More details from Bandit Lites (www.banditlites.com):
The fan-friendly activities included interactive exhibits, games, the NFL Museum, a Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibit, virtual reality, autograph sessions and a stage for local talent, NFL team cheerleaders, mascots and drumlines.
With production talks beginning in February, Shawn Lear worked with C3 Presents senior production manager Brandon Sossamon to map out a game plan for the vast outdoor landscape, structures and activations.
“Building on our past NFL Draft experiences and applying fresh ideas for this year, Bandit sent a crew of nine to install and operate the three semi-trailers of equipment for the week long event,” said Bandit client representative Shawn Lear.
“The crucial aspect for Bandit’s part of the NFL Draft program is controlling multiple areas with team colors, as Bandit provided lighting systems that illuminated the corresponding team colors during draft picks at each Entry Portal Arch at the main entrances, The NFL Museum and the East Plaza,” Lear added. “The team colors are a great visual enhance for the patrons watching on the outdoor screens.”
Bandit Lites outfitted a dozen outdoor areas with more than 550 fixtures, which lit the Lombardi Trophy, The Tavern, the 40 Yard Dash, the Draft Museum, the East Plaza, the Entry Portal, the Goal Post, the Music Stage, the Scott Hanson Stage, the Team Helmets display and the VT Installation tent. For the latter, more than 100 Claypaky Sharpys and 42 Martin Atomic 3000 Strobes were deployed.
“The VT tent was a fancy, tech-y attraction that needed precise focus points and a tech to be on alert at all times,” noted Bandit Lites crew chief Ty Veneziano. “It was definitely a good tent to showcase Bandit’s attention to detail.”
Another major component of the weekend was the NFL Draft Museum, where Bandit supplied GLP X4S and GRNLite Pars, while the East Plaza Site featured nearly 200 fixtures including VL6000 Beams, VL3500 Washes, Elation Paladins, Elation SixPar 100 IP65 fixtures, Chauvet Illuminarc panels, GRNLite Par 64s and two grandMA2 light consoles for control, along with a grandMA2 Ultralite.
“The North and South Portals were the big flashy welcoming committee of the party,” noted Veneziano. “The look made it feel like an exclusive invitation, but everyone’s invited.”
The Main Entry portal was outfitted for rain or shine with VL3500 Washes with SelbyGuard Rain Roof XLs, Claypaky Spheriscans and GRNLite Par 64s with two Full Boar consoles, giving branded looks both to the thousands in attendance and the millions watching at home.
“The NFL and C3 staff were very impressed with how well the outdoor features read in team colors,” said Sossamon. “The instrument selection was spot on and delivered the end result everyone was expecting. The iconic Draft shield logo was a big hit on the networks, and wouldn’t have read as well as it did without the help of Bandit and their professional staff.”
“Bandit’s crew of lighting directors and technicians managed to have everything set-up, on-line and programmed for final walk through with the client on Day 3,” noted Lear, crediting the preparations made by Bandit project manager Jimmy Hatten and his team, including systems staged on specific trailers to optimize load-in efficiency. “Bandit is very proud of our team,” Lear continued, lauding leading LD Terese Fensler, LDs Chaz Martin, Alex Gagnon and Chris Noll, crew chief Tyler Veneziano and techs Nikki Dotson, Scott Sepe, Taylor Sherman and Brenna Rae for their efforts.
“Working with the Bandit team was extremely smooth and professional once again,” said Sossamon. “Executing the scope of work they were handed was not an easy task and, of course, we had to throw some changeups at them. The guys and gals on the ground came through with flying colors by rolling with the punches and keeping a smile on their face.”
Bandit Lites’ Lear also thanked C3 Presents, including “Brandon Sossamon and his team of professionals, Alison Ray, Shawn Worlow, PJ Harrington and for their leadership making this year’s NFL Draft a very smooth operations from start to finish.”
