More than 1,500 New Year’s Eve revelers in Dallas, TX, texted in photos and toasts that were shared on screens sponsored by Korbel sparkling wine.

Attendees of Dallas’ annual Big D NYE celebration as well as those watching it on TV were asked to offer toasts to the upcoming year, which were exhibited on a dedicated Korbel GoVision screen during the celebration. Eligible participants were also entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to the Korbel winery in Sonoma, CA.

“Mobile gave us the ability to extend the reach of the campaign,” said Brian Teague, chief technology evangelist at Pocketstop, Dallas.

“Anyone watching the event on TV who had a phone with them could register right then and there,” he said. “If they were on site, they could do the same thing be sending in a text message to a keyword.

“They didn’t have to go to a Web site or pull out an iPad – we made registration extremely simple.”

Big-screen engagement

Korbel was looking to drive awareness of its sparkling wine on a night when champagne and other sparkling wines are top of mind for consumers. It also wanted to engage the audience with a branded screen at an event.

The screens featured real-time New Year’s toasts, photos and Korbel promotional announcements.

Leading up to the event, the Korbel “Toast Life” sweepstakes was promoted on TV. Consumers could register for the contest by completing an entry form on the Big D NYE Web site or by sending a text message with the keyword “NYE” to a short code.

Social CRM marketing agency Pocketstop coordinated the text-based sweepstakes and managed the interactive screen promotion at the event.

In order to ensure that each entrant was age appropriate, the Pocketstop Social CRM platform automatically responded to each text message with a reply asking for a date of birth.

Qualified participants were entered into Korbel’s database and given the option to get future incentives from the company. Those who were too young to participate were given a “Happy New Year” text and were not entered in the database.

Approximately 1,500 people texted toasts, an increase of more than 279 percent over the previous year’s sign-ups. More than 30,000 people attended the New Year’s Eve event.

The 5th Annual Big D NYE celebration was produced in partnership with WFAA television and American Airlines Center and held in Victory Park in Dallas.

“When you can get someone to look directly at the screen at an event like this, the brand recall is very high,” Mr. Teague said. “People could send in text messages, which really draws your attention to the screen.

“There were other screens at the event that weren’t interactive,” he said. “Based on the fact that ours is interactive and had personalized content made it different than the other screens that were there.”

(From Mobile Marketer 1/11/2012)

Next time you visit Cowboys Stadium, the New Years’ Eve celebration in downtown Dallas or a local music festival, check out the large video screens. Chances are they were created by Flower Mound resident Chris Curtis and his company.

GoVision jumbo event video produces, transports and displays mobile and modular screens of various shapes and sizes at about 400 annual events at nationwide venues large and small. They feature mobile units in three sizes: 19′ x 33′ called GoBigger, the mid-level 9′ x 16′ GoBig and the smaller 9′ x 12′ GoTron. Modular units run 3′ x 4′ and can be hooked together for any size.

Curtis and his 20 employees have worked from their specially-built facilities just west of Interstate 35E on FM 407 in Argyle since January 2010 after being located in Keller. They have provided screens and production services for everything from Highland Village’s Red, White and Blue Festival, sports venues including marathons, golf tournaments, the NCAA Final Four and the plazas outside Cowboys Stadium and Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the last two presidential inaugurations and the George W. Bush Presidential Center groundbreaking.

“What’s cool about this has been the LED (light-emitting diode) technology,” said Curtis, a Flower Mound resident for the past 13 years who serves as GoVision president. “I get involved with what’s hot and in the news.”

Curtis, who admits he’s more of a sales and marketing person than technician, started his company in 2002. The Iowa native came to Texas to study journalism at Texas Christian University and remained in the Dallas-Fort Worth area after graduation. He worked for various companies and later owned a piece of Screenworks, a company similar to GoVision, which he sold in 1998.

“At that time it was a different business,” he said. “I believe they still are the biggest in the business.”

While at Screenworks, he traveled to Japan to learn about then-emerging LED technology such as the Sony JumboTron. He helped use what he learned at events like the 1994 men’s World Cup soccer tournament.”

“We are a pioneer in the business,” he said. “We built the first portable JumboTron while at Screenworks.”

