As title sponsor of the 3M Open, 3M’s presence needed to be as prestigious as the tournament itself. With thousands of fans, corporate guests, and international broadcast coverage, the challenge was to create installations that were both striking in person and unforgettable on camera.
The 2025 experience centered around two landmark builds: a towering 9-foot golf ball and tee monument and a signature Trophy Display. Together, these became the defining visuals of the event, bold, photogenic, and infused with brand equity. Supporting builds included a dynamic Cable Art Display, refreshed product showcases, and upgraded flooring to elevate guest comfort despite rain-soaked conditions.
Vision for the Event
3M’s goal was to merge brand visibility with the prestige of professional golf. Beyond functional activations, the brand wanted emblems of the event itself: photo-worthy structures that fans, players, media, and sponsors would seek out.
Key objectives included:
- Making the tournament trophy a centerpiece experience, with a custom-built stage that drew attention across fan zones and broadcasts.
- Designing installations with durability and reusability in mind, to maximize ROI.
- Ensuring every branded touchpoint, from fan activations to corporate suites, reinforced 3M’s leadership in science, technology, and innovation.
STAR Custom Event Design Solution
Custom 9-Foot Golf Ball & Tee Monument
This towering structure became a magnetic landmark for fans and photographers alike, signaling 3M’s role as title sponsor before attendees even reached the greens.
Trophy Display
The Trophy Display was designed as a hero moment for the tournament’s most coveted prize. Its sleek design incorporated premium materials and branding that elevated the trophy’s presence beyond a functional showcase. Strategically positioned for maximum visibility, it became one of the most-photographed and broadcast-ready features of the tournament. Fans lined up for photo ops, players and media incorporated it into coverage, and it became a centerpiece for 3M’s storytelling around excellence and achievement.
Cable Art Display
A kinetic overhead installation that added depth, movement, and brand storytelling through suspended 3M-branded elements.
Modular Displays & Demos
Clean, refreshed modular builds highlighted 3M’s innovations in data centers and consumer products, offering flexibility for future events.
Flooring Upgrades
Durable flooring in high-traffic tents ensured guest comfort and accessibility despite heavy rain, demonstrating STAR’s commitment to resilient design.
Event Design Impact
- The Trophy Display and Golf Ball Monument became signature icons of the 2025 3M Open, featured in fan photos, sponsor activations, and tournament broadcasts.
- The Trophy Display reinforced 3M’s role not just as sponsor, but as steward of the event’s most meaningful moment: the awarding of the champion’s prize.
- The Cable Art Display and modular builds added dynamism while maximizing long-term usability.
- Upgraded flooring and fast onsite adaptations allowed 3M to maintain guest experience even during evacuations and weather delays.
Conclusion
For 3M, the Open is more than a golf tournament, it’s a global stage. In 2025, STAR helped transform that stage into a branded environment where the trophy itself became a storytelling platform. By pairing bold monuments with thoughtful details, 3M and STAR delivered a presence that celebrated innovation, performance, and prestige, rain or shine.
