By: Andy Sneddon

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Construction on the new state-of-the-art scoreboards in Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena is expected to be completed by Winter Commencement, which is scheduled for Dec. 16, and in time for the bulk of the men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling and gymnastics seasons.
 
Crews are scheduled to install a board, measuring 12 feet in height and 50 feet in length, on the west wall of the arena. A ribbon board just over 3 feet tall and more than 65 feet in length will be installed on the east wall.
 
“The enhanced technology in McGuirk Arena will elevate our fan experience to be the best in the Mid-American Conference,” said Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan. “Thousands every year will benefit from the new boards through non-athletic events in McGurk Arena such as commencement ceremonies and concerts. We are excited about how this will enhance the student-athletes and all those who compete and perform at the Kulhavi Events Center.”
 
The new board, which is about 35 percent larger than the current board, will feature live video of on-court action, real-time game statistics, a university message board, and four equal-sized advertising spaces.
 
The new board will be constructed and installed by Daktronics, the industry leader in scoreboards, video boards, and show controls, its sound and video quality will resemble the scoreboard located at the south end zone of Kelly/Shorts Stadium, which was installed in 2019.
 
The ribbon board will be located across the length of the façade of the Upper Club Lounge on the east end of the arena and will display score, clock, fouls, and timeouts, along with in-game advertising loops.
 

Gallery: (11-21-2023) Scoreboard/Videoboard Installation

The scoreboard and ribbon board will be operated internally by CMU students under the direction of CMU Athletics Multimedia staff, many of them broadcast and cinematic arts majors, from the control room located adjacent to McGuirk Arena in the Kulhavi Events Center.
 
Nearly 35 Broadcast and Cinematic Arts students work in CMU Athletics and the new scoreboard and ribbon board are like those at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, home to the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons.
 
The real-world, hands-on experience the students now receive, and will continue to receive, working within the athletic department is invaluable and makes them better prepared as they earn a degree and enter the work force where they are apt to find themselves tasked with operating the same Daktronics technology.
 
“The real-world, hands-on experience students receive by working with CMU Athletics is invaluable to their future careers,” Folan said. “We’re excited that this new equipment will help prepare them for the workforce, where they’re likely to find themselves tasked with operating the same Daktronics technology.”
 
In addition to CMU Athletics’ events, Central Michigan’s McGuirk Arena hosts over 30-plus campus events throughout the year, including commencement, Pow Wow, Leadership Safari, Orientation, ERPSim, New Venture Entrepreneur Competition, and more.
 
During construction, the main videoboard display likely will not be operational for basketball games from December 2-6; however, basketball game and shot clocks, regular scoreboards and the on-court video tables will be operational.
 

—CMU—