In the hospitality industry, square footage is currency. Every square foot of your venue represents a potential revenue stream, yet for many establishments, the outdoor patio remains an “orphaned asset”—utilized only when the weather is perfect and often abandoned the moment the sun sets or the clouds roll in.
As a venue operator, you know the equation: Dwell Time = Higher Check Averages.
An empty chair costs you money. A customer who eats their burger and leaves in 45 minutes generates a standard turn. But a customer who stays for the burger, then orders two more rounds of drinks because the Liverpool match or the Chiefs game went into overtime? That customer is pure profit. Industry data suggests that the presence of live sports entertainment increases customer dwell time by an average of 30%. In a high-volume sports bar, that translates to thousands of dollars (£/€) in incremental beverage sales every single weekend.
However, the reluctance to install televisions outdoors is understandable. You are managing three massive risks: Weather (electronics hate moisture), Theft (assets walking away), and Liability (drunk customers and broken glass).
For years, the only solution was the “Dedicated Outdoor TV”—a heavy, industrial unit costing upwards of $4,000 (£3,200). For a patio needing four screens, that is a $16,000 Capital Expenditure (CapEx) line item that many GMs simply cannot justify.
There is a smarter way to monetize your footprint. By utilizing the Outvion Commercial Enclosure System, you can deploy standard, high-brightness commercial displays outdoors, protected by a “fortress” of engineering that is drunk-proof, weather-proof, and theft-proof. This isn’t just about showing a game; it’s about weatherproofing your revenue stream.
Last Updated: Jan 2th. 2026 | Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes
The ROI Calculation: Pay Back in 3 Months
The Bottom Line: Do not let a salesperson convince you that you need a $5,000 specialized TV. By pairing a bright, commercial-grade indoor display ($600) with an Outvion Enclosure ($500), your total cost per screen drops dramatically, your total cost per screen drops by 75%. This massive reduction in CapEx means your Return on Investment (ROI) often occurs in less than 8 weeks of operation.
Let’s strip away the marketing fluff and look at the P&L (Profit and Loss) statement. When you are equipping a new patio or renovating a beer garden, cash flow is king.
The CapEx Reality Check
The traditional approach involves buying “Weatherized TVs.” These are sealed units. While effective, they carry a “luxury tax.” Furthermore, the technology inside them is often 2-3 years behind the curve because product development cycles for niche outdoor electronics are slower than mass-market indoor screens.
With the Outvion strategy, you decouple the protection from the technology. You buy the protection once (the enclosure). You buy the technology cheaply (the TV).
CapEx Comparison – Equipping a 4-Screen Patio
| Cost Item | Dedicated Outdoor TV Solution (e.g., SunBrite/Terrace) | The Outvion Commercial Strategy (Indoor Commercial TV + Enclosure) |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware Cost (Per Unit) | 3,500−5,000 (£3,000+) |
600(TV)+500 (Enclosure) = $1,100 |
| Total for 4 Screens | 16,000−20,000 |
$4,400 |
| Replacement Cost (If broken) | $3,500 + 4 weeks shipping | $600 + 1 hour (Run to Best Buy/Costco) |
| Capital Savings | $0 | $11,600+ (Immediate) |
| Depreciation Schedule | 5 Years (Single Asset) | 7 Years (Enclosure) / 3 Years (TV) |
The Breakeven Analysis
How fast does this $4,400 investment pay for itself? Faster than you think. Let’s assume you run a standard pub in Chicago or Manchester.
- Capacity: You have 10 tables on the patio with a view of the screens.
- The Event: It’s Sunday football.
- The Lift: Because of the screens, guests stay for one extra round of drinks.
- The Margin: Average drink profit is $8 (£6). 4 guests per table = $32 profit per table.
- The Math: 10 tables × $32 = $320 additional profit per game.
If you show just two games a week (Saturday and Sunday), You are generating $640 a week in pure incremental profit. $4,400 Investment / $640 Weekly Profit = ~6.8 weeks to breakeven.
