NFL Season Kicks Off with All-Star Event
The NFL opened its 2004 season on with a one-hour televised pre-game special that Chicago Scenic Studios helped make a victory.
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The NFL Opening Kickoff, held at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, featured special tributes to the 2003 Super Bowl champions and offered all-star performances by musicians ranging from Elton John to the Boston Pops.

The event, designed by Rene Lagler, was bigger than a Super Bowl halftime show due to the number of both stages and artists involved. CSSI Senior Project Manager Ken Zommer worked closely with staging supervisor Tony Hauser from Theatrical Resources and producer Ricky Kirshner of White Cherry Entertainment. Both Zommer and Job Lead Dan Yuen worked on-site for two weeks in order to turn out the spectacular event.

Chicago Scenic Studios provided scenic elements on four stages with the highlight being a timed reveal on the field stage. CSSI constructed a Vince Lombardi trophy unit composed of tube steel with an inflatable football on top. The sides of the trophy were built to fall open on cue in order to unveil Lenny Kravitz at the start of his performance. Chicago Scenic also provided custom facing panels and flag panels that also concealed Kravitz’s amplifiers.
On a different stage, CSSI built a jungle gym-style pipe structure and custom platforms for the performers and provided covering, facing, and steps. Carpeting and custom facings were provided for two of the other stages.

Zommer stated, “Our team did an amazing amount of work in a very short period of time to get all this done and staged. It was lightening fast.” Most of the departments were involved in this project. Of particular note was the phenomenal job Kevin Taylor did painting the flag.

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