Southern Methodist University to Upgrade Football Stadium with Integrated Video and Audio System from Daktronics

Daktronics Inc. announced today that Southern Methodist University has chosen the company to design, manufacture and install an integrated video and audio system at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the SMU campus in Dallas, Texas.

The video display system will utilize Daktronics newest HD-15 LED technology, featuring a tighter resolution and improved image quality, and will measure approximately 32 feet high by 45 feet wide. The video board can operate as single giant display or be divided into multiple zones (windows) to show a wide variety of statistics, information, graphics, animation and live and recorded video.

“We’re excited about working with Daktronics to significantly upgrade all of Ford Stadium’s audio-video capabilities,” said Tom Buning, Senior Associate Athletic Director. ”This cutting edge technology investment will allow us to highlight the spectacular plays of the Mustangs on the field and greatly enhance the fan experience.”

Also included in the project is the new Show Control system from Daktronics. The company’s video processing system is touted by experts as the best in the industry, processing and scaling live and recorded video signal to vivid digital imagery on large displays. The Show Control system is the one of the latest developments from Daktronics, providing a power combination of control software, data integration, and playback hardware that forms a user-friendly production solution. For more on Show Control, visit www.daktronics.com/show.

A complete high definition front end video production system with four HD cameras, HD production switcher, and three channels of HD replay will provide live video and replay capabilities. Combined with Daktronics Show Control Software, the system will be a high powered, fully integrated A/V solution.

A new custom sound system will deliver pounding bass energy, smooth mid and high range frequencies, and high impact entertainment throughout the stadium. Daktronics is supplying the speakers, amplifiers and audio control system.

“Daktronics is thrilled about the upcoming project at Ford Stadium,” said Dan Fjeldheim, Daktronics sales. “This fully integrated audio/visual system, all provided by Daktronics, will make for an exciting game-day experience for SMU fans. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to provide SMU video, scoring and audio enhancements.”

About Southern Methodist University

Gerald J. Ford Stadium, finished in August of 2000 on the former Ownby Stadium grounds, has a horseshoe configuration with an open south end zone adjacent to Mockingbird Lane. The architecture is consistent with the Collegiate-Georgian style of the entire SMU campus and features traditional, yet state-of-the-art design concepts. The stadium has a seating capacity of 32,000 with the possibility for future expansion to 45,000. The 32,000-seat configuration includes nearly 600 preferred club level seats and 240 seats in 24 spacious luxury suites housed in a custom, three-level press box. In addition to housing preferred club and suite seating, the air-conditioned press box provides excellent sightlines and comfortably accommodates more than 125 working print, radio and television media. The playing surface is 25 feet below ground level, with half of the stadium’s seats sunk below grade, ensuring a smooth transition into the surrounding neighborhood and the remainder of the SMU campus.

About Daktronics

Daktronics has strong leadership positions in, and is the world’s largest supplier of, large screen video displays, electronic scoreboards, computer-programmable displays, digital billboards, and control systems. The company excels in the control of large display systems, including those that require integration of multiple complex displays showing real-time information, graphics, animation and video. Daktronics designs, manufactures, markets and services display systems for customers around the world, in sport, business and transportation applications. For more information, visit the company’s World Wide Web site at: http://www.daktronics.com, e-mail the company at sales [at] daktronics.com, call (605) 697-4300 or toll-free (800) 325-8766 in the United States or write to the company at 331 32nd Ave. PO Box 5128 Brookings, S.D. 57006-5128.

For more information contact:
MEDIA RELATIONS:
Mark Steinkamp
Marketing Manager
tel (605) 692-0200
e-mail Mark.Steinkamp [at] daktronics.com

Source: Daktronics