten a lot of nice emails and cold-call comments or text messages from people I don’t even know, but they’re alumni that live in the community. They want to say, ‘I love what you’re doing. It’s been a long time coming.’”

The branding also improved the arrival experience.

Spectators and visiting players could immediately recognize the venue as Libertyville’s home field. Instead of seeing disconnected fences, scoreboards, pads, and bleachers, they encountered a more coordinated presentation that reinforced the Wildcats identity.

Schurr observed that young athletes often stopped to take in the atmosphere when entering the facility.

“When people walk up to the ballpark, it’s not a major league stadium or anything but kids take their fourth or fifth step, stop and look around and say, ‘this is pretty cool.’”

That reaction reflected the project’s larger success. Libertyville did not need to rebuild its ballpark to create a more memorable environment. By improving existing surfaces, the school strengthened pride, celebrated achievement, and increased the perceived value of the facility.

The project also added long-term value by using areas the school already maintained. Fences, scoreboards, padding, dugouts, press boxes, and bleachers became active parts of the branding strategy rather than purely functional structures.

Lessons Learned

Look for Opportunities Within the Existing Facility

Limited space does not have to prevent a school from improving its athletic environment.

Libertyville could not significantly expand its landlocked baseball field, so the school focused on existing surfaces. Fences, scoreboards, press boxes, dugouts, padding, and bleachers can all provide high-impact branding opportunities without requiring additional land or major construction.

Measure Every Area Carefully

Accurate measurements are essential when custom graphics must fit existing structures.

Scoreboards, fences, bleachers, dugouts, and wall padding may have different dimensions, mounting points, obstructions, and surface conditions. Measurements should be reviewed early so design and production can move forward without avoidable delays.

Build the Timeline Around Important Events

Libertyville wanted the graphics installed before hosting state regional competition.

Schools planning around playoffs, tournaments, home openers, graduations, or other major events should work backward from the required completion date. Time should be included for measurement, design approval, production, delivery, and installation.

Consider Baseball Sightlines and Ball Visibility

Baseball graphics require sport-specific planning.

Schurr made sure the outfield windscreen and backstop graphics did not include white areas that could interfere with a player’s ability to see the baseball. High-contrast graphics may look attractive in a design proof but still create visibility concerns when placed behind a pitcher, hitter, or fielder.

Schools should evaluate designs from the perspectives of athletes, officials, coaches, and spectators before approving production.

Design for the Specific Venue

A graphic treatment that works well at one field may not be appropriate for another.

Fence height, field orientation, sunlight, sightlines, seating locations, background structures, and viewing distance can all affect the final result.

“Do your due diligence and homework, because if it looks good on one ballpark doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to look good on another. It’s the sport-specific details that you have to think about.”

Use Branding to Celebrate Program History

The back of Libertyville’s scoreboard became a place to recognize conference championships and state finals appearances.

Displaying program accomplishments can educate visitors, honor alumni, motivate current athletes, and strengthen recruiting. Schools should consider which achievements are most meaningful and how future accomplishments can be added.

Coordinate Surrounding Structures

The football press box sat close to the baseball field and was visible from the ballpark.

Adding the baseball schedule helped that structure support the Wildcats’ presentation. Schools should evaluate everything visible from the playing surface and spectator areas, even when those structures technically belong to another facility.

Preserve What Makes the Venue Unique

Libertyville’s goal was not to make its field look like every other baseball stadium.

The brick walls, elevated seating, and repurposed Dodger Stadium seats already gave the venue character. The new branding complemented those features rather than replacing them.

Successful facility branding should strengthen an organization’s identity while respecting the qualities that make the venue distinctive.

Why DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners?

Outfield and perimeter fences can account for some of the largest visible surfaces at a baseball facility.

DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners help transform plain fencing into a coordinated display of school colors, logos, mascots, achievements, and approved messaging.

