Nanolumens, a US-Based LED design and manufacturer, recently installed a 2,000sqft curved LED display at the new DraftKings Sportsbook venue, at Wrigley Field, one of America’s oldest ballparks and home to Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs.
DraftKings offers sportsbook and daily fantasy sports services. The goal was to create a space that blended the historic charm of Wrigley Park with modern technology, delivering an immersive sports-watching and betting venue where fans could wager on baseball as well as the Premier League, NASCAR and the UFC.
Nanolumens installed the Nixel Flex Series, a 134ft-wide and 15ft-high, high-resolution screen that brings up to 25 games into view, in the DraftKings Sportsbook venue. The screen offers a resolution of 16,320 x 1,800 and features nearly 30m pixels. The curvature of the display, coupled with its ultra-slim profile, allowed for easy integration into the existing architecture, ensuring the modern technology didn’t overshadow the historic aesthetic of Wrigley Field.
The DraftKings Sportsbook is designed to appear as an organic part of the ballpark’s infrastructure. The Nixel Flex display stretches from the ceiling to just a few feet above the bar area, offering a 178-degree viewing angle that ensures every fan in the venue has a perfect view, whether they are on the ground floor or the upper levels.
The project wasn’t without its challenges. As a landmark over a century old, Wrigley Field required multiple layers of approvals from organisations like the National Park Service, the State Historic Preservation Office and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Gensler, the architectural firm behind the project, collaborated closely with these bodies to ensure that the integrity of Wrigley Field was maintained.
Ken Newbury, senior vice president of technology and engineering for the project integrator McCann Systems, commented: “This project was, without a doubt, an extraordinary undertaking. Nanolumens became involved early in the process, collaborating closely with the architects and designers. Strict architectural standards were enforced to align with Wrigley’s historic design, and to address these requirements, McCann and Nanolumens developed a custom bracket system, leveraging a 3D scan of the space to ensure seamless connectivity and functionality.
“Vertical posts and custom beam clamps were engineered to support the fully suspended installation, which features a dual-concave curve – a feat particularly challenging in a setting as unique as Wrigley.”
Newbury added: “While the LED installation itself was straightforward, the structural design and precise execution presented a one-of-a-kind challenge. Ultimately, with careful planning from Nanolumens, Gensler and McCann, and strategic design during the build phase, even the commissioning process was simplified, ensuring a smooth and successful implementation.”
Jeff Denlea, vice president of hospitality strategy for Levy at Wrigley Field, said: “This is unique to the entire Midwest. The closest thing you get to this is Vegas.”
