Playoff fever goes digital!

Since the playoffs began, the Bell Centre ice has come alive. 105 years of history and victories fill spectators’ eyes. An impressive two-minute pre-game projection is enough to ignite Canadiens fans and make them dream of winning the Stanley

Cup.

The Montréal company 4U2C is behind this visual environment, combining 3D effects, video montage of archival images, lighting effects and sound. Co-founder Stéphane Mongeau explains that they wanted to create a festive atmosphere to welcome the players and excite the crowd, which acts as an important member of the team. There is no need to wait for a goal: the energy is there from the start. The show lights every banner representing Stanley Cup wins, from the first to

[youtube id=”m7DNau3UBqQ” width=”640″ height=”360″ autoplay=”no”]

the most recent, and the

next one feels possible. The Canadiens are a dynasty, with a soul and a history, and people feel a strong sense of belonging.

Social media carried the projection to the four corners of the planet. The designers received messages from Spain, Russia, Japan and Mexico, among others. Major sports media such as Sports Illustrated and ESPN relayed the news, and other National League teams even expressed interest in a similar production.

According to Mongeau, people in the league had never seen such a show. Everyone knows Montréal companies do great things; the city is a multimedia city, and without being chauvinistic, it is natural for such achievements to come from here.

The team had access to all the archive images of the legendary club. Senior designer Randy Gonzalez says working on the project was a gift for hockey lovers. The challenge was to choose iconic images that could touch fans and tell the story in 30 seconds. Many tests were needed, down to the exact shades of blue, white and red. After computer trials, tests on the ice were complex but essential to verify resolution and image speed, and each presentation had toremain secret before the official unveiling. Mathieu Martin, a video-mapping specialist, describes it as a dynamic and emotional introduction that sets the atmosphere. It democratizes video mapping for a broad public and even for television audiences. With precise video-projection mapping, the medium can adapt to basketball courts, arenas and football fields. 4U2C would also like to further develop interactivity with the public so spectators can become actors.