Mobile TV Group has launched 57FLEX, a new mobile unit designed to serve Detroit’s professional sports teams, including the Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers.
The unit represents MTVG’s approach to balancing the practical constraints of mobile production with design quality and environmental responsibility. Every aspect of 57FLEX was developed within strict limitations — space, weight, technical specifications, and time — while creating a workspace that supports the on-site teams who bring live sports to viewers.
Why Design Matters in Mobile Production
In an era when many production roles can be performed remotely, mobile units need to be functional spaces where people want to work. MTVG’s on-site teams spend long hours inside these units during games, interacting with players, producers, and other personnel. The environment directly impacts creativity, focus, and job performance.
57FLEX was designed with this reality in mind. The marble-inspired interior finish and thoughtfully selected materials create a refined workspace that goes beyond the bare minimum. It’s about building a space where production teams can do their best work, on-site, when it matters most.
Designing Within Constraints
Creating an aesthetically pleasing mobile unit isn’t simple. Every design decision in 57FLEX had to account for four critical factors: space, weight, reflection, and time.
Mobile units operate under strict highway weight limits, and every pound matters. Space is at a premium, with each square inch serving a purpose. Reflective surfaces can’t be used because they interfere with monitors and production work. Materials must withstand frequent cleaning, from arena floors to rodeo venues, while keeping sensitive electronics dry. And components need to collapse and expand reliably for transport and setup.
Within these constraints, MTVG’s team, working from the company’s Englewood, Colorado facility, custom-built 57FLEX from an empty shell. The metal shop, woodshop, and CAD team designed every component to exact specifications, ensuring the final result met both functional requirements and design standards.
Sustainable Material Selections
In keeping with MTVG’s work toward sustainable production practices, 57FLEX incorporates several environmentally conscious materials.
Wall coverings use Chilewich Terrastrand yarn, which contains 25% renewable vegetable content and is 100% phthalate-free. The soybean-based plasticizer reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to petroleum-based alternatives. The backing system, BioFelt, is made from recycled water bottles and other post-consumer materials.
The countertops are manufactured in a BIFMA level® certified U.S. facility and contain an average of 23% post-consumer recycled content, approximately double that of many standard laminate brands.
These materials were selected not only for their environmental benefits but also for their durability and ease of maintenance — critical factors for equipment that travels from venue to venue and must perform reliably in varied conditions.
Built to MTVG Standards
Like every MTVG mobile unit, 57FLEX underwent the company’s rigorous construction and inspection process. The independent purchase and installation of all components —from the router and switcher to the termination of more than 14,000 individual connections — ensures quality and reliability.
MTVG’s in-house R&D team tested all technologies before installation, ensuring that each piece of equipment met the performance standards required for live sports production.
57FLEX will be supported by MTVG’s on-site engineers, transporters, and remote Cloud Control team throughout its operational lifetime, with regular hardware and software updates to maintain peak performance.