Things will look a little brighter inside the Schottenstein Center this upcoming season. Yes, things might be better on the basketball court with some upgrades to the roster, but that’s not what we’re talking about. According to a new release from the Ohio State Department of Athletics, the video board and related components will be enhanced in time for the winter season that includes both men’s and women’s basketball and the men’s ice hockey team.
According to the release, larger displays, significantly improved resolution, and new immersive viewing angles will be a part of the enhancements. The upgrades provide more than 7,200 square feet of LED display technology and nearly 64 million pixels throughout the venue. We are no experts on normal ratios of pixels, but yes, that sounds like a lot.
“We’ve seen how electric the atmosphere at the Schottenstein Center can be”, Ross Bjork, Sr. Vice President & Wolfe Foundation – Eugene Smith Endowed Director of Athletics said in a statement. “The last two men’s basketball games last year, the Michigan series for men’s hockey and the NCAA Tournament games for women basketball were prime examples a great environment for the fans and the athletes and we want to continue to build on those experiences. The enhancements to the video boards will deliver sharper visuals, allow for more dynamic content, and provide greater connectivity to the action. We want the fans to feel immersed in every moment, from the time they walk in the door until end of the game.”
The main center video board itself will have more than three times the square footage as before, complete with four high-resolution LED screen faces, configured in a convex design for easy viewing. Underbelly display screens are also being installed on the main video board so that fans underneath can also experience a unique viewing experience.
The ribbon boards around Value City Arena will also be enhanced, going from a height of 16 to 36 inches, and an increase in pixels, going from 400,000 to more than 2.6 million. There will be other video enhancements, but the audio system will also be upgraded for a more immersive, high-quality sound.
Coaches of the three sports that call the Schottenstein Center home were more than pleased about the upgrades.
Jake Diebler, men’s basketball head coach“When the Schott is rocking, it’s one of the best places to play in college basketball. The passion from Buckeye Nation is what makes those environments so great. We want to create as many of those opportunities as we can and the improvements to the video boards will not only enhance the in-venue experience but also help better connect our fans with the team.”
Kevin McGuff, women’s basketball head coach“Buckeye Nation’s enthusiasm and support for our program makes the Schott one of the best places to play in women’s basketball. We want to continue to provide a great atmosphere for every Buckeye home game. Improvements to the video board will further elevate the experience for fans and the student-athletes.”
Steve Rohlik, men’s ice hockey head coach “We love playing in front of Buckeye Nation in the Schott. The new video boards will enhance the experience for both fans and the athletes and allow us to showcase our players and program in even more ways. We are excited to get back on the ice in October.”
Now, let’s hope the product on the court and ice matches the enhancements we’ll see on the perimeter of it.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State to upgrade and enhance video board in Schottenstein Center
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
