Fightin Phils go big with $1 million video board

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[December 12, 2012]

Fightin Phils go big with $1 million video board

Dec 12, 2012 (Reading Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Scott Hunsicker said nothing was wrong with the video board at FirstEnergy Stadium.

But that didn't stop the Reading Fightin Phils general manager and his staff from proceeding with plans for a new board.

"If we have a half-million people who come out here each year," Hunsicker said, "and we can give them the biggest TV and the highest quality TV in the country, then we should do it." Hunsicker announced Tuesday that the team will be installing a $1 million multimedia video board in left-center field that will be 30-by-60 feet, three times larger than the current board.

The new HD video board, which will be installed by TS Sports of Dallas, will be the largest in Class AA baseball and the fourth-largest in all of minor league baseball. It will be illuminated by the second-most LED's of any minor league team.

The project will be financed by the Fightin Phils with the help of several corporate sponsors.

It includes a ribbon board that stretches 6-by-100 feet above the left field deck and will display the linescore, out of town scoreboard and video capabilities; a 4-by-8 video wall in the food court area; and 25 flat-screen HD TVs.

"Originally we were not going to do something this grandiose," Hunsicker said. "We started doing a little more research and we made a visit to Harrisburg (Metro Bank Park) this year and saw they had a ribbon board. When we got back, we said, 'Let's get the highest clarity and the biggest board we can get or don't get it.' " Discussions began in 2011 when Hunsicker and his staff went to team sponsors and broached the possibility of buying a new board.

"We asked them, 'Would this make sense to you ' " Hunsicker said. " 'Would this excite you ' When we got positive feedback from them, then we were able to drop the hammer." The new board is expected to be installed in time for Reading's home opener April 12 against Erie. As part of the project, enhanced HD cameras will be bought and three game-staff employees will be added.

The current video board was installed in 2004 and replaced the original one that was 11-by-15.

Hunsicker also announced Tuesday that the Phils will not increase ticket prices for the 2013 season. He said there has been no increase since 2009.

Contact Rich Scarcella: 610-371-5070 or rscarcella@readingeagle.com.

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