PHOENIX, Jan. 26, 2009 – The NBA unveiled the first-ever wrapped METRO light rail trains today during an event at the METRO Operations and Maintenance Facility in Phoenix. A special NBA All-Star-themed design, highlighting the images of six 2009 NBA All-Stars and printed on HP digital printing technology with 3M Control-tac Material, will be featured on two trains from the new mass transit system beginning today and lasting through Monday, Feb. 16.

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The METRO light rail train was unveiled by Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, members of the Phoenix City Council, NBA Senior Vice President of Events and Attractions Gail Hunter, Phoenix Suns President & COO Rick Welts, and the Phoenix Suns Gorilla, the team mascot.

The wrapped METRO light rail trains feature an NBA All-Star 2009 thematic, which includes the All-Star Game logo and images of 2009 All-Stars Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers, Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavilers, Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Amar’e Stoudemire of the hometown Phoenix Suns. Four separate light rail vehicles, paired into two-car trains, feature the special NBA All-Star design.

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Recognizing the economic and community benefits associated with NBA All-Star 2009, the METRO Board of Directors, which currently has a “no advertising” policy, voted to allow the NBA to wrap METRO light rail trains as a pilot project.

The NBA utilized digital printing technology from HP to produce the first-ever branding for the METRO. The NBA and HP’s wide-ranging marketing partnership will also include utilization of HP’s printing services throughout the NBA All-Star 2009 footprint, including at the US Airways Center, at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas, and in downtown Phoenix. The league selected bluemedia, a leading provider of large format design and printing for use in vehicle, large format and environmental graphic applications, to produce the wrapping, which was printed on an HP Scitex TJ8300 printer using 3M Control-tac.

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“Light Rail and the NBA All-Star Game are two extraordinary feathers in our City’s cap,” said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. “This is where they come together for the very first time. They’ll meet again, of course, as thousands ride the METRO to all the All-Star events.”

“Phoenix has been a wonderful host city and this is another example of how it is working to spread the excitement of NBA All-Star in innovative ways,” said Gail Hunter, Senior Vice President, Events and Attractions
National Basketball Association. “METRO light rail is an exciting addition to the Valley of the Sun and we are thrilled to take part in this unique promotion to build anticipation for the league’s marquee event.”

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“NBA All-Star 2009 will put on display to a global audience why Phoenix is such a great place to live and to do business. The NBA does a terrific job branding their marquee event and the addition of the wrapped METRO light rail is just another example of that,” said Rick Welts, President & COO, Phoenix Suns.

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About NBA All-Star 2009

NBA All-Star 2009 in Phoenix will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. Among the many events that will reach fans in more than 200 countries in more than 40 languages are the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, PlayStation Skills Challenge, Haier Shooting Stars, McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas, and the 58th NBA All-Star Game, played on Sunday, Feb. 15 at the US Airways Center and broadcast on TNT for the 24th year. This will be the third NBA All-Star in Phoenix. The city also hosted the event in 1975 and 1995.

source: http://phoenix.fanster.com/2009/01/26/nba-unveils-first-ever-wrapped-metro-light-rail-trains-for-nba-all-star-2009/

(Courtesy of Phoenix Suns Public Relations)

Congratulations to the bluemedia team for completing the first ever wrapped Metro Light Rail for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game! This was a truely amazing project for the dedicated staff at bluemedia to be a part of. We look forward to more attention grabbing projects with the NBA and HP.
Other Articles on the Light Rail Wrap project:

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/01/19/daily66.html