Los Angeles will be one of the global hotspots during World Cup 2026, and that means one thing for local businesses: foot traffic—lots of it. Visitors will pour into the city from across the world, hopping between stadium days, watch parties, hotels, restaurants, retail, and nightlife. For brick-and-mortar brands, it’s a once-in-a-decade chance to stand out, convert curious pedestrians, and turn a seasonal wave into repeat customers.
If you run a storefront—whether it’s hospitality, retail, services, or entertainment—your signage will be the very first “conversation” you have with thousands of new people.
Why Signage Matters During Global Events
During mega events, attention is both abundant and scarce. There are more people in the streets, but there’s also more visual noise competing for their eyes: sponsor activations, pop-ups, street vendors, traffic control, and other businesses hustling just like you.
Great signage helps you:
- Win the glance. Foot traffic decides in seconds whether your place feels welcoming, current, and legitimate. Crisp, well-lit signage signals you’re prepared and worth a look.
- Shorten the decision. Clear, benefit-driven copy—“Match-Day Breakfast,” “Fast Takeaway,” “Family-Friendly,” “Open Late”—reduces uncertainty and nudges people in.
- Guide the flow. Wayfinding (“Order Here,” “Line Starts Here,” “Pick-Up”) keeps queues moving and improves the guest experience, which pays off in reviews and repeat visits.
- Flex messaging. Temporary and digital signs let you rotate offers by match day, kickoff times, or neighborhood foot-traffic peaks.
- Build brand memory. Iconic signs—especially illuminated and neon—show up in photos and social posts, compounding your reach far beyond the sidewalk.
In short: during global moments, first impressions count more than ever. In Los Angeles this summer, a clean, on-brand sign package can be the difference between being background scenery or the place people point friends to.
Before You Buy: Restore What You Already Have
Not every upgrade requires a new build. A quick restoration sprint can create a “new sign” effect at a fraction of the cost.
What to check and fix:
- Fading & UV damage. Southern California sun is unforgiving. Repaint, re-laminate, or replace panels that have gone chalky or dull.
- Cracked substrates & lifting vinyl. Replace weather-worn panels, retension fabric faces, and reapply or replace peeling graphics.
- Lighting issues. Swap dead LEDs, replace aging power supplies, and upgrade to energy-efficient modules. Even brightness across a channel letter set screams quality.
- Hardware & safety. Tighten or replace corroded fasteners, confirm anchors and brackets are sound, and add anti-graffiti laminate where appropriate.
- Glass & acrylic clarity. Clouded acrylic and scuffed faces reduce legibility. New faces or a professional polish can make colors pop again.
- Clean, clean, clean. A deep clean on sign faces, awnings, and window graphics delivers disproportionate impact.
If your existing sign bones are solid, a tasteful refresh—new faces, updated typography, or a subtle color correction—can make your storefront look like you just opened yesterday.
New Signage Ideas That Work for World Cup Crowds
1) Bilingual Signage (English + Spanish—and beyond)
Los Angeles is a multilingual city every day of the year, and international tournaments amplify that reality. Prioritize English + Spanish for wayfinding, menus, and critical “decision” copy. If your location attracts particular visitor groups (hotel concierges and local tourism boards can tell you), consider adding French, Portuguese, Japanese, or Korean to key touchpoints.
What to translate:
- Entrance signage (“Welcome,” “Open,” “Order Here,” “Takeout Available”).
- Time-sensitive offers (“Match-Day Special,” “Happy Hour,” “Breakfast Set”).
- Payment and logistics (“We Accept Contactless,” “Restrooms for Customers Only,” “Queue This Way”).
- Safety/house rules (capacity, age restrictions, dress code, bag policy).
Design tip: Don’t cram five languages on one line. Use a clean hierarchy: primary language prominent, secondary language in a complementary weight or on a separate line with adequate spacing. Pictograms (for Wi-Fi, restrooms, ticket scanning, etc.) are universal and reduce translation load.
2) LED & Digital Displays for Flexible, Event-Themed Messaging
Digital signage shines during tournaments because you can swap messages by the hour without reprinting:
- Rotate promos before, during, and after matches—e.g., “Kickoff Combo,” “Halftime Snack,” “Post-Match Happy Hour.”
- Display localized greetings that change with matchups: “¡Bienvenidos, México!” or “Bienvenue, Canada!” (Just avoid unauthorized use of tournament trademarks—see note under “What to Avoid.”)
- Push live queues (“Current Wait: 10 minutes”), social proof (recent Google reviews), or QR codes to order ahead.
A small window-facing LED panel or a portrait-format digital totem can outperform static posters during busy hours—especially in shaded entries or after dark. If a permanent screen isn’t in the cards, consider renting for the tournament window. Confirm power availability, sun angle, and glare; matte finishes and high-nit panels improve readability in LA light.
