FIFA sign letters installed at Maple Field La Conner letters installed at Maple Field for World Cup
By Luisa Loi
La Conner Community News
With its latest addition to Maple Field on Monday, La Conner joined the unofficial club of municipalities greeting locals and visitors with signs consisting of large block letters spelling out their names.
In January, as Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., prepared to host several 2026 FIFA World Cup games in June and July, La Conner agreed to produce and display a sign welcoming an influx of soccer fans as hotels within a 2-mile radius of the games were expected to sell out. The Town was awarded a $1,000 grant through the Skagit Tourism Bureau, which was given $48,000 by the Seattle Foundation, to do so.
Concrete, Sedro-Woolley, Anacortes, Mount Vernon and Burlington are also producing similar signs.
Unlike the Hollywood sign, which is 45 feet tall and white, La Conner’s letters stand at over 5 feet tall, their black surface contrasting with the agricultural landscape beyond Maple Field and the recently planted Liberty Tree. And while its much more famous counterpart is closed to the public and does not allow for any alterations, the La Conner sign is meant to be written and doodled on, with chalk available at the base of the letters.
The sign, which was built by Janicki and decorated by artist Kevin Hartman, features a soccer ball pattern covering the letter “O,” the words “WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT LA CONNER” spread across the letters, and QR codes taking visitors to the Tourism Bureau’s website where they can learn more about the community.
Following the installation Monday afternoon, Arts Commission Chair Holly Redell-Witte, as well as commissioners Nicolette Harrington, Joanna Sikes and Nancy Crowell (who is also La Conner Community News’ photographer) embellished the sign with their own drawings and words about what they believe makes La Conner special. By Tuesday morning, the community had already covered the display with colorful thoughts and doodles.
Redell-Witte said she hopes the sign will entice people to take photos in front of it and write what they love about the town. The Tourism Bureau encourages people to visit all of the six signs installed around the county and take the opportunity to explore each town. Social media users can also post pictures taken from each landmark with the hashtag #MagicSkagit for an opportunity to win a prize.
The sign is temporary and will be removed once the World Cup ends, Redell-Witte said. If anyone is interested in taking home a letter, they could do so with a donation to the Arts Commission.
Belgium vs. Egypt, which is the first of six games that will take place in Seattle, is scheduled for June 15.
Luisa Loi is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
