Colorado State University Athletics
Moby Arena to receive new scoreboards
7/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 9, 2010
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Colorado State basketball and volleyball fans, strap on your seat belts.
Moby Arena is receiving $1 million in scoreboard upgrades, the CSU athletic department announced Friday.
Daktronics won the bid and on Oct. 1 will work with CSU officials to begin installation of a spectacular four-panel video board, which will hang in the center of the arena, a stat panel behind each of the two baskets, and new scoreboards on each concourse.
"We are extremely pleased to be able to install this new video scoreboard system," said Paul Kowalczyk, Director of Athletics. "It is a significant and long-overdue step for our program. Having a state-of-the-art video board along with increased fan attendance will enhance Moby's reputation as an intimidating venue and will give us an added home-court advantage. Our fans, players, coaches and students deserve this. It is another illustration of how committed we are to the success of our basketball and volleyball programs."
After two weeks of installation, the Rams are hopeful to debut the new boards on Homecoming weekend, either the night of Oct. 14 or Oct. 16, when CSU's nationally ranked volleyball team hosts respective conference matches against TCU and New Mexico. The football team meets UNLV earlier in the day Oct. 16 in Fort Collins.
CSU's women's basketball team will play under the new board for the first time Nov. 5 in an exhibition game against Colorado Christian. Meanwhile, the men will appear on the video boards at their exhibition opener, Nov. 12 vs. Regis.
"Moby Arena is our house and in our house we need a big-time TV entertainment system," said volleyball Head Coach Tom Hilbert. "We already had the best home volleyball court in the Mountain West. This makes it even better. Moby Arena is a great venue for our basketball and volleyball teams."
Concepts are currently being finalized prior to production, but no question, the new boards will give CSU's game-presentation efforts a professional feel. Fans should be amazed at the difference in their Moby experience compared to games in the past. The old Moby scoreboard was installed in 1995.
"I can't tell you how excited I am for our program, our fans and our players, current and future," said men's basketball Head Coach Tim Miles. "Our university is committing a million dollars to upgrading our arena with these scoreboards. I know that when our fans and students turn it up, Moby can be one of the most intimidating environments in college basketball for opposing teams. It was in the past and I've seen it a few times be that way again. These improvements will do great things for the fan experience at our home court. This proves how serious Colorado State is about enhancing the Moby atmosphere, making it one of the best places to play in the country!"
Other benefits of the new video boards:
- Instant replays;
- Fan-friendly statistical and biographical information about players during games, probably when the player is at the foul line;
- Gives sponsors new avenues to connect their brand with CSU Athletics;
- Allows the athletic department more options to entertain fans, with features such as game intro videos, highlight videos, spoof/comedy videos, historical videos, and contests and promotions created with the video board in mind; and
- Gives CSU the option to host road-game watch parties on campus, at Moby Arena, for any of the university's sports that are televised.
The board will contain LED technology that features high-quality 10-millimeter spacing between columns and lines. Below the video boards will be an LED ring that will be used for sponsor advertisements, but CSU will have the flexibility to interrupt those ads when a big play occurs (such as an animation for a slam dunk or 3-pointer in basketball, or a set-ending kill in volleyball). The ring also will be used to promote upcoming events.
The stat panels in the corners of the arena (separate from the center-hung video scoreboard) will provide basketball information such as player number, points and fouls. The athletic department is exploring the possibility of adding rebounds, assists and names.
On the two Moby concourses, the Rams are installing new score displays. The displays will include new flat screens for fans wanting to follow the action while they are away from the seats. Fans won't miss the action while they wait in line at concession stands.
And, Moby Arena hosts scores of non-sporting events every year, and the new boards also will enhance the experience of those attending commencement ceremonies, concerts, lectures and conferences.
"The addition of a new, state-of-the-art scoreboard will enhance the home-game experience for both our players and the fans," said women's basketball Head Coach Kristen Holt.
Football fans may also see a new scoreboard at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium in the near future, as the athletic department is looking into that possibility.
Daktronics
CSU fans will be treated to an entertainment system furnished by the industry leaders in video and LED board products and service. The company is currently building the largest center-hung video board in the NBA for the Orlando Magic's new Amway Center. Other NBA clients include the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets.
Daktronics' college basketball venues include the 2010 NCAA men's Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke), Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas), Assembly Hall (Indiana), Assembly Hall (Illinois), Maples Pavilion (Stanford), the Thomas & Mack Center (UNLV), Bud Walton Arena (Arkansas), the O'Connell Center (Florida), the Kohl Center (Wisconsin) and Louisville's new KFC Yum! Center.
In addition, Daktronics provided video boards for two of the 2010 World Cup venues in South Africa.
For ticket information on volleyball or basketball games at Moby Arena, call 1-800/491-RAMS or visit CSURams.com/tickets.