Among the units GoVision has produced are one of the largest portable screens ever built (60-feet high) for the Boy Scouts Association of America’s 100th anniversary celebration and among the widest screens (128 feet) for a national aviation show, both in 2010.

“When we started the equipment was extremely expensive,” Curtis said. “Only the biggest events could afford it. In 2000 the technology changed to LED at one-fourth of the cost and it lasts five times longer. In the rental business you never use up that.

“What used to cost $3 million and last two years now costs $750,000 and lasts 10 years. That’s why you have the proliferation of signs at high school events.”
Curtis lives near the Tour 18 golf course with his wife and four children after moving to Flower Mound from Carrollton.

“At the time we were in the stage where we could have lived anywhere but we kept coming back to Flower Mound,” he said. “It was the trees and hills. We wanted to get out a bit and being a Midwesterner I liked hills and trees.

“We like that kind of rural lifestyle and the influx of stores and restaurants. We really love it.”

Curtis also has really loved some of GoVision’s more recent productions. On Nov. 11, there was the Carrier Classic basketball game between North Carolina and Michigan State on USS Carl Vinson in San Diego harbor. Two weeks later there was the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day halftime show featuring singers Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull.

It’s events like these that explain why Curtis truly enjoys his work.

“It’s the closest a short, fat guy is going to get to show business,” he said.

(from Flower Mound News Connection 12/09/2011)

Latin pop stars Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull provided the pulsing beat and hit songs that rocked Cowboys Stadium during the annual Thanksgiving Day halftime show last week. But the stunning visual effects were made possible by a North Texas company with a flair for the dramatic.

The massive stage constructed for the internationally acclaimed performers featured a Tshaped LED floor custom-designed by GoVision LP, one of the nation’s premier suppliers of turnkey mobile LED units and customized modular LED walls. The 41 1/4-foot by 48 3/4-foot floor was made of Barco MiTrix, while six 16-foot by 10-foot backdrop walls incorporated Barco Mistrips.

GoVision was hired by Media West Events, the production company engaged by the Dallas Cowboys to stage the halftime show. Media West built the floor in special roll-out stage pieces, and the backdrops were placed onto a truss that rolled out and then lifted up. Unique accommodations were necessary due to the short windows of set-up and take-down time afforded by the choreographed-to-the-second halftime show.

“We had a massive amount of equipment with a huge crew that all had to work in sync for the show to go off as planned,” said Michael Kuntz, Technical Director of Dallas-based Media West. “The team from GoVision held up their end in expert fashion, and their LEDs were absolutely fantastic.”

The annual Thanksgiving Day halftime show, which serves as the national kickoff for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, was seen by a worldwide audience of millions.

“We appreciate the faith Media West placed in us to perform on such a grand stage,” said Chris Curtis, CEO of Argyle, TX-based GoVision. “We always enjoy the excitement of working at Cowboys Stadium, and especially rising to the challenge of an intricately timed event that has to be perfect the first time.”

FORT WORTH, TX (November 8, 2011) – Loyal TCU fans and alumni that won’t be making the trek to Idaho for Saturday’s showdown with the Boise State Broncos have another festive option much closer to home. And GoVision is making sure everyone gets a great view of the action.

The Horned Frog Fiesta: Foodtrucks & Football TCU Game Watching Party will be held at Edwards Ranch in the heart of Fort Worth this Saturday, Nov. 12. Tailgating begins at 1:30 PM, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 PM.

Argyle-based GoVision, one of the nation’s premier suppliers of turnkey mobile LED units and customized modular LED walls, is bringing a 9-foot x 12-foot “GoTron” LED unit to the first annual event, which organizers project will attract roughly 400 rabid fans. The TCU Young Alumni organization has designated the event as their official game-watching party. Proceeds will benefit the non-profit Purple People Seaters.

“We’re always excited to bring our LED screens to fun events, but it’s even better when we get to cheer on the Frogs at the same time,” said Chris Curtis, CEO of GoVision LP and a proud TCU alumnus. “Edwards Ranch is an awesome venue for tailgating, and we’re looking forward to being part of a great new game-watching tradition for the school.”