By month three, your patio entertainment system is essentially free, and everything moving forward is pure margin contribution. This is why major chains like Buffalo Wild Wings or Wetherspoons (UK) focus heavily on AV infrastructure; the math works.
The Hidden “Downtime” Cost
Consider the failure scenario. A dedicated outdoor TV fails mid-Super Bowl. You have to ship it back to the manufacturer for a warranty claim. You are down a screen for 3-6 weeks. That is a “dead zone” on your patio that customers will avoid. With an Outvion system, if a TV blows a capacitor, you send a busboy to the local electronics store. He buys a generic Samsung Crystal UHD for $400. You swap it in 20 minutes. You are back up and running before the second half kickoff. Uptime is revenue.
The “Drunk-Proof” Factor: Security & Durability
The Bottom Line: In a commercial environment, your equipment is under constant assault from UV rays, flying objects, and tampering. The Outvion enclosure features an optical-grade Polycarbonate front shield—the same material used in riot shields—making it virtually indestructible against beer bottles or pool cues, reducing your liability exposure significantly.
We need to have a frank conversation about “The Saturday Night Nightmare.” It’s 11:00 PM. The game is tense. Alcohol consumption is high. A fight breaks out, or a celebratory patron throws a glass.
The Liability of Glass
If you have a standard TV (or even some outdoor TVs with glass fronts) on your patio, a flying bottle creates a fragmentation hazard. Shattered glass in a crowded patio is a guaranteed lawsuit. It’s an operational disaster requiring you to shut down the section for cleanup.
The Polycarbonate Advantage (The “Riot Shield”)
Outvion enclosures utilize high-impact Polycarbonate (PC) for the front viewing window.
- Impact Rating: We rate our shields to IK10 standards. This means it can withstand a direct hit from a 5kg mass dropped from 40cm. In bar terms: It bounces a beer bottle off without shattering.
- Safety: Unlike glass, polycarbonate does not shatter into sharp shards. If it were to fail under extreme catastrophic force (like a car hitting it), it would deform or crack safely.
- Scratch Resistance: While PC is softer than glass, commercial units can be equipped with scratch-resistant coatings or easily replaced if vandalized, without discarding the whole unit.
Security: Internal and External
Theft comes in two forms: removal of the asset, and tampering with the feed.
- Asset Theft: Outvion enclosures are bolted to the wall using heavy-duty lag bolts or masonry anchors. The front bezel locks with a Dual Key-Lock System. A thief cannot simply “lift and grab” the TV as they could with a standard home mount. They would need power tools and time—two things thieves hate.
- Tampering (The “HDMI Hijack”): We’ve all seen it. A customer decides they want to play their own music or stream a YouTube video, so they unplug your sports feed and plug in their phone. This disrupts the vibe and angers other guests. The Outvion enclosure completely seals the TV’s ports. The inputs are inaccessible without the key. You control the entertainment, not the customer.
Dwell Time & Revenue Impact
| Scenario | Customer Behavior | Avg. Spend (4-Top) | Venue Revenue Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| No TV (Dining Only) | Eat & Leave (45-60 mins) | 80(Food)+40 (Drink) = $120 |
Standard Turnover |
| TV with Game (2.5 hrs) | Eat, Watch, Drink (150 mins) | 100(Food)+120 (Drink) = $220 |
+ $100 per table |
| Double Header (4 hrs) | The “Camper” (High margin) | 120(Food)+200 (Drink) = $320 |
+ $200 per table |
Visibility: Fighting the Mid-Day Sun
The sun is the enemy of any display. While dedicated outdoor TVs boast high brightness, you can achieve similar commercial results by pairing a High-Nit (700+) commercial indoor display with the Outvion enclosure and using the integrated tilt mount to deflect sky glare.
One of the biggest pushbacks from bar owners is: “Will my customers see the picture at 1:00 PM?” This is a valid concern. A standard home TV puts out about 250-300 nits (a unit of brightness). Direct sunlight is about 10,000 nits. You cannot win that fight with a standard TV.
