Introduction

Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine, had long been known for the distinctive rustic character of its baseball field. At the center of that identity was a wooden outfield fence that had become a signature feature for players, alumni, and fans.

When the aging structure began to deteriorate, the college needed to replace it with a more practical chain-link fence. The challenge was preserving the personality of Larry Mahaney Diamond without allowing the new fence to make the facility look ordinary.

Saint Joseph’s partnered with BIGSIGNS to turn the replacement fence into a bold branding opportunity. Using DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners, player photography, school colors, and the Monks logo, the college created a modern baseball facility upgrade that respected the program’s history while strengthening recruiting, fundraising, and school pride.

Ready to elevate your baseball facilities? Request a FREE Quote & Mock-Up and discover how BIGSIGNS can transform your venue with custom facility branding.

The Challenge

For years, the wooden fence at Larry Mahaney Diamond helped distinguish Saint Joseph’s College from other baseball programs.

“For years, our field had a wooden fence that was the signature piece of our facility,” said Will Sanborn, head baseball coach at Saint Joseph’s College. “The fence was very popular with our alumni and players.”

Over time, however, the wood began to deteriorate. Replacing it with a chain-link fence was the practical solution, but the college did not want to lose the visual character that had made the field memorable.

A standard chain-link fence would provide function, but it would not communicate the history, pride, or competitive identity of the Monks baseball program.

Coach Sanborn understood how important that identity was. He had played for the Monks in the mid-1980s and had led the program for 27 years at the time of the project. With nine conference titles and eight NCAA tournament appearances over the previous 14 years, he wanted the upgraded facility to reflect the success of the team.

The college also had to work within a limited budget. That meant the project needed to deliver immediate visual impact and durable long-term value without requiring a major facility renovation.

“We wanted to take this opportunity to brand the field and we wanted it to be seen as a positive upgrade,” Sanborn explained. “A colleague told me about BigSigns.com, so I gave them a call.”

The BIGSIGNS Solution

BIGSIGNS worked directly with Coach Sanborn and the Saint Joseph’s team to transform the new chain-link fence into a custom athletic branding feature.

The goal was not to recreate the wooden fence exactly. Instead, the design needed to preserve the field’s sense of history while giving the facility a more contemporary appearance.

The Saint Joseph’s team developed an initial concept with Sports Information Director Corey McCarthy. That direction was shared with BIGSIGNS, where lead designer Mark Smith turned the rough ideas into a complete visual system.

Player photography became a central element of the design. The images were combined with the Monks logo and school colors to create a strong connection between the facility, the athletes, and the history of the program.

“I wanted to give them something that was more edgy and modern, as opposed to traditional, while also giving it a historical and timeless appearance with the color effects on the player images,” Smith explained.

DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners provided the right platform for the concept. Rather than leaving the replacement fence exposed, the graphics turned the entire surface into a branded backdrop that immediately identified Larry Mahaney Diamond as the home of the Monks.

The collaborative design process allowed Saint Joseph’s to provide ideas, review creative concepts, and refine the artwork before production.

“I worked with our Sports Information Director, Corey McCarthy, to come up with a rough idea of what we wanted to try and the design team went to work,” said Sanborn. “The back and forth was very quick, easy and professional. We really loved the results.”

Products Used

• DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners

Project Highlights

• Custom fence graphics installed at Larry Mahaney Diamond

• Replacement chain-link fence transformed into a branding feature

• Player photography incorporated throughout the design

• Monks logos and school colors reinforced program identity

• Modern design balanced with a historical, timeless appearance

• Collaborative concept development with the coach and sports information director

• Facility branding designed to support recruiting and fundraising

• Budget-conscious upgrade focused on durability and long-term impact

The Results

The completed DuraMesh™ fence graphics gave Saint Joseph’s College the positive facility upgrade it had hoped to achieve.

The player images created an immediate focal point, while the Monks logo and school colors strengthened the field’s visual identity. Instead of looking like a standard replacement fence, the installation gave the baseball program a distinctive backdrop that separated it from other facilities.

The greatest concern was whether alumni, fans, and players would accept the change after years of connection to the old wooden fence.

According to Sanborn, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

“Everyone loved it!” he said. “I was worried that our baseball community would miss the old wooden fence, but everyone is impressed with this upgrade. It really stands out and sets our program apart.”

The fence graphics also made it clear who owned the field. From the player photography to the bold use of school colors, every element reinforced Saint Joseph’s baseball.

That stronger identity provided benefits beyond appearance.

“Branding is so important now in recruiting and fundraising,” Sanborn explained.

For prospective student-athletes, a professionally branded facility communicates pride, investment, and program culture. For alumni and supporters, it creates a more recognizable environment that celebrates the team they follow.

The project also delivered long-term value. Years after the installation, the graphics continued to look strong and generate positive feedback.

