Fresno State Athletics has installed the first step to the up-and-coming renovation plans to Bulldog Stadium— a brand new state-of-the-art video board.
Athletic Director Jim Bartko announced in June that Bulldog Stadium will undergo a five-point plan of renovations to enhance the stadium beginning first with the new video board— which will be up and running for the Bulldogs’ Sept. 3 season opener.
“In moving forward with implementing the five-point plan, this new HD video board and ribbon board will produce a better fan experience in Bulldog Stadium,” Bartko said in a press release. “We know the north end zone enhancement will be the first of many upgrades to the stadium.”
According to Jason Clay, assistant athletic director for external communications, ANC Sports Enterprises, LLC was in charge of the design and Learfield Sports provided the funds for the $892,000 video board. They were able to demolish the old board and get the new board up and running in seven weeks and ready for football season.
The video board is 24 feet tall and 66 feet wide with a 104-foot ribbon board.
“We have 1,596 square feet of active signage,” Clay said. “It’s going to add a lot to the game day atmosphere.”
The LED video board will be used to show replays, live shots of fans in the audience, as well as an integrated social media aspect.
“The big focus this year is going to be on replays, a lot of game action,” Clay said. “We also want to incorporate the fans more with live shots, but we’ve also integrated in social media. Whether you’re on Twitter or Instagram, you just snap a pic of you and your friends and use the hashtag “bulldogpix” and you could possibly see your picture on the board.”
The 104-foot ribbon board underneath the video board will be used mainly as an out of town scoreboard.
“We can use it for scores, more logos, additional signage, anything we want,” Clay said. “We’re working closely with ANC going over all the different settings. They have four different guidelines we can use to enhance the board.”
The main hope with the introduction of the new video board is to enhance the atmosphere for the Red Wave and to get them more involved with what goes on during the game.
“I think it’s really going to be impressive, and I think our fans are going to love it,” Fresno State head football coach Tim DeRuyter said. “When that thing is on, especially at night, it looks like you’re watching TV in your living room.”