SIU-Carbondale Populates New Video Boards with Real Media Graphics

Following the recent addition of new video boards for football and basketball, the Southern Illinois-Carbondale athletic department worked with Real Media to develop introductory graphics and in-game entertainment elements.

“We chose Real Media because their scope of work and the high quality of work for universities and professional sports organizations,” says Mark Gazdik, assistant athletic director for marketing. “They understand what we are trying to accomplish with our game atmosphere, and that helps them create graphics and videos that will enhance our fan experience and the Saluki athletics brand.”

The SIU Salukis compete in 16 sports as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The football team, which plays in the Div. I Football Championship Subdivision, has been in the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, and the basketball team regularly qualifies for the NCAA Tournament.

Gazdik and the SIU Athletic department have worked hard to build the program’s brand in recent years and were looking for ways to build awareness and enhance the game-day experience for fans.

“In our business – or any business, for that matter – an organization’s brand is an important thing that you have to carefully build,” he says. “With our new facilities and the professional video production we have been able to gain through working with Real Media, we are now able to have a first-class atmosphere to go with our brand position of having first-class athletic programs here at Southern Illinois University.”

For the opening animation, Real Media created two computer-generated trains that race from St. Louis to Chicago to destroy the helmet of the opposing team. Those CG trains were then composited and motion tracked-in over HD footage shot on location in Illinois. The company also created fan prompts, logo loops and sponsorship elements for the game-day presentation.

“This type of professional production can play a big part in branding a college program,” says Brad Burrow, owner of Real Media. “SIU is a sleeping giant in college athletics, with large fan bases in St. Louis and Chicago. The use of cutting-edge graphics will add to fan excitement and provide one more way to build the Saluki brand.”

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