Projector Tips for Sports Bars and Restaurants

Since the beginning, sports bars and restaurants have been the place to be to watch a game, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere. One of the biggest selling points a sports bar or restaurant has going for it is the ability for customers to watch a big game live.  Big screens bring excitement to local bars and will surely set your business apart from other establishments who have several small screens where many people have to strain their eyes just to see.

Today, projectors have become one of the best options to light up a big screen as they have become sleek, lightweight, easy to install, and project stunning native 1080p high definition video. If you are looking to install a new projector in a new bar or restaurant, here are some tip to consider to make sure you get the right projector for you.

Projector Brightness

One of the most important things to consider in your primary viewing areas is how much lighting is in that area. A good option to consider when looking for a place to put your projector is to make sure that are has controlled lighting. Controlled lighting will not only save you money, but space as well. If you are capable of dimming your viewing area when you want to project an image, you won't have to purchase a super bright projector which will cost more and be larger in size.

This will also save you money on cooling costs of your building as bright projectors tend to heat up the area around them, and may need more room around them for cool air to circulate. Another thing to consider, is the screen size for which you will be projecting on. The larger the screen size, the more lumens you will need to properly illuminate the screen for proper viewing.

For screens smaller than 80 inches diagonal, 1000-2000 lumens is recommended. For screens that are 80-120 inches diagonal, 2000-35000 would be adequate, and 120 inches + would need a projector that has 3500 or more lumens. Of course you would need to take in consideration the ambient light of the room, which is why a controllable light source makes things so much easier.

Projector Resolution

As far as aspect ratio's go, there really aren't a whole lot of options.  Its basically a decision between a lower cost standard 4:3 resolution projector, or go with the latest in projector technology and get a native 1080p widescreen 16:9 HD projector.  For projects like this, we recommend not going any lower that an XGA 1024x768 standard 4:3 resolution.  This will provide a decent looking picture and is extremely cost effective.  Any smaller of a resolution will start to produce a grainy image that won't be very pretty to look at.

For projector enthusiasts and those who want nothing other than the best, you will undoubtedly want a projector that projects in HD 1920x1080p resolution.  This kind of projector will create truly stunning visuals and will keep your customers coming back for more.  These are also not as expensive as they sound.  The HD Projector market is very competitive and prices have been becoming lower and lower as manufacturers keep producing better and better projectors.

Smoking Rooms

If your business is going to allow smoking indoors, you may want to pay special attention to the type of projector you get and from what manufacturer.  Some manufacturers may not honor the warranty in a smoky environment as sometimes smoke can cause damage to the system.  DLP projectors are often a better choice to make of LCD projectors as they are more resistant to smoke damage because of their "sealed" optics. 

Another factor to consider is if you are going to be using a screen, or wall to project your image on.  In smoky environments a white screen may begin to become stained from constant exposure to smoke and that isn't something you want as it may begin to distort the color of your projected images.  In situations like these, it may be better to purchase a grey screen or to use a wall to project on.

Looking to purchase or rent a projector for use in a sports bar, restaurant, or other public venue?  Contact us today by calling 888-736-8301 or seeing here for a Sports Bar Projector Quote. Projector rentals and AV Technology Installed in 1000 Cities Worldwide.