Stadium Scoreboard - Progress?

Submitted by PeterKlima on

I happened to notice today that the construction crew appears to be building the scoreboards in horizontal segments.  (They are actively working on it today.)

http://www.mgoblue.com/allaccess/?media=235147

I had thought they would just swing a couple big chunks up there one day.  Does anyone know how this is going to be done...and more specifically, if there is a scheduled day or two we should be on watch for the screens to be put up?

(I seem to remember someone here mentioing they knew someone working on the project.)

 

 

Raoul

July 7th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^

I can't answer your questions, but the last I heard the scoreboards are supposed to be installed by the beginning of August.

Also, today's Maize & Blue News Now video has several constructions updates, including on the basketball practice facility, which is really beginning to take shape.

Don

July 7th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^

Even if I could figure out how to post some of the shots here they still wouldn't convey how huge just the main support columns are. These boards are going to be mind-bogglingly gigantic when they're done and we're in the stadium.

Section 1

July 7th, 2011 at 3:53 PM ^

It's huge.  It's awesome.  Trouble is, Don, you and I might be among the few MGoBlogeratti old enough to remember drive-in movies.

I have not yet heard; what is going on the "backs" of these monstrous constructs, which which should be visible to the naked eye in Genesee County?

{The "backs" of big stadium scoreboards are fantastic branding and statement opportunities; like a gigantic blank canvas in some of the most popular locations in the entire world.  And yet I con't think of one which I thought turned out really well.}

Wisconsin - Camp Randall:

Texas - The back of Godzillatron:

You get the idea.

PeterKlima

July 7th, 2011 at 4:24 PM ^

...that you may be right that it will be an advertisement.  Dave Brandon knows he can not just put ads in the stadium one day.  He has to get people to "warm up" to the idea by having ads in there for special events (i.e., Arby's) and "beefing up" (pun intended) the advertising that already exists in the concourse area.  Then one day he assumes (probably accurately) that lots of fans will all just accept what seems inevitable.

 

I hope I am wrong.

 

Section 1

July 7th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^

Actually, of the stadia that I can think of, using the backs of giant scoreboards for advertising is not very common.  I suspect that "advertsing on the scoreboards" is further down Brandon's personal list than "new Michigan mascot."

What I would like to see, however, is something electronic.  I have no idea what is technically feasible, given that the interior guts will already be loaded with all the gear for the jumbotrons on the "front" side of the boards.  But if they can put digital lights on the skin of the Goodyear blimp, you'd think that they could do it on the back-side of structures like these.

In other words improve, on this function:

I think it would be good for traffic on Stadium Blvd. in particular to have something that is high-tech and information-intensive.  Whatever the case, it has no doubt been determined already, no matter what we might want.  Because the whole project has already been approved, budgeted, planned, and has to be completed in about the next 50 days.

kevin holt

July 7th, 2011 at 5:53 PM ^

It better damn well be a gigantic block M AND NOTHING ELSE

the way it's been forever. Well, I'm only 21, but you get the damn point. When I'm turning off Hoover (or I guess turning onto Hill since they're as big as the moon), I fully expect to be greeted by the same giant M as always. 

/getoffmylawn?

jmblue

July 7th, 2011 at 6:24 PM ^

Actually, the split M on the back of the scoreboard only dates to 1998.  Before then, for many years it listed the stadium seating capacity, followed by the year's home schedule.  I always liked that.  Here's a version of it from 1949: 

 

True Blue Grit

July 7th, 2011 at 4:02 PM ^

after putting up with those shitty little ones for SO many years.  I thought the ones we are replacing now were such a huge improvement.  So, I'm enjoying even more each week driving by the stadium and seeing these behemoths being put up.  Can't wait for the first game!

restive neb

July 7th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^

At the Michigan - ND game last year, I thought it was funny to think that it was Michigan upgrading their scoreboards, when ND was still using these:

 

Then I found out that those are their NEW scoreboards.  They upgraded in 2009 to go to LED technology, but didn't make any substantial change to the size or configuration.

kempalex13

July 8th, 2011 at 5:31 PM ^

Does anyone know if the South end zone scoreboard is progressing at the same speed as the North end zone? I noticed that we can only see the North scoreboard on the webcam.