They can help athletic programs:

• Improve the appearance of perimeter fencing

• Create a more recognizable home-field identity

• Reinforce school branding from long viewing distances

• Support recruiting and game-day presentation

• Coordinate large sections of a facility

• Highlight sponsors or program achievements

• Maximize existing fence space

• Refresh a venue without major construction

At Libertyville, the new fence graphics helped complete the ballpark’s appearance and give the Wildcats a stronger visual presence.

Why DuraFlex™ Scoreboard Wraps?

Scoreboards naturally attract attention throughout a game, making them valuable locations for branding and storytelling.

DuraFlex™ Scoreboard Wraps allow schools to extend colors, logos, program history, sponsor recognition, and other approved content onto one of the venue’s most visible features.

Libertyville used the back of its scoreboard to recognize conference championships and state finals appearances. This turned a previously functional surface into a permanent celebration of the program’s history.

Why DugoutSkin™ Dugout Wraps?

Dugouts are highly visible to players, spectators, photographers, and recruits.

DugoutSkin™ Dugout Wraps help convert these structures into polished team environments that can display school colors, logos, mascots, and custom athletic messaging.

Coordinating dugout graphics with fence screens, scoreboard wraps, and other field elements creates a more complete baseball facility branding program.

Why BrandPad™ Wall Padding?

Protective padding can also become an important part of a facility’s visual identity.

BrandPad™ Wall Padding combines a necessary athletic facility feature with custom branding opportunities. Logos, colors, and coordinated graphics can help padding feel integrated into the venue rather than added as an afterthought.

For baseball and multi-sport facilities, branded padding can improve both the appearance and consistency of prominent wall and backstop areas.

Why BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps?

Bleachers occupy a major portion of many athletic venues but often remain visually plain.

BleacherSkin™ Bleacher Wraps help turn spectator seating into valuable branding space. They can reinforce team identity, improve the finished appearance of the facility, and coordinate with windscreens, banners, dugout graphics, and scoreboard branding.

This approach allows schools to increase visual impact without changing the underlying seating structure.

Why BIGSIGNS?

BIGSIGNS partners with schools, colleges, athletic departments, parks, and sports venues nationwide to improve existing facilities through custom graphics and coordinated branding.

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

From baseball fence graphics and scoreboard wraps to dugout branding, wall padding, bleacher wraps, championship displays, and complete athletic facility packages, each solution is developed around the customer’s venue, goals, timeline, and sport-specific needs.

At Libertyville High School, BIGSIGNS helped the school maximize its existing ballpark and create a more polished Wildcats environment in time for postseason competition.

Ready to Transform Your Facility?

You do not need unlimited space or a major construction budget to make a meaningful improvement to your athletic facility.

BIGSIGNS can help you identify underused fences, scoreboards, dugouts, padding, bleachers, and walls that can become powerful branding opportunities.

Request a FREE Mock-Up today and see how custom athletic graphics can strengthen school pride, celebrate your program’s achievements, and give your facility a more professional game-day appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can a school improve a baseball field without major construction?

Custom fence graphics, scoreboard wraps, dugout branding, wall padding, banners, and bleacher wraps can enhance the appearance of an existing field without expanding or reconstructing the facility.

Can baseball windscreen include school logos and achievements?

Yes. Custom athletic windscreen and mesh banners can incorporate approved logos, colors, mascots, championship recognition, sponsor identities, and other program-specific graphics.

Why should baseball graphics avoid large white areas?

Depending on placement, bright or white graphics behind the pitcher, hitter, or field of play may make the baseball more difficult to track. Designs should account for athlete sightlines and ball visibility.

How early should schools plan a postseason graphics project?

Planning should begin as early as possible to allow time for measurements, design, approvals, production, delivery, and installation before the required event date.

Can BIGSIGNS coordinate graphics across an entire baseball facility?

Yes. BIGSIGNS can create coordinated designs for fences, scoreboards, dugouts, padding, bleachers, walls, press boxes, banners, and other visible facility surfaces.