3) Temporary Event Signage That Pulls People In
Temporary signs are your Swiss Army knife:
- Banners: Big visuals and short copy for distance reads—great for “Match-Day Brunch” or “Open Early for Kickoff.”
- Window decals: Eye-level promos on glass. Use perforated vinyl if you want exterior punch with interior visibility.
- Sandwich boards/A-frames: Close the deal at the curb with three prices or fewer. Change boards daily; keep chalk lettering bold and legible.
- Pole/post wraps: If permitted on private property, they guide sightlines and brand your entry path.
- Floor graphics: Wayfinding inside—“Order,” “Pick-Up,” “Exit”—to keep flows moving.
Keep every temporary piece on brand—consistent type, color palette, and tone. Tourists don’t know your history; a cohesive kit makes your place feel established and trustworthy.
Design That Works in the Wild (Not Just in Figma)
Legibility at distance. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want roughly 1 inch of letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance for primary copy. If the sidewalk is 40 feet from the street, “OPEN LATE” in 4–6 inch letters will read from passing cars and foot traffic.
High-contrast color pairs. Black/white, deep navy/white, crimson/white, or charcoal/yellow are workhorses. Avoid low-contrast combos (e.g., red on green) in bright sun.
Simplify the message. One value prop per surface. Save the menu of ten specials for your web or QR code.
Iconography beats paragraphs. A soccer ball icon next to “11 AM Kickoffs” reads faster than a sentence about match times. But skip official logos or marks unless you’re licensed (see below).
Night visibility. If you’re in a nightlife corridor, halo-lit channel letters, open-face neon, or a well-aimed exterior fixture will keep you visible. Glare shields and correct color temperature (not too blue) matter.
Accessibility. High contrast, non-glare finishes, and good lighting help everyone—including those with low vision—navigate safely. If you update permanent interior identification or exit signs, make sure you follow applicable accessibility standards.
L.A. Permitting Tips (So You’re Legal Before Kickoff)
Los Angeles signage rules are specific, and compliance prevents last-minute headaches. Here’s a brief, practical overview to get you oriented:
- Know who regulates what. In the City of Los Angeles, Article 4.4 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) governs most exterior signs (on-site and off-site), and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) handles permitting. LADBS offers online permitting through ePlanLA/PermitLA (you’ll use an Angeleno account).
- Temporary signs can still need permits. In L.A., banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, and similar temporary devices typically require a building permit unless the message is purely political/ideological/noncommercial. Your application specifies installation dates and location—plan ahead.
- Use official guidance for on-site signs. LADBS publishes a Sign Manual (excluding off-site signs) that outlines general regulations and is a handy starting point for business owners and designers.
- City Planning may add conditions. Certain areas fall under special sign districts or zoning overlays, and general provisions in LAMC §14.4.4 restrict features like flashing or rotating signs. Check if your property is in a district and design accordingly.
- Events in the public right-of-way are different. If you’re planning a sidewalk sale or event that uses the public right-of-way, you’ll need the appropriate approvals (often through Public Works’ Street Use Division) and, in some cases, a Temporary Special Event permit coordination.
This isn’t legal advice; signage rules can change and vary by neighborhood. A qualified sign company will coordinate with LADBS and City Planning, prepare drawings, and keep you compliant end-to-end well before the tournament window.
A Realistic Timeline: Backward-Plan from Match Day
If you want new signage in place for World Cup 2026, don’t wait for the media buzz to start. Permitting, fabrication, and installation all take calendar time—especially if your sign involves electrical, structural supports, or landlord approvals.
Here’s a practical way to think about it:
- Consultation & Site Survey. Align on goals, budget, and constraints. Measure sightlines and distances; check power availability for illuminated or digital signs.
- Concept & Design. Translate your brand into high-legibility layouts that work in real-world light and distance. Decide where bilingual copy lives.
- Permitting & Approvals. Prepare drawings, engineering (if needed), and submit to LADBS/City Planning as required. Coordinate with property management.
- Fabrication. Build or refurbish: channel letters, cabinets, neon, acrylic faces, vinyl graphics, window films, and any digital hardware mounts.
- Installation & QA. Schedule install, test illumination and dimming, verify mounting, and complete final cleaning. Capture photos for your Google Business Profile and PR outreach.
Tempted to “wait and see”? By the time the first international fans post from your block, fabricators and installers city-wide will be slammed. Early movers get pricing, scheduling, and creative freedom; late movers settle for whatever’s available.
Bilingual Copy Best Practices (Without Losing Your Brand Voice)
- Decide your voice first. Are you crisp and minimal? Warm and playful? Formal and refined? Translate tone, not just words.