The “High-Nit” Commercial Strategy
Instead of buying a “Shadow Series” or “Full Sun” outdoor TV (which costs a fortune), we recommend purchasing Commercial Signage Displays (like the Samsung BEC-H Series or LG UT640S).
- Brightness: These units often pump out 500 to 700 nits.
- Duty Cycle: They are designed to run 16/7 or 24/7, unlike home TVs which burn out if left on all day.
- Cost: A 55″ Commercial Display is often around
600−800. - The Synergy: When you put a 700-nit commercial screen inside an Outvion enclosure, you get a bright, punchy image that cuts through the glare for a fraction of the price of a 2,000-nit sun-rated unit.
Geometry Wins: The Tilt Advantage
Glare is just light bouncing off a surface. If the screen is flat (90 degrees), it reflects the bright sky. The Outvion internal mount includes a 15-degree tilt mechanism.
- The Fix: By angling the screen down just 10 degrees, you change the reflection angle. Instead of reflecting the white clouds/sun, the screen reflects the darker patio floor or the grass. This simple physical adjustment increases perceived contrast by 50% without needing a brighter backlight.
Installation Ideas for Venues (Maximizing Space)
Do not just hang a TV on a wall. Think about “Zones.” Use sports walls to drive traffic to dead corners. Use vertical digital signage to upsell high-margin specials. Ensure all cabling is hardwired to meet OSHA/HSE safety standards to avoid trip hazards.
You are designing an experience, not just hanging hardware. Here are three deployment strategies we see top-tier venues using to maximize ROI.
The “Sports Wall” (The Magnet)
Create a destination. Instead of scattering screens, mount two or three 55″ Outvion units side-by-side on your largest exterior wall.
- The Draw: You can show the NFL “RedZone” on the middle screen and specific regional games on the side screens. This makes your patio the “Headquarters” for fantasy football leagues. Large groups will reserve these tables weeks in advance.
Idea 2: Digital Menu Boards (The Upsell)
Use a smaller 43″ Outvion enclosure mounted vertically (Portrait Mode) near your patio entrance or outdoor bar.
- The Problem: Paper menus get wet, blow away, and are expensive to reprint every time you change a price or a keg kicks.
- The Fix: A digital menu allows you to push “Flash Sales.”
- Scenario: It’s raining? Flash a “1/2 Price Guinness” graphic to keep people staying.
- Scenario: Kitchen backed up? Remove the complex dishes from the digital board instantly to throttle orders.
- ROI: Eliminating printing costs and increasing impulse buys on high-margin cocktails pays for the screen in months.
Idea 3: The “Floater” (Ceiling Mounts)
If you have a pergola or an awning, wall space might be scarce. Outvion enclosures are VESA compatible on the rear, meaning they can attach to heavy-duty ceiling poles. This allows you to float screens above the center of the bar, ensuring 360-degree visibility.
Safety & Compliance: Managing the Cables
In a commercial setting, a visible wire is a trip hazard and a code violation.
- Hardwire Power: We strongly recommend hiring an electrician to install recessed outlets behind where the enclosure will mount.
- Conduit: If you must run power externally, use rigid metal conduit (EMT). It looks industrial/chic and protects the wires from rodents and string trimmers.
- The Drip Loop: Even with professional install, always ensure a “drip loop” is present inside or just outside the box to prevent water from tracking into the electrical gang box.
Venue Setup Checklist by Zone
| Zone | Recommended Screen Size | Orientation | Key Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Bar (Seated) | 55″ – 65″ | Landscape | The “Hero” Screen (Big Game Audio) |
| Dining Alcoves | 43″ – 50″ | Landscape | Ambient Sports / News (Muted) |
| Entryway / Host Stand | 43″ | Portrait | Digital Menu / Waitlist / Specials |
| Smoking Area / Queue | 32″ – 43″ | Landscape | Retention (Keep them entertained while waiting) |
Commercial Success Stories
You don’t want to be the guinea pig. We understand that. Outvion enclosures are currently protecting assets in some of the most demanding hospitality environments globally.
