When a collegiate conference hosts a championship tournament, the venue is only part of the experience. Every touchpoint contributes to how the event is perceived by teams, media, and fans.
For the Atlantic 10 Conference, that meant creating a cohesive, branded environment across multiple locations while coordinating production, installation, and rapid adjustments leading up to tip-off.
AMI Graphics partnered with the Atlantic 10 to deliver a comprehensive signage program for both the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, supporting everything from large-scale arena graphics to visuals throughout the host city.
The Challenge
Tournament environments move fast, and expectations are high. The Atlantic 10 required a branding solution that could:
- Transform a professional arena into a conference championship environment
- Extend the event experience beyond the venue into partner hotels
- Maintain consistency across men’s and women’s tournaments
- Coordinate production, and installation across multiple locations
- Allow for last-minute updates and adjustments without disrupting the schedule
With games approaching and multiple stakeholders involved, the project required tight coordination, flexibility, and speed.
Our Solution
AMI Graphics delivered a full-scope tournament branding program supporting both production and installation for the Men’s Championship, and production for the Women’s Championship.
At PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, we rebranded the venue to reflect the Atlantic 10 Championship environment.
Installations included:
- Window clings and glass graphics throughout the facility
- Stair riser graphics to reinforce branding in high-traffic areas
- Frosted vinyl applications on doors and interior glass
- Court-level decals, including hoop and backboard graphics
- Bracket displays designed for team updates and fan engagement
Each element was designed to work together, creating a cohesive visual experience throughout the arena.
Extending the Experience Beyond the Arena
For the Men’s Championship, branding extended beyond the venue into partner hotels across the city. AMI Graphics installed:
- Window clings in hotel lobbies and entrances
- Floor graphics guiding guests and reinforcing event identity
- Front desk decals and supporting signage
This approach ensured that teams, media, and fans experienced a consistent tournament atmosphere from arrival through game day.
Materials and Applications
A wide range of materials and applications were used to meet the needs of both temporary tournament environments and high-traffic venues, including:
- Adhesive vinyl graphics for walls, glass, and structural surfaces
- Floor graphics designed for durability and safety
- Window clings for both arena and hotel applications
- Rigid and semi-rigid decals for court-level branding
- Custom display elements for brackets and fan interaction
Each solution was selected for ease of installation, clean removal, and strong visual impact.
Flexibility in Real Time
Live event environments require the ability to adapt quickly. During installation and setup, AMI Graphics responded to evolving needs, including:
- Producing and delivering additional backboard decals on short notice to enhance broadcast visibility
- Coordinating closely with on-site teams to ensure all elements met expectations before game time
These adjustments were completed without schedule disruptions while reinforcing the importance of responsiveness in event-driven projects.
Working collaboratively ensured:
- Efficient installation across multiple areas of the arena
- Alignment with venue requirements and schedules
- A smooth, issue-free process leading into the tournament
The Result
The result was a seamless integration of tournament branding within an active professional sports venue.
The Atlantic 10 Basketball Championships delivered a fully branded, immersive tournament environment, both inside the arena and throughout the surrounding city.
From first arrival at partner hotels to the final game, teams and fans experienced a consistent, professional presentation that elevated the event.
The project also serves as a scalable model for future conference partnerships, demonstrating how coordinated branding across multiple locations can enhance visibility and experience.
As conferences continue to invest in the presentation of their championship events, the ability to deliver consistent, multi-venue branding solutions will play an important role.
AMI Graphics is positioned to support these efforts, providing the production, coordination, and flexibility required to bring large-scale tournament environments to life.
