New scoreboard at Dickinson Stadium

August 23, 2016 -- When Dickinson Stadium was completed in 2003, there was one remaining item from the previous venue with the same name. The scoreboard installed prior to the 1998 season was saved and reinstalled. But after 18 years and a lack of parts meant that the maintenence and repairing the board wasn't possible. The old scoreboard finally developed problems that could not be fixed. So over the past year the athletic department made the decision that the scoreboard needed to be replaced.

The old scoreboard was disassembled this week and installation of the new scoreboard is currently underway. The new scoreboard will resemble the previous scoreboard in that there is a football scoreboard on the bottom with all of the usual football specific information (Score, Ball On, To Go, Down, etc) and a message and graphic display board on top.

The message board featured in the 1998 installation was limited to 24 pixels in height and 80 in width, and in white lights only, and each bulb were the standard incandescent light bulbs which burn our regularly.

The new scoreboard makes use of high efficiency and energy saving LED technology in both parts of the scoreboard. The new message board is larger and has more pixels to display information and graphics, 120 pixels high and 300 in width, and since they are smaller than the previous board, it will be able to show higher quality graphics and in full color. Daktronics esitmates over 256 million colors are capable with the message board.

One notable difference between the two message boards is that the new board will be connected directly into the pressbox statistics computer and will display live and up to date game statistics during the game. The stats will including yardage gained in passing and rushing as well as the team total.

And specific player stats for the game can also be displayed with their totals at their position.

Another noticable difference and an added feature is the lack of painted on team names such as Bears or Home and Guest.

Daktronics Team Name Message Centers have the capability of typing the name of the two teams that are playing. Obviously BEARS will be the most used name, but with Lake Michigan Catholic also using Dickinson Stadium on occasion, they will have the ability to put their name on the board and making them feel a little more at home.

The St. Joe logo will be prominently located on the left side of the message board and in the truss located on top.

Work will progress throughout the week to mount and make the neccessary electrical and communication connections for the board to operate.

Daktronics is located in Brookings, South Dakota. Daktronics boards are currenly is use and many professional and Division 1 college sports venues, including Ford Field and Comerica Park in Detroit. During this past summer Daktronics also completed the new video displays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the new US Bank Stadium, new home for the Minnesota Vikings.

St. Joseph has Daktronics scoreboards installed at the Soccer Field, Koontz Field and the gymnasiums at Upton Middle School. There are Daktronics scoreboards at the high school for the baseball and softball fields, fieldhouse, competitioin gyms, and at the swimming pool.

In the SMAC Conference, Daktronics boards are in place at the football fields for Lakeshore, Niles, Mattawan, Kalamazoo Central, Loy Norrix, Battle Creek Lakeview, and Battle Creek Central.