Memphis Redbirds Choose Daktronics for Largest HD Video Display in Minor League Baseball

In the spring of 2012, AutoZone Park, home to the Memphis Redbirds, will feature the largest light emitting diode (LED) video display in all of Minor League Baseball. The new high-definition display, to be provided by Daktronics Inc. (Nasdaq-DAKT), will be five times larger than the Redbirds’ existing matrix display and larger than some displays in Major League Baseball ballparks.

Soaring 127 feet above the playing field, the new 20 ton HD video board will utilize the latest in LED technology offering superb clarity and contrast of video images, providing excellent viewing angles throughout the stadium. Measuring 60 feet high by 60 feet wide, the video board can operate as an independent display showing single large images or be divided into multiple zones (windows) to show a wide variety of statistics, information, graphics, animation and live and recorded video. The board can also be used in a variety of ways to recognize and activate sponsors. The video display will be operated with a high definition front end production control system designed by Daktronics.

“We’re really going to enjoy the fact that we will have bragging rights as the largest board in Minor League baseball. AutoZone Park was rated the number one ballpark by Baseball America and the new board will just add to the reputation that we already have of being the best. Also, it will be a lot easier to control what’s placed on the board and the different things that we can do with advertisements and videos that we were limited with before,” said Erin O’Donnell, Marketing Manager. “The control system will provide videos and other information that will flow seamlessly to the board and will just help us provide a more enjoyable experience. That and it’s going to be an attention grabber that’s for sure, 60 feet x 60 feet is going to get everyone’s eyes focused on the board.”

“We are really looking forward to the increased quality and clarity the new video board will bring. It will allow us more flexibility with ads and where we place them on the board. Other than that we will have a peace of mind that the board will actually work during the games and we can’t wait to see the fans reaction when they see it,” said Adam Goldberg, Director of Marketing. “Obviously it will be a lot bigger than the current board. Along with the board we’re getting a new remote camera that will increase the number of views that we can show to the fans.”

“It’s really going to enhance the in game experience for our fans and make life easier for us on the operations side,” said Ben Weiss, General Manager.

“Quite simply Daktronics has a reputation of being one of the best in the industry and we knew that they would do the job right,” said Mark Anderson, Director of Operations. “Overall the amount of man hours that a new board will save in repairs is immeasurable. We are looking forward to a nice clean look that our current scoreboard structure is lacking and the amount of capabilities the new board will open up to us where we were limited in the past.”

The Redbirds will also utilize Daktronics industry-leading data integration capabilities to instantly present up-to-the-minute scores, statistics, news and information.

Daktronics will provide creative digital content from opening animations and crowd prompts to player bios and sponsor animations. Daktronics Creative Services specialize in producing digital content for LED displays used in stadiums and arenas across the country.

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

About Memphis Redbirds

The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tenn. The stadium’s capacity is 17,500. AutoZone Park was named the 2009 Minor League Ballpark of the Year by Baseball America. Since AutoZone Park opened in 2000, Redbirds officials have touted it as the finest minor league baseball stadium ever built.

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) 692-0200 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