New video display will change stadium experience

Visitors to Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium this fall will have an entirely different experience, thanks to the installation of a new video scoreboard and display. Pittsburg State University announced the signing of a contract with Daktronics, Inc., in Brookings, S.D., for the production of the video display board today.

The new video display, which will be almost 40 feet tall and nearly 70 feet wide and will include a new sound system, will be located on the south end of the stadium. According to Daktronics, the PSU video board will be the largest at any NCAA D-II stadium in the U.S. The total cost of the project is approximately $1.7 million. The purchase of the new board was made possible by a number of private donors.

“There has been talk of replacing the old scoreboard for many years,” Kendall Gammon, a major gifts officer in the PSU Office of University Development said. “Because the new video display will be such a tremendous addition to the stadium and all the people who use the stadium, there were a number of donors who were eager to step forward and make this project a reality.”

The current scoreboard was installed in 1988 and uses incandescent bulbs to display the score and clock. In contrast, the new display will rely on LEDs (light emitting diodes). The new technology makes it possible to display color animation, vivid graphics and both live and pre-recorded video. A complete integrated sound system is also included in the package. The system speakers will be housed in a cabinet above the video display.

While the capabilities of the new video board are an obvious boon for the football program, the new board is expected to have a much broader impact. Carnie Smith Stadium is used for a number of athletic and student events throughout the year and video board may be used for many of those. The PSU Student Activities Office is already giving thought to hosting outdoor movies in the stadium. The new board will also be an asset as the university and the community vie for the opportunity to host events such as the Shrine Bowl. There may even be opportunities to integrate the video display into the university’s emergency notification system.

The university’s award-winning television broadcasting programs will also benefit from the installation of the new video display. Students already tape PSU football games for rebroadcast on the university’s public access station and they are expected to play an important role in the use of instant replay on the new video board.

“This new video display is an exciting enhancement not only for our football team and for our games, but also for the total game day atmosphere at Pittsburg State University, which remains second to none,” said Athletic Director Chuck Broyles. “This project will benefit not only our football program, but our track & field program as well. Other university departments and organizations as well as additional outside events will benefit from its use. Certainly this also is yet another great example of the commitment of private donors to our university. When people are motivated positive things get done.”

The new video display will set Pittsburg State University apart from other similar-sized universities. The size and quality of the new video display is equal to or superior to that found at many D-I programs, according to officials at Daktronics. Similar, but smaller video displays can be found at Kansas State University, the University of Missouri, and the University of Iowa.

“Pittsburg State fans, athletes and supporters are in for a treat when the 2008 season of Gorilla football begins,” said Brady Jacobsen, Daktronics sales. “We’re pleased to partner with the university to bring the sights and sounds of ‘the Pitt’ to a level that will rival Division I facilities.”

Work on the construction and installation of the new video display will continue over the summer with plans for the new display to be in place in time for the first home football game at 6 p.m. on Sept. 13 vs. Missouri Southern, which is also Family Day.

---Pitt State---