DREAM LOOK
After public input, UNM benefactor has come up with a signage design for athletic venues
The name is Dreamstyle Arena. But there is no mistaking, it is still the Pit. Larry Chavez, CEO of Dreamstyle Remodeling who owns the naming rights to the iconic 51-year-old University of New Mexico basketball arena and the Lobos football stadium, unveiled Thursday the design concept he will implement for signage inside and outside the arena and stadium.
After several weeks of fan input on the design concepts, Chavez chose to go with signage that utilizes not only his company’s logo — he is, after all, paying $10 million to UNM over the next 10 years, $9 million of which goes to athletics — as well as a very distinct black shield with “The Pit” in large cherry letters and “Est. 1966” in smaller, silver lettering underneath.
“While we were inviting input, we didn’t necessarily anticipate going with the majority vote for the signage,” Chavez said in a media release. “But all the feedback and justification from the community for the winning concept convinced us it was definitely the best choice.”
The concept the fans wanted most was the one Chavez and his team decided was best as well.
The shield, as opposed to several other concepts that didn’t have one, also provides for a ready-made logo-type icon that can be used on additional signage, posters, social media accounts or T-shirts. In fact, in the contract Chavez signed with Learfield Sports, on behalf of UNM, for the naming rights, there is a clause that stipulates logos will be put on the shirts for ushers in the Pit.
While several designs put out for public feedback included 15-foot tall, vertical monument sign concepts that received positive feedback, the final call was for a concept that includes a more horizontal monument statue to be constructed on the corner of University and Avendia Cesar Chavez that incorporates the Pit shield.