The Fiesta will be held in the Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork, a scenic, unspoiled area lying along the Trinity River within Edwards Ranch. A $25 donation includes the entry fee and all beverages throughout the day (including beer, margaritas, mixed drinks, sodas, lemonade and water). Foodtrucks from four outstanding caterers – Yum Yum Truck, Yes! Taco, Holy Smokes BBQ and Mint Leaf Yogurt – will offer a wide variety of delicious food for purchase, so no one will leave hungry. Kids under age 18, whose admission is free, will enjoy a number of outdoor games, including a bounce house.

“There won’t be a better place this side of the Rockies for TCU fans to watch Saturday’s game than at Edwards Ranch,” said Sarah Hargrove, director of marketing for Trinity Works, developer of the Edwards Ranch. “We’re going to have a great crowd out here, and our friends at GoVision will make certain everyone gets a front-row seat for the main event.”

For tickets, directions to Edwards Ranch and more details on the festivities, visit
http://www.edwardsranch1848.com/fiesta/

DALLAS, TX (October 13, 2011) – JCPenney is no stranger to glitzy new product launches and dramatic unveilings. So when it came time for the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art store in Dallas, the leading national retailer decided to add some sizzle to the occasion.

The Plano-based company hired the messaging architects at Corporate Magic to plan and stage a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 30 that would capture the attention of the local media and shopping public, while cementing a lasting impression of their newest location as the most exciting retail destination in the area.

The centerpiece of the grand opening production was a 9-foot x 16-foot “GoBig” LED unit provided by GoVision LP. The mobile video unit, which sported a custom JCPenney advertising wrap, was positioned in the middle of the stage throughout the program. For the finale, the unit drove away to reveal the new store in the background.

“You wouldn’t think a 40-foot truck could shield a massive retail store from view; but the way we positioned the audience and the staging, it worked like a charm,” said Jeff Kirk, general manager at Dallas-based Corporate Magic. “GoVision’s LED was a highlight of the program, and the dramatic effect created when the truck drove off was fantastic.”

GoVision, one of the nation’s premier suppliers of turnkey mobile LED units and customized modular LED walls, then took its mobile LED on a six-day street tour of Dallas. The eye-catching GoBig unit played a fast-paced JCPenney-themed video loop as it drove around town and stopped at designated locations for promotional events, including flash mobs orchestrated by Corporate Magic, high school football games and the Texas State Fairgrounds.

“This was no ordinary ribbon-cutting ceremony,” said Chris Curtis, CEO of Argyle, TX-based GoVision. “JCPenney pulled out all the stops, which explains why they hired Corporate Magic. Nobody does ‘spectacular’ better.”

The new store is located at Timber Creek Crossing at the intersection of Skillman and Northwest Highway. For more information, visit www.jcp.com.

TULSA, OK (August 11, 2011) – Eight seconds is an eternity when you’re clinging to an angry bull. But the seconds pass quickly when you’re a fan watching your favorite cowboy ride the 2,000-pound beast. When the Professional Bull Riders invade Tulsa for the Express Classic presented by American Hoggers on A&E this weekend, fans will be treated to high-definition replays of all the action on a massive LED wall suspended from the roof of the BOK Center.

The PBR hired Argyle, TX-based GoVision LP, one of the nation’s premier suppliers of turnkey mobile LED units and customized modular LED walls, to provide a 27-foot x 48-foot high-definition LED board for the August 12-13 event, which will be televised on Versus. GoVision transported the screen, comprised of 108 3-foot x 4-foot Daktronics PST-12HD video panels, from Arlington, TX, where it normally towers over the outdoor plazas at Cowboys Stadium. When fully assembled, the video board is the equivalent of a 55-foot HD television, and weighs in at a mere 13,500 pounds.

“We’re looking at options to enhance the PBR live-event experience. Traveling one of the largest video boards that you can fit into the average basketball or hockey arena is high on our list,” said PBR President and COO Sean Gleason. “Every seat in Tulsa will be in for a remarkable experience with a 55-foot high-definition video board showing live action and replays.”

GoVision also provided three video screens for the WinStar World Casino Invitational in late July in Thackerville, Okla. That event differed from other events in the Built Ford Tough Series in that it was held in an outdoor arena constructed exclusively for the event on a location adjacent to the casino.

