Phillies spend $10 million on new HD scoreboard
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Phillies spend $10 million on new HD scoreboard
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
We mentioned it a few weeks ago on Twitter, but finally, here are some details on the installation of the new HD scoreboard at Citizens Bank Park, courtesy of the team:
The Phillies have partnered with Sony Electronics’ System Solutions Group and Daktronics to dramatically enhance the fans viewing experience at Citizens Bank Park. The $10 million upgrade includes the installation of a massive, new Daktronics HD-15 video display and the latest in Sony HD production technology.
When completed, the new Phillies HD display will be the largest in the National League and among the largest in the world – measuring 76 feet high and 97 feet wide, and totaling 7,372 square feet of digital space.
The new HD display will be located under the iconic Phillies sign in left field and will almost triple the size of the formerly existing video display originally installed at Citizens Bank Park. During game time, millions of individual LEDs will illuminate the screen, creating superb image clarity with improved contrast and incredible wide-angle viewing of the action on the playing field. The additional size and resolution of the display will provide even more game-related action and statistical information.
“We’re truly excited to bring the HD experience to our fans,” said Mark DiNardo, Director, Broadcasting and Video Services. “The new technology and dramatically larger image will bring our fans closer to the action than ever. Our unique partnership with Sony and Daktronics gives us the opportunity to transition the in-house broadcast, production and entertainment systems to high-definition in one step.”
Other locations in Citizens Bank Park that will be part of the upgrade to HD include PhanaVision (Phillies video replay and control room) and video production/video coaching production areas, as well as the facility’s cable TV system.
Construction has already begun with the removal of the original Phillies videoboard, which has recently been relocated to the team’s spring training facility at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
Additionally, the Phillies will be installing a dedicated closed captioning display to assist hearing impaired fans, and all 800 televisions in the suites and public areas will also be upgraded to HD.
The first opportunity for fans to see the new videoboard in action will be during the On-Deck Series, when the Phillies take on the Pittsburgh Pirates, March 29-30.
Beautiful. If I had two complaints about the ballpark, they would be that the TVs in the concourse area were obsolete and that game info was difficult to locate (pitch count, radar gun, etc). This will make it much easier to pick up the details that you can get watching the game at home but you miss in live action at the park.— conceptual_bro
But is it a 3D HD scoreboard?— drog- HAHA. no. doesn't matter. that's just a fad which will go away. you're at the game. stuff like that doesn't matter — gorming
- Why would the game be over at 12:45? And its light out so dont give me its 12:45 AM....— dennis14
- They're printing money down there, yo. Straight paper, son.— MTbelly
- This is awesome. Such a huge high-def board makes watching the field itself obsolete!— everydayguy
- This comment has been deleted.— mrjetsondc420
Comment removed.- Actually, they do. Thats why they took the job. — clever
- They are going green. They're making the rest of the league green with envy. OOOHHHHHH — Nooaah
- SEPTA is already green enough, and that brings most fans to the game. — gorming
- Good, there's plenty of American coal to fire up the coal plants. Of course most of the power around here is emission-free nuclear anyway. — BarryG
- MUTS FAN ALERT....
— delcodanno - Rollins is hitting .543? 12:45PM for game end time? While convincing, I don't believe much of what I see on this scoreboard.— burlywood66
- Should've used it to resign Cliff Lee! Oh...wait...— KidCole35
- i assume this is an effort to generate additional advertising rev. seems like a good investment for a team that has maxed out its ad $ the last few years. make more $, sign better players, increase/sustain attendance, win world series. all is well.
- Cool. Nice job in rewarding the fans Phils! But for 10 mil, can the scoreboard also play right field? Maybe flash strobe lights into the eyes of the lefty hitters? :-)
— chris in indy - So the scoreboard predicts Rollins will hit 5th.— krupps58
- hmmm Halladay is pitching for the Phillies, but hitting for the Braves, and Hudson is hitting for the Phillies but pitching for the braves.— imabigdog
- Halladay is listed under the Braves because the board is showing his ERA. Halladay in the Phillies lineup lists his batting average. — Phillies2008WSChamps
- Great. Now I'll have to watch those idiots who propose in perfect 1080i.— WerthsOtherWife
It's a great idea to keep the fans happy and get a new scoreboard! Not only is it great to have more real estate to show more stats, but the clarity should be amazing. It will open up new ideas for fan interaction and no one will be left out. Wonderful idea by the Phillies organization to keep the fans happy!- Cool. Hopefully the dude who selects the music will make some needed updates. its the same music year in and year out.— slanted and enchanted
- So we get Cliff Lee and a 10 million dollar scoreboard for Jason Werth?!!! Amazing trade!— SPro
- Does it bat right or left, and can it hit in the 5 spot? Can't wait to see the SEPTA race in such great detail!— Timmy
How many K's and 0's fit on it?— Earl J- Now they can NOT show us replays of close plays in HD!— Redfury
- $10,000,000 for a scoreboard but nary a buck to improve the bullpen. We won't even talk about right field.— MFinSC
- Dutch Daulton says the world will end before we get to see his drunken, puffy, orange face in 1080p HD.— Barroid Bonds
I miss the Vet. This place is more theme park than ball park. You want HD tv? stay home & lay on your couch.— tiger- The Nationals have video boards all over their ugly stadium. Between innings, you can't find a game summary scoreboard. Drives me crazy. Looking at the mock up it looks like that may happen to CBP.