- Keep English and Spanish parallel. Use the same verbs and structure so the offer feels equal value in both languages.
- Don’t over-translate. If a word is globally recognized (e.g., “Wi-Fi”), keep it consistent.
- Train staff on pronunciation. If your sign invites people in Spanish, make sure front-of-house can greet and answer basic questions in Spanish too. The customer experience should echo the promise your sign makes.
Offers That Work on Match Days
Make it stupid-simple for a traveler to say yes. Good options:
- Time-boxed combos: “Kickoff Breakfast Set (11 AM–1 PM)”
- Ticket-holder perks: “Show Your Match Ticket for 10% Off” (Check your margins and any landlord rules.)
- Family bundles: “Two Adults + One Kid’s Meal = $X”
- Grab-and-go: “2-Minute Coffee + Pastry”
- Merch tables: If you sell your own branded items, a small, well-signed pop-up inside the entry can boost average order value.
Put your top three offers on the A-frame. Everything else can live on indoor menus, digital boards, or QR codes.
Materials & Durability for LA’s Climate
- UV-resistant inks & laminates to combat fade.
- High-output, efficient LEDs with quality drivers for long runtimes during extended tournament hours.
- Powder-coated metals for exterior hardware; stainless fasteners to prevent rust streaks.
- Anti-graffiti coatings in high-traffic areas.
- Wind-aware mounting for banners and projecting signs—engineered attachments and appropriate tensioning prevent sag and damage.
What to Avoid (So You Don’t Get a Call You Don’t Want)
- Unauthorized use of protected marks. Don’t use tournament emblems, official logos, or trademarked phrases unless you’re licensed. Stay generic: “World Cup 2026 watch parties,” “match-day specials,” “football fans welcome.” If in doubt, ask.
- Illegible fashion fonts. Hairline scripts and ultra-condensed type disappear at 20 feet.
- Information overload. If your A-frame reads like a menu, nobody will read it.
- Clashing colors. Avoid low-contrast palettes and neon-on-neon unless you’re going for an intentional retro neon look—and even then, ensure legibility.
- Blocking accessibility. Don’t let temporary signage narrow walkways, obstruct ramps, or create tripping hazards.
How Signmakers Can Help You Win the Moment
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Signmakers has been part of the Los Angeles streetscape for decades. Starting as a regular sign shop in Southern California in 1993, we have been making custom signs in Los Angeles for over 30 years. Since our early days as a regular sign shop, we have evolved into a boutique and design-oriented custom sign shop specializing in custom electrical signs, custom neon signs, and acrylic sign projects. Our goal for every project is to get the best sign to help you attract customers, increase your brand’s visibility, and reflect your brand message. Our expertise is trusted by business owners, event planners, sole proprietors, architects, and designers on a local and national level. To ensure we get the best results, we work closely with you throughout our five-step process—from discovery and design to permitting, fabrication, and installation.
What that means for you before World Cup 2026:
- A strategy, not just a sign. We’ll audit your street presence, traffic patterns, and competition, then recommend the exact mix of permanent upgrades and temporary pieces that will move the needle.
- Bilingual clarity. We’ll craft a copy hierarchy that reads cleanly in English and Spanish and still feels like your brand.
- Permitting without the drama. Our team will package drawings, coordinate with LADBS/City Planning, and keep you on the right side of the code. (Temporary banners and other devices often need permits too—don’t risk a forced takedown mid-tournament.)
- Fabrication built for LA. From neon glow to LED efficiency, from acrylic elegance to robust outdoor hardware, we build for sun, crowd, and long hours.
- Installation that respects your operations. We’ll stage work to minimize downtime and test everything so you’re photo-ready on match day.
Quick Checklist: Are You World Cup–Ready?
- Primary sign is bright, clean, and legible from 50–100+ feet
- Lighting works and is even (no hotspots or dead zones)
- Bilingual wayfinding and offers in place
- A-frame with three punchy, profitable promos
- Window decals refreshed; no peeling edges
- Temporary signage permits (if required) filed and approved
- Staff trained to point guests quickly (order, pay, pick-up)
- Digital board or menu ready to swap by match time
- Exterior clutter cleared; entry feels open and welcoming
- Nighttime test completed (take photos from a pedestrian’s POV)
Let’s Make Your Storefront the One People Remember
The World Cup 2026 window will come and go faster than it seems. But the awareness you create—with the right signage—can pay dividends long after the final whistle. If you’re in Los Angeles and want a seasoned, design-driven partner to handle strategy, permits, fabrication, and installation:
Book a sign consultation with Signmakers today to be game-day ready.
We’ll turn your storefront into a magnet for global foot traffic—clean, on-brand, compliant, and impossible to ignore.
