A glimpse at what Virginia Tech’s new Lane Stadium video board might look like
Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver dropped the news on the Tech Talk Live radio show a few months ago that the Hokies were in discussions about adding a new video board in Lane Stadium before next season.
Well, it appears that project is full steam ahead.
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Some pictures have been making their way around the Internet, courtesy of Virginia Tech’s Request for Proposal for the video board and audio system installation.
I have a call into Tom Gabbard, Virginia Tech’s Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Affairs. He is in charge of new construction projects and maintenance. Hopefully he can offer some more insight into the project.
From the RFP, though, there are a few details of note. The bidder inquiry deadline is tomorrow. Tech hopes to have a contractor selected by April 1. Demolition of the existing board can’t take place until May 17 because of graduation. And the installation of the new board is to be completed by Aug. 1.
There are plenty of technical figures associated with the new board, but the size is probably what people care about. The new video board has to be at least 48.2 feet tall by 108.2 feet wide.
February 18, 2013 - 12:29 PM
AB, I’m sure you will anyway, but how about referencing the size of the old scoreboard? I’m guessing it was in the 20×50 range or so? Also, is it safe to presume the audio system will be replaced as part of the scoreboard replacement? We’ve got to have the WORST speaker system in the country.
The new scoreboard looks impressive, and is long overdue. I’m glad Jim Weaver was finally pressured into securing a new one. Even Wake Forest had a scoreboard that punked ours. This one looks nice.
The list below is not comprehensive, so I can’t vouch for its’ accuracy. It is interesting to review, though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_scoreboards_in_NCAA_college_football
I’ve actually been looking for the dimensions of the previous one. All the media guide says is that it is 1/3 bigger than the previous one. My guess is they know it’s not very big, so they don’t advertise it.
I’ll ask Gabbard if he calls me back today.
It might ‘only’ be 1/3 bigger than the physical dimensions of the current one, but from the images, the viewable surface will be twice as big, easily. The current one is like our parent’s 1970 console TV, compared to today’s big screen HDTV’s. The old school TV’s were all cabinet, and a 19″ screen. The same 2D size TV today will give you a 42″ screen. It’s a shame they’re not trumpeting the vastly improved aspect, instead of trying to downplay how bad the old one is, by minimizing the size differences.
Yea this format is better. The thing that was up this am
was bad . Now let’s see if it submits
No, I meant the one VT currently has (installed in 2005) is only described as 1/3 bigger than the previous one. The new one is going to put the current one to shame.
Like I said, I’ll ask Gabbard for the dimensions of the current one. This new one will be much, much bigger.
#5 AB, gotcha. I thought that size difference seemed smaller than I expected. As I mentioned above, I’d estimate the current one to be no more than 20×50. Maybe less than that. Maybe as small as 16×40 or so.
As far as the actual viewing area, I’ll stick with my point on that. If the new one looks similar to the images, it will be a HUGE difference.
Looks great but when the heck they doing something about the sound system in Cassell. Makes the lane system sound like a U2 concert. Maybe you can ask Gabbard about that to Andy. Last time they did the football board they also did Cassell. At the time ISP was marketing all of that. I assume IMG doing the same. Bigger screen will make the Hardees shuffle easier.
The Cassell scoreboards will also be replaced before next basketball season.
Andy, please ask Gabbard about the new sound system. – Thanks
I’m perplexed at the spending of resources for a glorified TV screen. People are starting to stay home and watch the games because they have their own huge TV screen to watch games on. Adding cost to the price of going, live, isn’t going to get people there. For one thing, Tech, in home games, plays the “Hokie Respect” game of not showing ANY controversial replays – so why have the screen? They show plays after they have happened – so you might as well stay at home and watch it from there.
Rich H – who shows plays before they’ve happened? Just kidding around.