About DJ’s Dugout
DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar and Blazin’ Pianos is a 6,800 square-foot bar, restaurant and entertainment complex located in five locations throughout the Omaha metropolitan area. This unique establishment offers sports fans a larger-than-life experience in sports as well as a diverse food and drink menu. An “air wall” divides the sports bar from the “Blazing Pianos” room where dueling pianos entertain on the weekends. Their first all-digital facility has kept fans coming back for a one-of-a-kind multi-media sports experience.
Challenge
DJ’s Dugout needed an all-digital high-definition AV system for their massive 6,800 square-foot complex with optimal viewing for every guest. “There had to be a monitor everywhere people looked so that anyone could see a screen without turning their head,” said Dennis Pitzl, President & CEO of local AV installation company CONCEPTS AV Integration.
Solution
CONCEPTS AV designed the system to distribute AV signals throughout the complex. Patrons can experience video and music no matter where they are in the building. The system is accessible from multiple locations, including from behind the bar.
The solution includes forty-four 65-inch plasma displays, five projection systems throughout the venue and a single 13000 lumen projector in a private party room. The customer can display four simultaneous broadcasts of up to 36 different sporting events at one time.
The audio system is designed to be heard clearly in a crowded, high-ceilinged bar but not compete with people’s conversations when the bar is less crowded. The 50-switcher outputs route all sources to the plasma displays and projectors throughout the complex.
Two Kramer VS-3232DN CORE™ switchers with HDMI and DGKat™ input and output cards in increments of four provide a high-quality digital image on every video screen. An output card to the touch panel makes it easy to control the system. The system includes Kramer VM-2Hxl HDMI distribution amplifiers, 48 Kramer PT-572+ DGKat digital receivers, a Kramer SID-X1 multi-format video over twisted pair transmitter, and three Kramer FC-46xl audio de-embedders. Forty Kramer HDMI and DA cables carry signals throughout the complex.
Results
“There was never a digital switcher big enough to accommodate these needs until the Kramer VS-3232DN modular switcher,” said Pitzl.
Kramer switchers, amplifiers and receivers are housed in a case with glass doors against one wall in the main room. This creates a “wow” factor.
“The installation had to be very clean, because it’s all on display as you walk in the front door, and we achieved that with Kramer products.”
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
