All signs point to NBA All-Star banners everywhere

Even if you aren't going to the NBA All-Star Game ? and most of us aren't ? it's going to be hard to ignore it downtown.

For the month leading up to the Feb. 26 game, banners and signs will be hanging all over downtown to promote the event. And not just at the Amway Center.

In downtown Orlando, it's common for events to be promoted on small flags hanging from lampposts, and large banners sometimes hang from the Amway Center and other buildings during playoffs.

But the NBA plans more banners, signs and building-wraps than Orlando has ever had before, and in more places, too.

"Given the magnitude of this event and the number of visitors who will be here, all eyes will be on Orlando," said Davon Barbour, assistant director of the Downtown Development Board. "We want to put our best foot forward and really showcase Orlando."

On Monday, the City Council approved a request from the National Basketball Association for a special sign permit, one only available for "national events." The council also voted to extend drinking hours by one hour to 3 a.m. during the NBA All-Star Game weekend.

City officials have identified prominent buildings all over downtown that could become a canvas for the event's marketing program, from City Hall to the SunTrust Building and 55 West.

Preliminary plans call for festooning downtown buildings and hotels with giant signs, decals and banners featuring larger-than-life NBA all-star players and event logos. Some could be as tall as 70 feet.

Expect to also see them on the interior and exterior of four downtown hotels, which will play host to NBA staff. Logos of the event's corporate sponsors also are likely to show up.

"We expect literally tens of thousands of people circulating throughout downtown," DDB director Thomas Chatmon said. "Even in a city like Orlando that is accustomed to lots of visitors and a lot of special events, this is big."

Mayor Buddy Dyer said the decision to extend drinking hours during the event will allow downtown bars to profit from those hordes of visitors.

"It's something we've done for the playoffs the last several years," he said. "We wanted to give our drinking establishments in the downtown area the opportunity to benefit as much as they can."

mschlueb@tribune.com or 407-420-5417

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