Ohio State completes $7 million dollar audio-video upgrade project

Urban Meyer won’t be the only new fixture for the Ohio State Buckeyes this year.

The Buckeyes are currently finishing up a $7 million dollar audio/video upgrade project complete with a bigger, state-of-the-art scoreboard.  The south end scoreboard of Ohio Stadium will now measure 42 feet by 125 feet, dwarfing the previous scoreboard (30 feet by 90 feet).  Structurally, it is the largest feasible scoreboard allowed; re-doing the support structure to allow for a larger scoreboard would add at least $4 million to the total cost of the project.  Associate athletics director of Athletics Facilities, Don Patko, who acted as the buyer on the project, on the new scoreboard display,

“You’ll now get true colors no matter what angle you’re at…I’m not a rah-rah guy, but when you finish something like that, there’s a sense of accomplishment,” he said. “I go to the stadium and work every game, and it’s going to be neat to see. Its neat to watch all the people who ultimately run it and all the people who were part of the planning to look at it and watch it light up and watch the reaction.”

The new scoreboard is expected to last 12 to 15 years before it needs to be replaced.  Nearly 40% of OSU’s previous scoreboard was effectively recycled.

While this renovation project pales in comparison to OSU’s four-year $207 million structural renovation in 1998, this eight month renovation did more than just add a high-definition scoreboard.  Two ribbon video boards were added along the south stands of the stadium, along with 400 flat-screen televisions in the common areas, and a new speaker system.

OSU chose to work with Anthony James Partners  to purchase the audio/video package, in part because the company recently completed successful scoreboard installation projects with the Green Bay Packers and Michigan State University, and saved OSU nearly 30% in costs.

OSU chose Panasonic as the manufacturer for all of their visual needs, while Meyer Sound was the chosen manufacturer to replace their audio equipment.

The entire cost of the project was funded by existing athletic department funds.

(via OnCampus)

(image via CFB Section)