College Football Facility Notes: Ohio State's New Scoreboard Part Of $7M Venue Upgrade

In Columbus, Encarnacion Pyle wrote Ohio State Univ. fans inside Ohio Stadium “should enjoy watching instant replays and highlights on a new high-definition scoreboard.” The south end zone’s scoreboard “is part of a $7 million upgrade that includes two ribbon boards along the south stands for statistics and scores; roughly 400 flat-screen monitors in the concourses and common areas; and a new speaker system.” The new high-definition Panasonic scoreboard “measures 42 by 125 feet” compared to the old board, which “was 30 by 90 feet and not high-definition.” Ohio State Associate AD/Facilities Don Patko said, “It should all amount to a better fan experience” (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 8/28). Patko said that the former scoreboard “served the stadium well, but it was time to invest in a new one.” He added, “We had to do something. The system sits outside and (replacement) parts were hard to come by. We also wanted to make sure we have the newest high-definition product. … This is definitely the latest and greatest” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/27).

MUCH NEEDED SPACE: In K.C., Blair Kerkhoff wrote Missouri AD Mike Alden discussed upgrades to the facilities Tuesday at a Tiger Club booster meeting. Kerkhoff noted the upgrades, totaling $200M, “will improve facilities for football, baseball, softball, golf and tennis." Faurot Field will be “expanded to about 81,000 by 2015, but some changes will happen earlier.” Next season, the concourse in the “North end zone will be expanded, which means the rock M will be moved closer to the field.” Missouri “needs more fan space there because of an SEC rule that prohibits pass-outs during a game” (K.C. STAR, 8/29).

DEBUTING THIS WEEKEND: Indiana Univ. yesterday announced Fanfare Tickets has secured naming rights to the Stadium Club at Memorial Stadium. The new "Fanfare Tickets Stadium Club" will be located on the fourth level and finishing touches are currently being made to signage in advance of the Hoosiers' home opener Saturday against Indiana State at 8pm ET (Indiana Univ.).