Object type
Custom inflatable player tunnel
An inflatable player tunnel is an entrance kept up by a blower, which the team runs through onto the pitch or the ice. It is usually 3 to 9 m long. Digital Inflatables built a 7 m tall lion for the ZSC in Zurich and a 6.5 m eagle for the GSHC in Geneva, each in under 10 days.
Projects of this type
3 projects
Inflatable entrance tunnel shaped like a roaring lion, 7 m tall and 9 m long, built in under 10 days for the ZSC in Zurich.
Inflatable player tunnel shaped like an eagle with spread wings, 6.5 m tall with a 9 m wingspan, built in under 10 days for the GSHC in Geneva.
Brands and retail
Giant inflatable cup tunnel for Emmi Caffè Latte
Giant cup-shaped inflatable tunnel, 10 m long, built by Digital Inflatables for Emmi Caffè Latte and its 20-year anniversary party at Zürich HB.
Contents · 5 sections
What is an inflatable player tunnel used for?
It brings the team onto the ice or the pitch under the club’s emblem, in front of the crowd. A cold-air blower, connected by a tube, keeps it inflated.
Digital Inflatables shapes it after the club: a roaring lion for the ZSC, an eagle with spread wings for the GSHC.
The GSHC eagle was delivered for the new National League season, in September 2022.
Brands use it too: for Emmi Caffè Latte, the workshop made a giant cup you walk through.
How big is a custom inflatable tunnel?
Usually 3 to 9 m long when inflated. A custom tunnel also takes the height and shape of the chosen emblem.
The ZSC lion tunnel is 7 m tall and 9 m long. The GSHC eagle tunnel is 6.5 m tall with a 9 m wingspan.
The Emmi Caffè Latte cup is 10 m long and 4.5 m high.
Before asking for a quote, measure the width and height of the players’ exit, and the way in for the folded tunnel. The briefing guide lists the measurements to send.
A similar project? Describe it to our team.
Request a quoteHow is a tunnel in the club’s colours made?
A 3D model is approved first. The fabric pieces are then laser-cut, dye-sublimation printed and sewn by hand: more than 500 for the lion, more than 400 for the eagle.
For the ZSC, Digital Inflatables presented 3 proposals in 3D after 2 weeks.
Once the model was chosen, the tunnel was designed, cut and assembled in under 10 days.
The logo, the mascot’s head or the wings are set at the 3D stage. Fabrics and printing are compared in the fabrics and printing guide.
Can a player tunnel go on ice, in a station or outdoors?
Yes, as long as it has room and a socket for its blower: on the ice for the ZSC and the GSHC, at Zürich HB for Emmi Caffè Latte, in 2024.
The GSHC plays its home games at the Patinoire des Vernets in Geneva. Its eagle recalls Sherkan, a bald eagle and one of the club’s mascots.
The ZSC Lions have played at the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich-Altstetten since October 2022.
On ice or a wooden court, you cannot drive in stakes: the tunnel is ballasted. Solutions for each surface are in the wind and anchoring guide.
How much does an inflatable tunnel for hockey or football cost?
The ZSC lion and the GSHC eagle each cost between 8’000 and 15’000 CHF.
The price depends mostly on size, shape and printing. A simple shape costs less than an animal built from many pieces.
More benchmarks are in the custom inflatable price guide. To mark an entrance without covering it, an inflatable arch is often enough.
Full specifications
| GSHC eagle tunnel, Geneva | 6.5 m tall x 9 m wingspan |
|---|---|
| ZSC lion tunnel, Zurich | 7 m tall x 9 m long |
| Emmi Caffè Latte cup tunnel | 10 m long x 4.5 m high |
| Build time, lion and eagle | under 10 days each |
| Budget, lion and eagle | 8’000 to 15’000 CHF each |
| Emmi Caffè Latte tunnel launch | Zürich HB, 2024, 20-year anniversary |
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to make an inflatable tunnel?
Under 10 days once the 3D model is chosen, as for the ZSC lion and the GSHC eagle. Allow time for the design as well.
Can the tunnel take the shape of the club mascot?
Yes. The whole tunnel can reproduce the emblem, like the ZSC lion or the GSHC eagle, in dye-sublimation printed fabric.
Can an inflatable tunnel be used in the rain?
Only if it is built for it. According to the Digital Inflatables post, the Emmi Caffè Latte tunnel has a double wall and a waterproofing treatment.
How do you store an inflatable tunnel after the game?
Dry, folded without sharp creases and kept under cover. The guide to lifespan and care covers cleaning, drying and storage.
Who makes custom inflatable tunnels in Switzerland?
Digital Inflatables, a Swiss workshop, built the tunnels of the ZSC in Zurich and the GSHC in Geneva.
Sources
- Digital Inflatables projects page digital-inflatables.com
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post instagram.com
- Digital Inflatables Instagram post instagram.com
- Wikipedia, “Inflatable tunnel” en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, “ZSC Lions” de.wikipedia.org
Drafted with AI assistance from the company’s verified facts, reviewed and approved by Jodoc Elmiger, founder and managing director of Digital Inflatables.