Planar Displays Featured in New Flagship Cubs Retail Store
When the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series, defeating the Cleveland Indians in a thrilling seven-game series, it marked their first championship since 1908, putting to rest the longest world championship drought in North American professional sports history. After the victory, Cubs gear started flying from the shelves—fans couldn't get enough merchandise to show support for their team and favorite players.
Now, when fans come to Wrigley Field they can purchase Cubs memorabilia at a new flagship Cubs store located in a newly-built plaza just outside the stadium. Finished just in time for the 2017 home opener, the 8,400-square-foot retail space features traditional Cubs merchandise, autographed balls and jerseys, and upscale apparel. Additionally, to elevate the guest experience at the store, design-build firm Dimensional Innovations designed and integrated video displays from Planar.
One of the installations is a Clarity® Matrix® LCD Video Wall System (MX55HDX) in a 4x4 configuration. Installed on a radius wall over a staircase, the video wall is a prominent feature of the entire store.
"With that installation, the Cubs' top priority was an ultrathin bezel," said Curtis Walker, technology director of Dimensional Innovations. "That's what made the Clarity Matrix video wall so appealing."
Indeed, when tiled together to form a video wall, the extreme narrow bezel of Clarity Matrix offers a tiled bezel width of just 1.7mm, enabling a near seamless array and outstanding tiled visual performance. Also featuring 800 nits brightness, LED backlight technology and Full-HD resolution per display, the Clarity Matrix video wall provides a high-impact viewing experience—ideal for live game feeds, which are displayed on the video wall during both home and away games.
"The video wall can definitely attract a big crowd when games are shown," said store director Jackie Boehm. "The clarity of the video wall is impressive and it's also very easy to use."
Augmented-Reality Photo Booth
The Cubs wanted to provide fans and visitors with a unique, interactive experience at the store, so they collaborated with Dimensional Innovations to create an augmented-reality green screen featuring a Planar® UltraRes™ Series 86-inch 4K LCD display. Designed and built by Dimensional Innovations, the green screen offers fans the opportunity to create high resolution pictures of themselves placed into famous Wrigley Field scenes such as inside the Wrigley Field scoreboard, behind home plate or in the ivy of the outfield wall.
With superior performance, Ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160) and exceptional 4K clarity, the Planar UltraRes Series is an ideal application for the augmented reality photo booth, enabling for stunning, interactive images. A 22-inch Planar® LA Series touch screen display is embedded in a kiosk next to the photo booth makes it easy for fans to e-mail photos to themselves. "Over 2400 images were processed the first week of operation and we're currently tracking to send over 20,000 photos this season," said Walker.
The retail store also features a second Planar UltraRes Series 75-inch 4K LCD display that is used for digital signage within the store.
Ensuring for a Successful Integration
The installation of the 4x4 Clarity Matrix video wall presented a challenge due to a difficult mounting location (on a radius wall over a staircase that leads to the store's second floor) as well as a very tight timeline to finish by opening day. But according to Walker, these integration challenges were overcome thanks to and Planar's installation specialists, who came out to Chicago to help see the project through.
"Planar's representatives were very helpful," Walker said. "I think that's the number one aspect that helped make this installation a success. The longevity of the displays combined with the company's reputation for service and support were big selling points with our client."
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.
