Football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and so many other sporting events are what bring people out of their homes to enjoy time around other fans watching their favorite teams play. Providing that ideal setting for people is what a sports bar was built to do. In this Case Study, we show how Deuces Sports Bar and Grill was transformed into a place any sports fan will be excited to visit.
THE SPACE, THE PLAN, AND THE EXECUTION
Deuces Sports Bar and Grill, located on the outskirts of Chicago, is not lacking in sports fans. With the Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, and the Fire all located in Chicago, there is always a game on! Deuces Sports Bar and Grill worked with Dave Mackiney from GKD Technologies to implement a system that can distribute video sources throughout the 11 displays completely independently of each other throughout this relatively small space. Dave consulted with his trusted partner, AWA reps as to what the best solution for the job would be. After hearing the ins and outs of the installation, AWA recommended AVPro Edge as the distribution backbone, specifically its instant switching Cloud 9 Matrix and Multi-Viewer, an ideal compact sports bar solution. Using this switch, Dave would be able to make the most of the space, be very mindful of where he placed the displays, and create an ideal place to watch sports, with limited square footage.
Dave is a fan of setting up an easy to use control system on an iPad. That way, any bartender, wait staff or host can change the games around as their customers request it. Dave knew that AVPro Edge offers a robust API for all our matrix switchers and plenty of 3rd party control drivers available on AVProEdge.com. Precisely what an integrator needs to set-up an easy to use system for their clients.
WHY CHOOSE CLOUD 9?
GKD Technologies has previously used AVPro Edge distribution products in their installations. Dave Mackiney had this to say about selecting an AVPro Edge solution, “The product works great and when we do experience the minor hiccups that come with EDID management, scaling, etc. the support staff has been second to none.”
GKD Technologies and AWA reps knew that Deuces Sports Bar and Grill needed the ability to put multiple images on a single display, as well as potentially expand the system. The Cloud 9 can be cascaded for expansion without having to remove any part of the existing system and has four source and nine source multi-view options.
Cloud 9 distributes the audio/video signal via Category cable using HDBaseT technology. HDBaseT is a trusted technology that takes the standard cable used in networking and repurposes it for high bandwidth uncompressed video distribution. Now you can send that video signal around the entire building, hiding the wires in the wall or the ceiling.
THE FINISHED PRODUCT
GKD outdid themselves with an ultra-clean installation. All the sources and the 9x9 matrix switcher are hidden away, without a single wire visible throughout the bar. Deuces Sports Bar and Grill can show multiple sources on any of its 11 displays and can instantly switch between any of the sources to any of the connected displays. The job was completed in March 2020. Dave from GKD Technologies has this to say about the finish,
“This job was absolutely plug and play; we used an RTI Control system with the Cloud 9 control Driver to give the client a simple user interface anyone could use.”
Now whether a Bears, Bulls or Blackhawks fan, there is a place with clean, uncompressed sports action just outside of Chicago.
When we followed up with GKD Technologies recently, they had great news. Deuces Sports Bar and Grill had purchased the space next door and would be expanding, looks like installing an expandable system was the right choice!
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.
