The University of Maryland has partnered with Daktronics to manufacture and install a new LED video display in the west end zone of the University’s football field – the seventh-largest display in a college football-specific stadium at 54 feet high by 120 feet wide. The project also brought an 18 feet high by 32.5 feet wide east end zone display, audio system and three new control rooms to campus in College Park, Maryland.
Both displays feature 10-millimeter pixel spacing to bring high-resolution imagery to fans throughout the stadium. An upgraded custom control system was also installed as part of the project to bring fans the best possible game-day production. It includes Daktronics Show Control solution and Live Clips, a dual-channel multimedia broadcast server system designed for game entertainment and live productions.
Paired with the upgraded control solution, the main displays are HDR-capable and can produce variable content zoning to share the video, replays, statistics and graphics fans crave at a live event. Each display can show one large image or can show multiple zones of information, including sponsorship messaging.
To ensure fans get the full in-stadium experience, a new custom sound system was installed and integrated into the video display and scoring system. This system provides the booming, full-range audio reproduction that fans expect at a stadium along with clear, intelligible speech from announcers and broadcasters. Two fixed-digit scoreboards were included with the installation to provide fans with all the basic game-day information and statistics they expect.
“When I saw the screen light up for the first time and then heard the sound come on, I knew we had something special here at the University of Maryland,” said Damon Evans, University of Maryland athletic director. “I am very grateful to Tom Minier and the great team at Daktronics for doing everything they did to complete this project in time for our nationally televised Friday night Big Ten game. I saw firsthand the care and professionalism they put into their work as well as their determination to meet expectations and deadlines.”
Charley Bocklet, Daktronics regional sales manager, added: “The new video display and sound system at the University of Maryland is nothing short of fantastic for the school, their student-athletes and fans. Our team was dedicated to delivering a top-notch product. Working closely together with the University of Maryland staff, we were able to see our work pay off in a great way this fall. Thank you to the university for putting their trust in our team. We look forward to seeing the positive impact for many more games at Capital One Field.”
Daktronics has grown with the sports industry from the company’s beginnings in 1968. Today, the company has LED video display installations at hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States.
