A crew works to remove a 12-year-old video display from the main scoreboard at the north end zone at Razorback Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
Photos: Todd Gill, Flyer staff
As promised, the main scoreboard at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is getting an upgrade this year.
Crews began replacing the video screen on the north end zone this week with a brand new, 16-mm high-definition video display.
Once complete, the $4.6 million HD screen will measure 167 feet wide and 38 feet tall, nearly doubling the size of the current video display which was installed in the middle of the scoreboard 12 years ago.
Athletic Director Jeff Long said the new board will greatly enhance the game day experience.
“The video board plays such an instrumental role in creating an exciting game day atmosphere and helping create a home field advantage. This new larger board utilizes some of the latest technology and will allow us to introduce new interactive features.”
The University of Arkansas’ athletic department chose Cincinnati-based LSI Industries, Inc. to handle the manufacture and installation of the new screen. LSI is the same company that provided the original 107-foot-by-30-foot display in 2000, which, at the time, was the largest at any stadium in the world.
The new display won’t carry the same bragging rights, but it will be one of the largest in college football. Only Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas (134 x 55) and Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fla. (138.5 x 48.5) have larger screens.
The project, which is part of a series of major upgrades to the UA’s athletic facilities, also includes new LED stadium identification signs as well as new game clocks and play clocks on the north and south ends of the stadium.
Good grief, I can think of several thousand better things to do in our community/university for $4.6 million
True, but few that will pay for themselves via ad revenue in just a few years, and then become a source of revenue for their owners.
It isn’t a toy. Its a $-generator.
yes, the entirely financially self sufficient UA Athletic Department should spend 4.6 million on whatever Jessica likes- BRILLIANT! Jessica please bless us with your suggestions.
Many people mistakenly believe that athletic department expenditures are part of the greater University budget. They are not. The AD is self-sufficient via ticket revenue and private donations. The U of A owns the land under the facilities, but doesn’t spend anything on those big venues. And the U of A gets a great marketing tool via its sports teams and facilities, as well as a diverse group of student-athletes recruited to the campus.
still waiting for Jessica’s thousands of suggestions
I think five people telling her she’s wrong is plenty. She just didn’t know. Geez. We’ve all been wrong about something before, right?
NEVER.
I thought I was wrong once, but was mistaken.
These aren’t public funds. The people who donated this money, donated it to the Athletic Department. I do not think anyone should be in the business of telling others who or what to donate THEIR OWN money too.
Long mentions “new interactive features”? They are going to need a serious upgrade to wifi and/or 3G coverage for that. AT&T and the U of A should be embarrassed. AT&T has significant sponsorship and signage in the stadium while 50K people grumble about not being able to check in on FB or check a score in another game.
I would be fine just watching the team play, but if you’re going to spend millions making technology a part of the game day, don’t stop halfway.
Wish they would upgrade the sound system…