Commanders cast new light on in-game entertainment, fan experience at Northwest Stadium 

The use of light returned against the Falcons in the final home game of 2024, which would decide Washington’s playoff fate. However, that production came together quickly because it was announced just 12 days prior that the originally-scheduled 1 p.m. game would instead be primetime. With the flex came a milestone moment: for the first time Northwest Stadium would be able to go dark during player introductions. It set the tone for perhaps the loudest, highest energy home game of the season.

Use of and excitement around the lights had come in, well, flashes in 2024. However, timing aspects – whether that be early kickoffs or a two-week flex notice – somewhat limited what game presentation could do with them. The run to the 2024 NFC Championship game would change that.

Because of last year’s incredible season, the team was given more primetime games in 2025. Here came a chance the game presentation team had never been given: they had months to plan goosebump-inducing displays with the lights. Outside inspiration mixed with Washington-specific flair and creativity from the game presentation group helped formulate the ideas for the 2025 light shows.

“I think when you look at all the great work that other teams are doing, not only in the NFL but across all sports, whether it’s the World Cup, the Olympics, the NHL or the NBA, you just see how the buildings look when you’re watching on TV,” Smith said. “I think that in our circle of game presentation personnel across the league, we know that those are little moments that one, are going to have a tremendous amount of impact when you just see a unified lighting experience with your fans, but then it’s also something that fans can take home and kind of always remember that moment. So that’s really where I think the wristbands came from.”

The LED wristbands were the in-game entertainment darling of the Commanders’ first home primetime clash of 2025. The game presentation team worked with Canadian-based company PixMob, a global leader in the space, to execute the wristband show for the “Conquer the Night” themed matchup against the Bears.

“It’s all based off of wireless frequencies, and they [PixMob] are able to program custom looks through their mixing console. They’re able to push out the different scenes and colors to the different places around the building,” Smith said. “From our perspective, it’s fun because you get to plan, ‘Hey, when do we want it to light up burgundy vs. gold vs. white,’ and then we use that to balance like, ‘Well, what’s on the screen? What’s on the LED ribbons? … So that’s really where the creative vision kind of comes in.”