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LeBron James’ former 10-story presence on the side of Sherwin-Williams headquarters in Cleveland will be filled by a new banner celebrating the city—and just in time, the company notes, for the Cavs’ home opener.
The iconic Nike banner featuring James had hung on the building for years, but was dismantled in July within days of James’ announcement that he was joining the Miami Heat after seven years with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The town did not take well to James’ defection, and his ubiquitous image vanished almost overnight. Nike, which leased the space on the Sherwin-Williams building, had the James banner removed immediately.
‘A giant welcome mat’
Now the space will be occupied by a 25,000-square-foot, 10-story, 1.3-ton vinyl mesh banner saluting Cleveland, Northeast Ohio and “Sherwin-Williams' 144-year commitment to one of the best locations in the world,” the company said.
The new banner features the Cleveland skyline and the words “Our Home Since 1866. Our Pride Forever.”
Sherwin-Williams chairman & CEO Christopher M. Connor called the banner “a giant welcome mat, saluting the strength, energy, talent, creativity, enthusiasm, and warm hospitality embodied on a daily basis by the people of Northeast Ohio.”
“We want to salute our great people supported by world-class companies, health care institutions, universities, natural resources, sports teams, cultural amenities like the orchestra, museums and theaters as well as affordable housing,” Connor said in a statement.
He praised the region’s quality of life and added: “We are a resilient community determined to always rebound stronger than before.”
50 Gallons and a Football Team
Installation is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Oct. 26, and be completed that evening, “the day before the Cleveland Cavs home opener against Boston,” the company said.
The banner, created by Fusion Imaging, Kaysville, Utah, is one of the largest in the United States, according to Sherwin-Williams.
Printing the banner required 50 gallons of ink. It takes 12 people to fold and move the banner; 35 Utah high school football players hauled the banner off a truck and spread it across their football field so the manufacturer could conduct a final inspection.
A special pallet was built to house the banner during its 36-hour truck ride from Utah to Cleveland.
Sherwin-Williams will post a time-lapse video of the making and installation of the banner after installation is complete. Visit http://www.sherwin-williams.com/press/trade/kits/2010/.
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