I knew from the person sending it exactly what it was in reference to, just didn't know the details. I put out a few more emails & text messages to confirm what I had hoped to be true.
I can say with 100% certainty that this is indeed true....Red Rider Stadium will be getting a new state-of-the-art scoreboard before week 1 of the 2011 football season.
More details below.
First off, the detail everyone always wants to know about...the source of the funds used to purchase the new board. All I can say is this, the funds have been privately donated and the donor(s) wish is to remain anonymous.
Not $1 of taxpayer funds were used.
Now that we got that part out of the way, let's see this thing.
Check it out.....
This isn't some creation of mine. I'm told this is a final conceptual drawing of the scoreboard by the sales company. Installation will begin in late sometime in late July or early August.
In talking to a few folks in the know and looking at this picture, here's what I know to be true.
- Color LED message board
- Illuminated "Red Riders" at the top
- Ability to sell 6 ad spaces (I see 4 on the drawing, but assume two more could be added on each side of the message board
- From the bottom of the board itself (not counting the steel beams) to the top, is a big 21' tall.
- All lights will be LED, not the old bulb lights that the current scoreboard uses
Just for proper perspective, here's the scoreboard as it exists right now.
Not good right? Guessing this board has to be around 20 years old, so it's had a good life.
And there were no plans to do anything but keep using it. But now that this very generous donor stepped up, fans of both Orrville teams and visiting teams get to enjoy a beautiful, new state-of-the-art scoreboard.
If you're looking for a similar scoreboard, I think this it will end up looking very similar to the one in Ashland. See picture here (taken after the 2009 playoff game agaisnt Genoa).
Ashland's is probably the nicest in the OCC along with Wooster.
What's neat is that the ad space will allow the school to generate revenue for other projects, or at least pay to power this thing for all football games (Varsity, JV, Freshman) and track meets.
Last, but not least, it's just real cool and will be a sharp (and much needed) addition to the stadium. Don't forget, the stadium was already due to get new steel light poles and new lights that will help illuminate the field better. Now a new scoreboard? Wow. What a special community we live in.
The Old Scoreboard
One question I was asked is "what will happen to the old scoreboard? The thought was it will be used as a scoreboard at the new middle school field. I'm ok with that, it still has some years left in it. I don't know for sure, so if anyone does, speak up.
Blecher Wrap..Maybe?
Hearing this "Bleacher Wrap" project that I mentioned a few weeks ago may have some life too. Stay tuned on that one. Lots of neat things happening right now in this town as far as our schools & facilities are concerned.
Final Thoughts
Again, a million thanks go out to those that made this scoreboard project happen, and to all those who give their time, money and resources to give our young kids a positive experience, on and off the athletic fields of play.
Oh...and if you don't think I'll be providing updates on the installation process of this scoreboard as they happen, then you haven't been reading this site for very long.
It's great to be a Red Rider, isn't it?
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