“White Flag Time at Wrigley!”

One of the most popular of stadium flags waves proudly above one of the most famous baseball stadiums in the world. The venue is Wrigley Field, and the stadium flag is the “Cubs Win Flag.”

Now a vital symbol to Cubbies fans everywhere, the white Cubs Win Flag is raised over the stadium every time that the Chicago Cubs are victorious. It is typically a Blue “W” on a white background, while the less-popular “Cubs Lose Flag” consists of a white “L” on a blue background. (This color scheme was set in the early 1980s, as up until that point the scheme had been reversed.)

The flag is raised on the main scoreboard “masthead,” which has been a part of the stadium since 1938. It was a few short years later than then-Cubs-owner Philip K. Wrigley started having his staff raise a flag at the end of each game showing whether the Cubs had won or lost that day.

The phrase “White Flag Time at Wrigley!” is now uttered by Cubs play-by-play announcers at the conclusion of a victory. It symbolizes the raising of the white victory flag. The phrase was originally coined by announcer Chip Caray, grandson of the legendary St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs announcer, the late Harry Caray.

The stadium flag has become such a popular symbol to Cubs fans that many retailers sell different versions for fans to bring to games or have in their homes.

Top 9 Things to Do With Customized Vinyl Banners

There are tons of things to do with customized vinyl banners. Here are just a few:

1. Happy Birthday Flag Banners: Because just saying it often isn’t enough for your friends and family.
2. Protest banners: If you want to march and defend your right to civil disobedience.
3. Taunt Tiger Woods: At the Masters, a banner read “TIGER DID YOU MEAN BOOTYISM?”
4. Self-Promotion: Just make sure you can’t get in trouble for placing the flag banners where they don’t belong.
5. Advertise your company: which is different from the above because you’re company isn’t just you (unless it is).
6. Celebrate the 4th: It’s this Sunday! Do you have flag banners ready?
7. Support your team: Printed banners at the game will definitely make the cameraman choose you for the spot in between commercials and play.
8. Choose a cause: choose anti-genocide, or social libertarianism to advertise. Make sure it means something to you or else it would kind of be a waste
9. Welcome: Whether it’s the in-laws or kids at summer camp, a welcome sign is a great way to make everyone feel at home.
These tips should leave you with a good place to start. If you have any more ideas, add them to the list!

Top 4 Places to Hang Wedding Banners

With summer around again, it’s wedding season. To commemorate the union of two friends or loved ones, nothing does the job like outdoor banners. Flag banners are a great way to display a message, so follow these tips to make the happy couple feel even more special.

1. Back of the car: You can customize a picture of the “Just Married” couple and fit it to the back window or you can make a flag banner and attach it to the car so that it flutters in the wind.

2. Outside of the reception: Hanging the banner outside of the reception area is a great way to show off. You can hang it on the road too, so that everyone driving past knows who the bride and groom are, or if there is another locale on the route of the couple, call ahead to see if you can hang it outside.

3. Their House: Outside of the couple’s home is a great place to hang outdoor banners – all the neighbors will see and bring them fruitcakes and other wedding presents.

4. Honeymoon: If you really want to be subtle, you can send the banner to the hotel where the couple is staying and ask the manager to hang it in their room. This can be one of the most surprising places to find customized vinyl banners.

No matter where you hang it, make sure someone saves the banner - it's a great way to remember a once in a lifetime event.

What Printed Banners Can Do For You

Printed banners can do a lot for a business. They send a message to the world, and show people that your company is one to be reckoned with. Flag banners, customized vinyl banners, outdoor banners – all of them give light to you.

Getting creative with printing is a great way to stand apart from the crowd. Color and humor are two very important ways to reach an audience that otherwise will walk past. To reach people it’s important to think about what grabs your own attention, and apply that technique to your outdoor banners.

Banners are the best way to make yourself known. When they flap in the wind they command attention, and people loving hearing the thwap of a banner whipping back and forth. There’s something very patriotic about it – you know the song “The Star Spangled BANNER,” a.k.a. the ol’ national anthem. Thus the correlation between patriotism and your company comes into being, and pretty soon, people are buying your stuff in order to feel American. These psychological nuances do exist, however subconsciously.

Flying a banner is a great way to become a top seller in your industry and to give people inspiration to buy American.

America's Pastime

Baseball remains America’s favorite pastime. Few things rival the beauty of a white leather ball with red stitches as it sits on the fresh green turf, waiting to be picked up and thrown, caught by a well broken in mitt.

Some may say it’s boring, but they don’t realize the game’s intricacies. The players, and good fans, know all about what could happen when a runner’s on base or when there’s an infield fly. Some people just want action, and in that case, they should turn to basketball.

But part of the game’s beauty is that it is played outdoors, and not only that, but it requires nice weather. When the sun is shining bright and the dirt of the infield is moist and brown and the bases are white and clean, and the wind whips the stadium flags high above, then you know that it’s time to play ball.

Those stadium flags are really something. Do you know who designs them? Chances are it’s Five Boro Banner & Sign. They also have vinyl banner printing and outdoor banners for all occasions. Playing baseball without some team spirit wouldn’t be the same. That’s why flag banners are as American as the game itself.

Outdoor Banners that Stand Up to the Elements

If you're looking to reach a large amount of people, advertising with outdoor banners is the way to go. Of course, outdoor advertising has one major obstacle — it's outdoors. That means your printed banners have to be sturdy enough to withstand wind, rain, snow, and sun damage.

When it comes to standing up to the elements, you can't do better than vinyl. Customized vinyl banners are made out of a vinyl polymer called polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. PVC is designed to withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures. The material is completely waterproof and doesn't fade in the sun.

Why is weather resistance so important? Your outdoor printed banners are representing your business. Beyond simply advertising specials and sales, the quality of your banners speaks to the quality of your business.

Subconsciously, people will associate a faded, raggedy banner with a business in a similar state of disrepair. But a vibrant banner that lasts for months will tell them something different — that your business is here to stay.

Durability has another perk — since vinyl printed banners hold up to the elements, you can use them for years, allowing you money to go farther.

Our Favorite Customized Vinyl Banners

If you're thinking about ordering customized vinyl banners, you might be wondering — what kind of businesses has All Star Graphics served? Read on to learn about two of our favorite custom banner projects.

The New York City Marathon

In the mid 1970s, The New York City Marathon evolved from a humble meeting of 100 or so runners to a worldwide affair when the track expanded to include all five boroughs. AllStarGraphics.com designed this 25-mile banner for the marathon's path along Central Park. The marathon's outdoor banners had to be big and vibrant enough to catch participants in motion — and to give those sponsors their money's worth.

Water: H2O = Life

The Water: H2O = Life exhibit covered the universality of water — how it is essential to life and a part of every language. This international exhibit began at the American Museum of Natural History in November 2007, and All Star Graphics was there to spread the word via custom vinyl banner printing. We designed a large outdoor banner for the museum's front archway, featuring — among other details — lifelike water ripples.