espn NHL PLAYER MEDIA TOUR 2025: lasers on the ice
Setting the Stage
ESPN’s NHL coverage for the 2025 season required visually compelling player portraits and motion elements to energize their broadcast and promotional materials. At the NHL Player Media Tour, dozens of the league's top athletes rotated through a full-sized rink set, each athlete having only minutes to capture dynamic portraits. PRECISION was brought in to design and execute a laser environment capable of producing distinctive, high-impact imagery entirely in-camera, without relying on CGI.
Design & Technique
PRECISION approached the rink as a large-scale laser environment, installing over a kilowatt of precisely aligned laser power. Leveraging our Laser Banding technique, we synchronized lasers with cameras, creating luminous bands of beams that appeared to float around players. Each laser composition was tailored to team colors and identities, creating structured visual patterns that interacted naturally with players’ gear, movements, and the ice.
Production
Filming occurred during the NHL Player Media Tour, a tightly scheduled event coordinated by ESPN and the NHL. PRECISION designed and programmed extensively prior to the shoot, so everything was ready for a fast-paced shoot environment. Because real lasers were used, camera crew and athletes interacted directly with the effects in real-time. Players actively engaged with the lasers, naturally adjusting poses and movements in response to the immersive environment. This immediate visual feedback enabled efficient decision-making on set, capturing fully realized shots without extensive post-production.
Release & Impact
ESPN integrated the laser-enhanced player portraits throughout their 2025-26 NHL season coverage. The visuals served as signature elements in intros for broadcasts such as "Prime Monday Night Hockey" and promotional teasers across platforms like ESPN and Sportsnet. Additionally, the footage was leveraged for league-wide marketing campaigns, social media promotions, and in-arena displays, creating a unified, visually compelling brand identity.
Results & Legacy
The laser-driven visuals received acclaim from fans, the league, and media outlets for its cinematic style and originality. Social media and viewer responses emphasized how these portraits elevated ESPN’s NHL broadcasts with authenticity and excitement. By employing practical laser effects rather than CGI, PRECISION enabled a realistic, immersive viewer experience aligned perfectly with ESPN's creative vision. This innovative approach not only solved logistical and creative challenges but also set a new standard for dynamic sports media production.
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