The United Center this fall "will feature a new drop-down scoreboard in the middle of the arena" that will be the "largest for any arena that hosts an NBA and NHL team," according to Jason Leiser of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. With 8,600 square feet of displays, the new scoreboard will have "almost four times the video display area" of the current one. It is "customizable for basketball and hockey games, as well as concerts and other events." There also will be "six moveable panels" (SUNTIMES.com, 3/20). In Chicago, Phil Thompson notes the new scoreboard screen "will produce a much sharper image" than the current board. The old 2,300-square-foot scoreboard, installed in '05, "will be removed after the end of the Bulls’ and Blackhawks’ seasons and the new Mitsubishi board will be erected in the last two weeks in August." Building bigger, top-resolution scoreboards has "become a trend among sports arenas" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 3/20).
PITCH PERFECT: Leyard & Planar and Lighthouse Technologies are installing five new LED video screens at the Portland's Providence Park as part of an $85M stadium makeover. The project includes a new LED scoreboard behind the south goal. The Timbers' and NWSL Thorns' venue will reopen after renovations June 1. This video board installation is the first project for Leyard and Lighthouse since they announced a new strategic partnership focused on sports in December (Mike Sunnucks, THE DAILY).
