How do you keep 75,000 spectators moving in the right direction over a sprawling venue? That’s the challenge Regions Tradition faces year after year.
Signage is critical to the event’s success, whether it’s pointing the way to amenities and concessions, giving due credit to sponsors, or just keeping the crowd quiet during a golfer’s backswing.
And that means signage. Lots of signage. Truckloads, even. Nearly 2,000 signs, in fact, throughout the tournament site.
How does Regions Tradition manage it year after year? When you have an experienced partner keeping its eye on the ball, it’s practically a chip shot.
Alabama Graphics shows the way
Regions Tradition and its spectators rely on Alabama Graphics, a family-owned company with more than 70 years of experience.
“The tournament is a lot of work, but it’s also very rewarding,” offered owner John Davis. “We begin planning for the Regions Tradition in January, walking through every possible spectator and vendor need. We try to think like a visitor and anticipate what that visitor needs to know.”
Once a plan is fully mapped out, the Alabama Graphics team starts printing as early as February — a full three months before the event. But to Davis, a second-generation owner who grew up in the shop, big projects are second nature.
“With this much signage, the sooner you begin, the better,” Davis continued. “We’re fortunate to have an experienced team. We’ve worked together so long, we’ve become organized and efficient, which is vital for having a successful event.”
From beginning to end, Alabama Graphics uses advanced technology to create quality signage for any conceivable need.
For the three weeks prior to the event, Alabama Graphics installers cover the event site with signs. And, for last minute needs, a mobile printing studio is parked on the grounds. All to make sure every possible contingency is covered.
Of course, Alabama Graphics has plenty of experience to draw upon, providing signage for many other events throughout the year.
At the same time, the company’s handiwork is found in hospitals, college campuses, and commercial offices around the region. From signage and graphics to wall coverings and a good deal more, chances are high you’ve seen something produced by John Davis’s team. And for good reason.
“We love our work. You can tell in the care everybody puts into every job. And every day provides us with a new and fun challenge.”
We love our work. You can tell in the care everybody puts into every job. And every day provides us with a new and fun challenge.
John Davis
It takes a lot of signs to make a successful tournament. Almost 2,000 signs, in fact.
Creating its own path since 1953
Alabama Graphics’ skill at wayfinding comes from seven decades in a changing business landscape. The company’s origins were in a completely different area.
“We started as a blueprint company seven decades ago,” Davis said, “Specializing in supporting architects, engineers, and construction firms.” That specialty allowed Alabama Graphics to grow with offices in both Birmingham and Montgomery.
However, as planners turned more to digital solutions, the demand for physical blueprints and schematics declined. By the late 1990s, it became clear that a shift was needed.
“Around 2000, we made the investment and moved into signage and graphics. And that’s a decision that has really paid off. While we still value our relationships within the construction industry, most of our business is in the signage and graphics you see around town and beyond. That’s a trend we don’t see changing.”
So, congratulations to John Davis and Alabama Graphics for a long and storied history of serving the Birmingham area. And thanks for making Regions Tradition a success.
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