“Even after a couple years, we still get a lot of positive comments,” Sanborn said.

Lessons Learned

Treat Necessary Replacements as Branding Opportunities

A deteriorating structure can create an opportunity to improve a facility rather than simply restore it. Saint Joseph’s used the required fence replacement to create a more powerful and useful visual feature.

Athletic departments should evaluate whether new fences, walls, bleachers, or other functional surfaces can support custom graphics as part of the replacement plan.

Preserve Identity Without Repeating the Past

Replacing a familiar facility feature does not mean the original identity has to disappear.

Saint Joseph’s preserved the spirit of its iconic fence by creating a new design that respected program history while moving the facility forward. A successful makeover can honor tradition without copying an outdated structure.

Involve the Right Stakeholders Early

Coach Sanborn and Sports Information Director Corey McCarthy worked together to establish the project’s initial direction before collaborating with BIGSIGNS.

Including athletic leadership, communications staff, coaches, and other decision-makers early can help define the message, imagery, colors, and goals before design work begins.

Use Photography to Create Emotional Impact

Player photography helped connect the fence graphics directly to the baseball program. It made the design more personal, dynamic, and memorable than a simple repeating logo pattern.

When image quality and viewing distance allow, athlete photography can be an effective way to celebrate current players, program culture, or historical success.

Consider Recruiting and Fundraising Value

Facility branding does more than improve appearance. It can help create stronger first impressions for recruits and demonstrate program investment to alumni, donors, and community supporters.

Schools should evaluate graphics based on the full value they provide, including recruiting, fundraising, school pride, and fan experience.

Prioritize Durability Over the Lowest Price

Saint Joseph’s had a limited budget, but the program understood that the least expensive option might not deliver the appearance or longevity it needed.

“Make sure you use a trusted team that has been in the business and produces a product that lasts,” Sanborn advised. “You may be able to get it done for a cheaper price, but you won’t get that ‘WOW’ factor and the durability you want.”

Choosing a durable, professionally designed solution can reduce the risk of premature replacement and provide better long-term value.

Why DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners?

DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners help athletic programs turn ordinary chain-link fencing into high-impact branding space.

For Saint Joseph’s College, the product provided a practical way to restore the personality of the baseball field after the iconic wooden fence was removed. The graphics transformed the new fence into a professional backdrop that showcased players, school colors, and the Monks identity.

DuraMesh™ is especially valuable for baseball fields, stadium perimeters, practice facilities, and other fenced athletic environments where branding visibility matters.

Benefits include:

• Creates a finished, professional facility appearance

• Transforms exposed fencing into valuable branding space

• Supports custom logos, colors, messaging, and photography

• Helps athletic programs stand apart from competitors

• Strengthens recruiting and fundraising environments

• Provides visibility for fans, athletes, alumni, and visitors

• Enhances existing facilities without major construction

• Delivers long-term branding value when properly planned

By using an existing fence as the foundation for the graphics, schools can make a significant visual improvement without changing the core layout of the venue.

Why BIGSIGNS?

BIGSIGNS helps schools, colleges, universities, and sports organizations transform functional facility surfaces into meaningful branding opportunities.

With award-winning design, custom manufacturing, premium materials, nationwide experience, and a collaborative creative process, BIGSIGNS develops solutions around each customer’s facility, goals, and identity.

The Saint Joseph’s project demonstrates the value of combining customer ideas with experienced design support. From the initial concept through final production, the process remained quick, professional, and focused on creating a result the baseball community could embrace.

Ready to Transform Your Facility?

A chain-link fence does not have to look ordinary.

With custom DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners, your facility can celebrate athletes, showcase school colors, reinforce program history, and create a stronger experience for recruits, fans, and supporters.

Request a FREE Mock-Up from BIGSIGNS and see how your existing fence can become one of the most recognizable branding features at your facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can DuraMesh™ graphics be customized with school logos and player photos?

Yes. DuraMesh™ Custom Vinyl Mesh Banners can be designed with school colors, logos, messaging, photography, and other approved branding elements.

Are custom fence graphics useful for baseball facilities?

Yes. Baseball fields often include large areas of chain-link fencing that can be transformed into branded backdrops, entrance graphics, outfield displays, or recruiting features.

Can fence graphics help preserve a facility’s history?

Custom artwork can incorporate historic imagery, program traditions, past achievements, and timeless design elements while giving the facility a more modern appearance.

Are athletic fence graphics helpful for recruiting?

Professionally branded facilities can create stronger first impressions for prospective athletes and their families by communicating pride, identity, and investment in the program.

Why should schools consider long-term value instead of choosing the lowest price?

A professionally designed and durable product can maintain its appearance longer, reduce replacement costs, and deliver greater value through recruiting, fundraising, school pride, and improved facility presentation.