Renderings unveiled for proposed scoreboards at Spartan Stadium

Board of Trustees documents contain renderings for updated system

By Andrew Krietz | Originally Published: 01/24/12 2:30pm |Modified: 01/24/12 11:58pm | 1 comment

Courtesy of Michigan State University | The State News

Some Spartan fans rejoiced Tuesday after renderings of planned Spartan Stadium scoreboards were unveiled.

According to MSU Board of Trustees documents, the main scoreboard at the stadium’s south end will be replaced to update its sound system and video display. The back of the board will feature the Spartan helmet.

On the north end of the stadium there also will be two scoreboards installed with a “ribbon panel” spanning the north end of the bowl.

All of the proposed upgrades are pending approval by the board, which is expected to vote at its Friday meeting on whether to proceed with replacing the existing equipment. The rendered images will be given to trustees prior to the vote.

If approved, university engineer Bob Nestle said the scoreboards will be ready to go for the upcoming 2012 football season.

The system is expected to cost $10 million and be funded through sponsorships and other areas, according to the documents.

Construction is planned to begin in March and be substantially completed in August.
Final completion is slated for July 2013.

“When you talk about substantial completion on a project, the project is ready to do what it was intended to do,” Nestle said.

The existing scoreboards — which include the video display and sound system — were installed in 1998, and the technology is outdated, university spokesman Kent Cassella said in a previous interview.

Some students gave praise to the football team’s 11-3 2011 season after seeing the images.

“(The team) probably earned it after a great season,” political science sophomore Kyle Whitley said. “I think it’s great. It’s exciting.”

Others were in awe of the size of the upgrade.

“It looks like a big, flat-screen TV,” said graduate student Pam Brushaber.