Texas Rangers’ Home Run Porch Gets New Daktronics Video Display

Daktronics has been selected to incorporate large-screen LED displays, professional grade LCD screens, and a control system to deliver an HD video throughout Texas Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

“Our fans will be treated to a new entertainment experience with these video, technology and audio upgrades,” says Rangers Managing Partner and CEO Chuck Greenberg. “We are pleased to be working with Daktronics in bringing the newest integrated display system technology and the highest quality video to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.”

The Home Run Porch, behind right field, will feature a new video display measuring approximately 42 feet high by 120 feet wide. A new video display will also replace the existing monochrome “Coke” display in centerfield and will measure approximately 25 feet high by 28 feet wide.

Both the Home Run Porch and Coke displays will utilize Daktronics 15 millimeter LED technology, featuring enhanced resolution and improved image quality. This technology and its control system allow the video boards to operate as single large displays or be divided into multiple zones (windows) to show a variety of statistics, information, graphics, animation, and live and recorded video.

The new Daktronics LED video displays, and the existing ribbon and field-level displays that were installed in 2009, will be combined with more than 800 Sony professional-grade LCD monitors to create a venue-wide digital media network. The Daktronics system will be an IPTV solution that delivers different live content on 10 HD channels to any display in the venue.

The Rangers will take advantage of Daktronics data integration capabilities to instantly present up-to-the-minute scores, statistics, news and information on any IPTV channel. Daktronics IPTV system also offers the opportunity to provide true sponsor exclusivity. Operators will have the ability to override content on any or all LED or LCD displays in the ballpark to show a sponsor’s logo or advertisement guaranteeing venue-wide exposure, and increased revenue opportunities for the property and its tenants.

At the center of the control solution will be the company’s Show Control system, with the ability to take in various video, scoring, timing, statistical data, out-of-town scores, and point of sale information. With the Show Control system, all displays across the network can be turned on or off, their volume adjusted, or channel changed so all the displays show the same piece of content. One system provides total control and total integration. With the click of a single button one message can be delivered anytime to all displays everywhere throughout the ballpark.

Indiana University Swimming’s New Daktronics Setup

Daktronics has also provided Indiana University’s Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center with new aquatics scoring, timing, and video display systems in the country. The new system offers precise timing and incorporates the largest LED video display at any collegiate aquatics facility in the country.

“Indiana University Athletics wished to take the fan experience at swimming and diving competitions to a whole new level,” says Charles Crabb, Assistant Athletics Director – Facilities. “We wanted a large format video presentation that would also allow us the optimum display of statistics and results. We also desired to install a diving LED video board that would permit some video presentation affording us the ability to configure diving results to utilize whatever number of judges that might be involved with the competition whether it is age group, college, national or international.”

Highlighting the recent installation at Indiana University is a 15-foot high by 37-foot wide video board utilizing 10 millimeter pixel resolution. The massive new video board can operate as an independent display or be divided into multiple zones.

Daktronics also provided another 8-foot high by 14-foot wide display primarily used for diving. The keeps spectators and competitors alike informed with instant highlights and results as they happen.

The new complete scoring, timing and video system incorporates Daktronics patented touchpads, relay take off platforms (RTOPs), pace clocks, horn start systems and Daktronics sports timers. The timers provide 1/1000th of a second accuracy and advanced features needed at competitions. The touchpads are highly sensitive across the entire nonslip surface and fill with water to equalize internal and external pressure. They are constructed of stainless steel, providing a reliable surface that will not warp or leak. Daktronics RTOPs are not dependent on the weight of the athlete, the style of start, or variations with blocks. Instead, they detect the split second a swimmer loses contact with the platform during a relay exchange.

The installation also runs on Daktronics’ Show Control system.