Chicago is the birthplace of the skyscraper, so it only makes sense for the city to use its iconic skyline to send a message.
This week that message is in orange and blue.
“We thought a lot about how do we extend the playoff experience outside the walls of Soldier Field,” said Sarah Smith, the VP of Fan Development and Brand Marketing for the Chicago Bears.
Smith made the initial request to BOMA, which stands for the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago. BOMA then alerts the buildings in its network to change colors accordingly.
“The process is extremely streamlined for as technical as you’d think it will be,” Smith explained.
The Willis Tower is part of BOMA’s network.
It has a calendar full of color requests, and that part can get complicated. Execution, though, is easy.
“It is as simple as going into an app and scheduling a trip on an airline. Bam, bam, pick a couple things, and you’re on your way,” said Randy Stancik, the General Manager at Skydeck Chicago. “You can see Willis Tower’s antennas from four states and 50 miles. Pretty much everyone in Chicago will have an angle on it.”
It’s a small touch that signifies community and camaraderie. An entire city is glowing together as one.
“We live here, we work here, we love our city, so to be able to share the beauty of the city across the world and light it up blue and orange, it’s the perfect storm for us,” Smith said. “So we’re so excited to make it happen and continue it on to the next round.”