- 10 million could be better used on a right-handed hitting rightfielder with power. I'm just saying.— RunningTheBases
- Uhh, instead of investing in this, why not add about 5,000 seats? The stadium was perfectly sized for a good baseball team, but for a great one? it is too small. But, I guess suppressing supply means they can over charge for demand. Why do the Phillies have the 13th largest capacity ballpark in the mlb? Does not make much sense. They at least should have designed some seating flexibility over and above standing in the outfield. (or, they should have planned for about 5k more standers).— bobcitydoc
- Okay great but if they were smart they would have kept the old video screen and put it over by rightfield/Third base for the 3,000 fans in left field who can't see the dang thing.— ccheung
- CLIFF LEE says...the thought of 49 life size Phanatics standing on top of one another, is just plain scary...— stan the man too
Nice. It's so sexy I might just blow a load on opening day, especially if Cliff gets the start.
Well said Iron Balls. Just make sure you genuflect before you enter the stadium.- Why is this needed -- to look up peoples' nostrils with the kisscam? Doesn't anybody just go to see the damned game? I suppose they'll double the decibel level of the music and announcements too . . .— 1595fc
- Phillies are the best! Warm summer night watching one of the aces on the mound in HD with a cold beer and cheese steak. Simply the best...— delcodanno
- Does it launch dollar dogs?— iacl16
The Phillies and Eagles are in head-to-head competition for merchandising dollars, and clearly, the Phillies are winning. They offer not only the best on-field product, but are now upgrading the fans' in-park experience.
Just as important, they've countered the Eagles' tactics of making changes at key times during the year just to stay in the media headlines. The Phillies have gotten wise to the Eagles' ploy and they've brilliantly managed the timing of their own announcements.
I hope they win another title. And I hope the QB Serial Killer, Reid, goes ice fishing.- Not a fan of modern scoreboards. A simple Fenway Park, Wrigley Field ol timey scoreboard would suit me. If I wanted to watch big tv screens I'd stay home.— retzlaff
The new scoreboard will quickly get plastered with ugly advertisements.- Sure we all remember the Phils lean years when we were lucky to have one good pitcher. The Phils have four aces and are built to contend for years to come. The team is spending money and reinvesting in the product, unlike "Nickels" banner who stocks the defense with late round draft picks. We're lucky to have a Phils organization that is putting money back into the team when they could be pocketing all the profits. If you can't enjoy this Phils run, switch to decaf.— Fan74
- So does this mean they'll actually show replays now?— xphile101
- Comment removed.
- I'd rather have a right fielder.— Bartleby
- Should be Fantastic..Are the Eagles next to go HD,,Joe, can you read this?
- No park in MLB that I know of will show replays that might embarrass the umpires.
- Just goes to show you how committed the Phillies management is to making the ball park experience more enjoyable!! That $10M could have gone into their pockets!! Keep selling the stadium out for more upgrades!— PaulMazz
- @everydayguy...you're onto something here...Giant HD Screen + XBOX Kinect = players "playing" the game while in the clubhouse...No need to actually run and hit and throw a ball...think of a season with nobody getting injured and on the Disabled List....Better yet, the players don't even have to leave their homes! They can truly "mail it in"...The teams will save millions in travel expenses...— Fifty_Buick
Great! Now I can see the Phils leave runners in scoring position on a big screen High Def scoreboard.- $10 Million that could have helped bring in another player instead??— tvalleras
- What Bank Park really needs is a right field scoreboard, possibly in the gap in the current stands. After the park opened and I made the mistake of buying 4 field box seats for 9 games in section 137 I found I couldn't see the scoreboard at all! I wrote to Dave Montgomery, who wrote back "some people come to the park to see baseball, not the scoreboard". Needless to say, I didn't expaecthat response. I'm 76 years old and have been a die-hard Phillies fan for 70 years! I'm amazed to hear the club is spending THE FANS MONEY on an upgrade while the current scoreboard location is the real problem: not ot mention the attitude of the Phillies management to their true fans! OK Dave, create a monument to yourself, but while you're at it consider the fans in FIEL BOX sections 135 to 139 who are paying the same price as the fans in the right field boxes. Thans for listening? ferdy— ferdy
