OKLAHOMA CITY, Monday, June 1, 2009 – Thunder Basketball fans in every seat will enjoy a significant upgrade to their game viewing experience with the addition of a brand new, high quality digital video scoreboard. Designs of the new Ford Center scoreboard were released today. It is scheduled to be in place before the start of the 2009-10 Thunder season. The new scoreboard is among the many improvements planned for the Ford Center over the next two years.
The scoreboard, manufactured by Daktronics, features a total of ten full-motion video panels as compared to the current four panel scoreboard configuration. This will provide fans with a significantly enhanced video and graphics presentation. The new 10mm video panels are almost three times the size of the main screens on the current 12mm scoreboard. The board also includes an LED ring to display video and text.
“Our goal is to take as many steps as possible to improve the game experience for our fans. The addition of this high quality scoreboard is just one of the many amenities we are improving to accomplish that goal,” said Brian Byrnes, the Thunder’s senior vice president for ticket sales and services. “The high quality video panels will provide higher resolution which means sharper, clearer images and enhanced viewing for every seat in the house.”
The bottom of the scoreboard will also feature two unique tilted 6mm video panels to provide a high quality, easy-to-view presentation for fans sitting courtside and in other lower seating areas. “This is a feature specifically requested by Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett and was designed for the Thunder. We feel it will greatly improve the viewing experience for our fans sitting close to the floor, along with players and officials,” Byrnes said. Besides live and replayed game action, all ten video panels will be able to display video features, in-game activities, sponsor elements and, of course, the game score.
The 46,000-pound scoreboard will be 35 feet wide and 31 feet tall and will cost $3.9 million. The Thunder worked closely with the City of Oklahoma City to develop the design features.
Funding for the scoreboard and other renovations to the Ford Center comes from a one-cent sales tax approved by voters on March 4, 2008. The 15-month tax took effect on January 1, 2009 and will expire March 31, 2010.
Daktronics, located in Brookings, SD, is recognized worldwide in its industry as the leading designer and manufacturer of electronic scoreboards, programmable display systems, and large screen video displays using light emitting diode (LED) technology.