“Whether it’s inside or outside, day or night, our screens can dramatically enhance the spectator experience,” said Chris Curtis, CEO of GoVision. “We’re excited to add the PBR to our list of blue-chip sports clients, especially because bull riding lends itself so well to dramatic replays and slow-motion close-ups.”

For more information or tickets to the Express Classic presented by American Hoggers on A&E, visit http://www.pbrnow.com/competition/bfts/eventload.cfm?id=3288.

DALLAS (July 28, 2011) – To many die-hard University of Texas fans, Head Coach Mack Brown is a “larger-than-life” figure. To the television crews and reporters covering the Big 12 Football Media Days this week in Dallas, every coach in the conference appeared out-sized, thanks to the massive LED video backdrop provided by GoVision.

Argyle, TX-based GoVision LP, one of the nation’s premier suppliers of turnkey mobile LED units and customized modular LED walls, was hired to provide a 12’ x 20.5’ Barco I6 high resolution LED screen as a backdrop for the media days, held July 25-26 at the Westin Galleria.

Dallas-based Corporate Magic was retained by the Big 12 to assist in enhancing the production value of the Media Days. “We immediately knew we had to bring in the technology and people from GoVision to do this job right,” said Brian Greenway, director, alliances and business development for Corporate Magic.

GoVision’s technical team also provided technical ground support for the screen, which was positioned on the stage immediately behind the Big 12 Conference coaches and players featured at the event. Special graphics and video highlights were displayed on the screen as each coach made his way to the stage. Once the Q&A sessions began, the school’s logo served as a moving video backdrop.

“The eyes of Texas – and much of the rest of the country – were on the Big 12 Conference this week, since this was their first major event with the 10-team lineup, plus the added intrigue of the Longhorn Network’s launch,” said Chris Curtis, CEO of GoVision. “We are grateful Corporate Magic asked us to help out, and we’re pleased to play a role in the event’s success.”

The head coaches and selected players from each of the Conference’s member schools – Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech — participated in the two-day event, along with Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe. More information on the event is available here.

DALLAS (June 20, 2011) – You just knew Mark Cuban would pull out all the stops when his Dallas Mavericks finally earned their first world championship. So it comes as no surprise that when Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and the rest of the NBA champions rode through downtown Dallas on their way to the American Airlines Center, the world’s largest mobile high-definition LED screen was there to make certain every fan had a great view of the celebration.

Argyle, TX-based GoVision (www.jumbo.tv), one of the nation’s premier suppliers of turnkey mobile LED units and customized modular LED walls, was hired to provide three giant screens to last Thursday’s festivities, including its massive 19’ x 33’ “GoBigger” unit, which was stationed at the intersection of Victory Avenue and Olive Street. A 9’ x 16’ “GoBig” unit, also featuring state-of-the-art Daktronics HD-16 LED video technology, broadcast the action from N. Houston and Olive. A third “GoBig” mobile unit rode in the parade broadcasting video footage of the Mavs’ championship run.

“This all came together very quickly, so we’re grateful for the professionalism and flexibility of the folks at GoVision,” said Ken Kuhl, assistant vice president of events at American Airlines Center. “They not only had the best equipment available, but we knew their team could handle anything we threw at them. It was one less worry for us on this very logistically complex event.”

GoVision is no stranger to major sports celebrations. This is the third championship parade in the last three years that has featured its mobile LED screens. Last year, GoBigger was on hand as the Chicago Blackhawks celebrated their first Stanley Cup title in nearly half a century. The City of Pittsburgh also brought in the record-breaking LED screen to broadcast the festivities during its victory parade for the Penguins in 2009.

“I said last year that we were looking forward to a GoBigger threepeat, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that we fulfilled that prediction on our home turf,” said Chris Curtis, CEO of GoVision. “We’re not only honored to be selected for this important role at the victory celebration, but we’re huge Mavericks fans, too.”

GoVision also provided screens for the Texas Rangers’ fan-appreciation rally in Arlington following the team’s run to the 2010 World Series, and deployed its entire LED inventory across North Texas during Super Bowl XLV in February.

“It’s always fun being a part of the biggest sporting events in the world,” said Curtis. “But we could definitely get used to more of them taking place here. Talk about the best of both worlds!”