- The High-Volume Pub (Boston, USA): A busy Irish pub near Fenway Park faced constant breakage issues with indoor TVs on their patio due to rowdy crowds. After switching to Outvion enclosures with Polycarbonate shields, they have had zero screen replacements in 3 years, despite multiple “impact events.”
- The Luxury Resort (Gold Coast, Australia): A beachside resort needed screens that could survive salt mist. Metal outdoor TVs were corroding within 18 months. Outvion’s polymer construction is immune to salt corrosion. They retrofitted 50 cabanas with our units, saving approximately $150,000 AUD in hardware costs compared to the dedicated outdoor alternatives they were considering.
- The Corporate Campus (Berlin, Germany): A major tech campus used Outvion enclosures for digital wayfinding and cafeteria menus in their outdoor courtyards. The ability to use standard, IT-managed displays inside the weatherproofing allowed their IT department to manage the content remotely without proprietary software.
Conclusion: Upgrade Your Patio Today
The hospitality industry is recovering, but margins are tighter than ever. You cannot afford to let the weather dictate your revenue. You cannot afford to replace equipment because a sudden thunderstorm rolled in or a customer got careless.
An Outvion enclosure is not an expense; it is a revenue-generating asset. It extends your patio season, drives higher check averages through increased dwell time, and drastically lowers your Total Cost of Ownership compared to fragile dedicated outdoor TVs.
Don’t leave your patio silent. Turn it into the most profitable square footage in your venue.
FAQ for Business Owners
Can I tax-deduct this equipment?
Generally, yes. In the US, equipment purchases like this typically fall under Section 179 of the tax code, allowing you to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment bought or financed during the tax year. In the UK/EU, it often falls under “Plant and Machinery” capital allowances. Disclaimer: Always consult your CPA or tax professional for your specific situation.
Do you offer bulk discounts for franchises?
Yes. We understand that outfitting a chain or a large venue requires volume. We offer tiered B2B pricing starting at 5+ units. We can also arrange palletized shipping to reduce freight costs for multi-unit orders. Contact our commercial sales team for a custom bid.
How do I clean them after a busy Friday night?
The enclosure is designed for wash-down environments. You can use a standard hose or a pressure washer on a low-pressure setting (keep the nozzle at least 12 inches away). For the front screen, simply use a microfiber cloth and standard window cleaner or mild soapy water to remove beer splashes and fingerprints. Do not use abrasive pads on the polycarbonate.
What happens if a TV dies inside?
This is the beauty of the system. You unlock the enclosure, unplug the dead TV, and lift it out. You send a staff member to the nearest electronics retailer to buy a replacement 50″/55″/65″ consumer or commercial TV. You install the new one in about 20 minutes. Total downtime: <2 hours. Total replacement cost: ~$500. Compare that to waiting 4–6 weeks for a specialist repair on a $4,000 outdoor TV.
Is the enclosure compatible with digital signage players?
Yes. Commercial installs often use media players like BrightSign, Roku, or mini-PCs to manage content remotely. The Outvion enclosure has ample internal depth and designated mounting points (or velcro space) to house these small boxes behind the screen, keeping them protected from the elements as well.
Does it block Wi-Fi for streaming sports?
No. Unlike improvised steel or aluminum cabinets which act as a Faraday cage (blocking signals), Outvion enclosures are made from RF-transparent thermoplastics. Your Wi-Fi signals will pass through the case, allowing smart TVs and streaming sticks to buffer 4K sports content without the need for hardwired Ethernet (though we always recommend Ethernet for commercial reliability).
Recommended Technical Reading
- State of the Restaurant Industry Report:National Restaurant Association
- Data on outdoor dining trends and technology investments.
- OSHA Electrical Safety Standards (1910.305):OSHA.gov
- Guidelines for wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use (Outdoor wiring safety).
- Digital Signage ROI Guide:Digital Signage Today
- Whitepapers on how digital menu boards drive revenue and operational efficiency.
- Polycarbonate Impact Ratings (IK Code):IEC Standards
- Understanding the specific impact resistance of IK10 rated enclosures.
