Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami Unveils Video Scoreboard Saturday
1/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 6, 2012
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OXFORD, Ohio-On Saturday, January 7, Miami University will unveil a new center-court-hung scoreboard at Millett Hall during the men's and women's basketball games.
The scoreboard features video, including the ability to show live footage, and graphic capabilities on all four panels. As part of the scoreboard package that will interface various aspects of the arena set-up, there will be new shot clocks on the baskets as well as LED lighting around the backboards to indicate when time has expired off the game clock. Additionally, new clocks in the home, visiting and officials' locker rooms that are synched to the game clock have been installed.
"This is an exciting addition to Millett Hall that will not only enhance the game day atmosphere at athletic events but will be a feature that could enrich other events hosted in Millett Hall," said Miami University Athletics Director Brad Bates. "It also will allow us to enhance the department and university through new and creative ways of marketing and sponsorship with the technology of this scoreboard."
It replaces a center-court-hung scoreboard that has been in place for several years and was used during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta prior to being housed at Millett Hall.
In addition to being used for men's and women's basketball and volleyball games, this new four-sided video board within the Millett Hall facility also could be used for other events hosted at the facility throughout the year, including graduations, concerts and other various events that take place.
Work to install the new scoreboard began immediately following the RedHawk men's basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 20 and was completed earlier this week.
"It was becoming increasingly difficult to find parts to repair the old scoreboard because the technology had become outdated, and it was in need of some major repairs," said Miami University Senior Associate Athletic Director Steve Cady, who helped oversee the project. "The old board would be like using a 15-year old computer, which most people can understand wouldn't be very effective because the technology would be so outdated. It was recommended that the board be replaced five years ago, but we were sensitive to the economic climate around the University and tried to use it as long as possible. However, the scoreboard has outlived its shelf-life and needed to be replaced."
Approximately 90 percent of the old scoreboard was able to be recycled with many of the parts-including cabling, copper wiring and some electronic components-kept on campus to fill assorted University needs and to be used for various projects.
Funding for the new scoreboard came from Miami University through money set aside annually that is used to repair and upgrade facilities around campus. The cost of the scoreboard package was approximately $700,000.
For the remainder of the basketball season, the current Millett Hall sound system will be in place and will cause a few visual obstructions of the scoreboard but will be remedied next season.
RedHawk fans can get an in-person look at the new video scoreboard this weekend when the Miami women's basketball team hosts Buffalo at 4:30 p.m. followed by the RedHawk men's basketball team tipping off their Mid-American Conference slate against Akron at 7 p.m.
The McFamily and Friends Package is available for Saturday's game with fans receiving four game tickets--which gains entrance to both men's and women's games--and four McDonald's Extra Value Meal vouchers for just $30. McFamily and Friends ticket packages are available by pre-purchase only and will not be available on game day.
Click HERE to purchase tickets on-line or call the Miami Athletic Ticket Office at 513-529-4295.
