Sports Bars and Hospitality Buyer's Guide

projectors and sports bars

Big HD displays are an investment that help keep customers at the table.

Making your way in the world today takes everything you got. Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? To a sports bar with all the games on giant projector screens? Yep. And so would an awful lot of potential customers in just about every city in America.

Big HD displays are an investment that help keep customers at the table; eating, drinking, communicating about the superiority of their fantasy football team, and spending their hard-earned money and time. These 120 inches of entertainment are part of the recipe for making memories that make the local sports bar a place where everybody knows your name.

So we thought we'd offer up some advice to those buyers looking for a new projector in the restaurant and bar business. Here are a few tips from us to you.

Sports Bars | Choosing Projector Brightness | Controlled Lighting

Like Projector People customers Dave and Busters, a sports bar or restaurant will usually have controlled lighting in the primary big screen viewing areas. If you are designing your own entertainment space, that's a good tip for you. Make sure you have controlled lighting where your displays will be located.

You want controlled lighting for several reasons. For one, it will save you money and space. Super bright projectors cost a little more and are a little bigger (because they need more room for cool air to circulate). So, here's a guide for brightness (measured in lumens) in controlled lighting situations.

Recommended Brightness by Screen Size | Controlled Lighting Spaces
Screen Size (diagonal) Brightness (lumens) Suggested
60-80 inches 2000-3500 lumens
80-120 inches 3500-4000 lumens
120 inches plus 4000 or more lumens

Of course controlled lighting is also important for setting ambiance as well. Dark rooms make people feel safe. Safe enough to express their emotions. For instance, crying when a prized quarterback fumbles the ball.

Quick Tip: If your bar or restaurant turns into a nightclub in the evenings, and you want to use your projector for some cool flashy imagery, be sure that your disco lighting doesn't wash out the screen. Indirect light shouldn't wash out the picture entirely, but direct light may.

Sports Bars | Choosing Projector Brightness | Non-controlled Lighting

If you are not able to control the lighting in your primary viewing areas, you may want to consider investing in a screen that combats ambient light. Screen Innovations created a revolutionary screen material that produces a brilliant high contrast image in bright rooms. These screens show a good quality image even when placed partially outdoors. If you don't have the budget for a high-end screen, you will want to get as much brightness as your budget allows.

Recommended Brightness by Screen Size | Uncontrolled Lighting Spaces
Screen Size (diagonal) Brightness (lumens) Suggested
60-80 inches 3500-4500 lumens
80-120 inches 4500-5000 lumens
120 inches plus 5000 or more lumens

Projector Resolution for Sports Bars

The keyword here is HD. And True HD (native 1080p and 16:9 aspect ratio) resolution is the specification de jour. A few years ago you would have just a few True HD options, but buying an HD projector now will cost you at least $1000 less than it did for the sports bar that went HD before the digital conversion to broadcast HD. So, if you're late to the HD party, at least you're saving some cash. For that reason, as well as the recent influx of 16:9 projectors to select from, we'd recommend HD from here on out.

As for XGA (4:3) resolution, we recommend against it if possible. If you still have some 4:3 content to display, most 16:9 projectors will still play it for you. Connectivity may also be an issue for you if you go with an XGA projector, as HDMI inputs are not a given on an XGA projector.

So, if HD is where it's at, why wouldn't you just go with one of the incredibly popular home theater projectors you keep hearing about? Well, in some cases, the most popular projector for home theater might not be the best choice. In the average sports bar or family restaurant, very high quality video processing and super rich contrast may not be as important as it is for the projector to simply be visible in brighter conditions.

Flexibility

In some cases a new projector may be replacing older displays, or it may be that the projector will serve multiple purposes and be placed in varying locations. If that's the situation for you, then you will require a projector designed for flexibility.

Features for Flexibility:
Short throw (allows for bigger images when projector is close to the screen)
Zoom lens (make your image larger or smaller without physically moving the projector)
Lens shift (move your image from side to side or up and down without moving projector)

Projector Replacement Lamps

We sell a lot of replacement lamps to our sports bar clients because the projectors are used as much as 12 hours a day (maybe more). That means the 2000-4000 expected lamp life can get 'used up' in a few months. Replacements lamps usually cost between $250 - $400. Check out our Tips to Extended Lamp Life for some tips on keeping the lamp going as long as possible.

Quick Tip: Ever wonder what the pros and cons of using a projector versus a Flat Panel TV? Here's a quick comparison of the technologies »

Smoky Rooms and Projectors

Quick Tip: If your state or local laws allow smokers to light up indoors, you might want to take an extra look at stipulations in the manufacturer warranty. Some manufacturers may not honor a warranty in a smoky environment because smoke can do damage to the optic system. The good news is, most customers never have to use their warranty. Ask a Projector Expert for warranty details before you purchase.

So whether you are a sports bar owner, or a customer who wants to create a sports bar environment in his home, we hope these tips were helpful. As always, if you have more questions, feel free to contact a Projector Expert.