logo
logo
Sign in

Where IS The World's Largest Neon Sign?

avatar
Paul Walker
Where IS The World's Largest Neon Sign?

Where exactly is this enormous sign located? The placement is perfect. There is just one plausible location in the United States. Sadly, it's not in the Big Apple. The space required for this neon sign is substantial. This massive billboard needs to draw enough attention to its target market to be financially viable. This should be a place that receives tens of millions of tourists each year. They are available in New York City.


The question is, where would they put it? There's not enough room for everyone in Times Square. The company that owns the neon sign does have real estate in New York City, but there is neither enough space nor any buildings suitable for mounting the sign. As you may have surmised by now, "The Strip" in Las Vegas is the only location that satisfies all of the above criteria. You'll understand why Las Vegas was chosen when you see the price: the profits earned here are far above anything that New York could create. The sheer scale of this neon sign is a dead giveaway that we're in Las Vegas.


The Hilton Hotel Corporation proposed this neon sign. In 1994, when planning for the first sign began, the company's goal was to construct a sign that would stand 364 feet tall. However, a windstorm in July of that year nearly obliterated this neon sign as it was being built. Luckily, the original sign's foundation and steel framework were usable when the new sign's foundation was poured in 1996. As a result, it surpassed all previous records as the tallest and presumably the largest freestanding billboard in the world. Seeing as how Las Vegas is called "The City of Lights," naturally the brightest neon sign in the world would be placed there.


What is it about this neon blimp that makes it so dazzling? Ballasts and neon transformers are the source of its illumination. More than 1,500 flashing sign ballasts supply the illumination. More than 70,000 square feet of space is devoted to the sign. It's possible to get up to 64 different hues out of this neon. The name of the hotel, Hilton, is illuminated by 9,310 light bulbs and is written in rebox-style letters measuring 164 feet wide by 29 feet high. The sign is double-sided, and its ridges run vertically and horizontally, each with a depth of four bulbs.


A programmable reading board and the words "Star Trek: The Experience" decorate the sign. There are 32,000 different colored lights over both sides of this 40' high by 80' wide reading board. It took 6,944 linear feet of neon to light up the Star-Trek section of the sign. The flashing ballasts are used to change the colors, move the light around the screen, and manage the sign's flashing activity in the most effective and efficient way possible. The 120-volt high-output ballasts in the flashing signs provide reliable stopping even in freezing conditions. They can accommodate up to three lamps at once and have preheated cathodes to boost light output. About 20,000 hours is the estimated lifespan of the ballasts. As expected, the sign has been well received by tourists. Another possible moniker for this sign is "world's most costly neon sign," given its estimated price of $9 million.


Saginaw, Michigan brags about having Michigan's largest neon sign, which is an interesting fact. The sign, which measures 35 feet in height and 50 feet in length, has been called the largest figural sign in the entire country. A figural sign depicts real-world objects, such as people or animals.


We're used to seeing vibe neon signs everywhere we go. They shine brightly in all kinds of weather, from day to night, in the biggest metropolis to the smallest hamlet. While its primary purpose is advertising, the warm lights they provide help to illuminate otherwise unwelcoming surroundings. They liven up otherwise boring structures.


Times Square and Las Vegas, Nevada are two of the best examples of neon sign art in the United States. Piccadilly Circus is one of London's most recognizable sign displays. Signage is a prominent feature in many Asian cities, including Tokyo's Ginza and Shibuya, Osaka's Do tonne bun, Shanghai's Nanjing Road (the world's largest shopping street), and Bangkok's Soi Cowboy district, so named after an American who built a go-go club there in the 1970s. The pink elephants parading through the neon-lit streets earned this one a spot on the list due to the "unpleasant weirdness" they exhibited.


It's impossible to find a place without neon signs. Their goals and advantages are the same whether they are proclaimed in one language or a thousand.


Joseph Tedesco has experience instructing students of all ages. The individual has worked in both property management and sales. Mr. Tedesco's background includes working as a business owner in New Jersey's beach towns. He is a married father of a young son and has done substantial travel in the United States and others. He appreciates new experiences and the chance to talk to new people. Mr. Tedesco and his family have a history of volunteering together. They have a son in college and he is happily married.

collect
0
avatar
Paul Walker
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more