Anthony James Partners Completes Major LED and Audio Upgrade at UNC’s Kenan Stadium
New videoboards, ribbon displays and completely redesigned stadium audio system delivered on an accelerated schedule for Kenan Stadium’s 100th season
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., September 10, 2026 — Anthony James Partners (AJP) has completed a major technology upgrade at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan Stadium, delivering an all-new LED display program and stadium audio system on an aggressive schedule ahead of the 2026 football season.
The project introduces two new end-zone videoboards, nine new ribbon displays and a completely redesigned stadium sound system, modernizing the fan-facing technology throughout the historic venue as North Carolina celebrates 100 seasons of football at Kenan Stadium.
AJP worked with UNC Athletics and CRA Associates to develop the program and served as Technology Consultant for the LED and audio systems, providing planning, design, procurement and construction administration.
The schedule was a defining element of the project. Initial planning began in late 2025, with the project team entering formal design and procurement in early 2026 with the goal of having the new systems operational for the upcoming football season. AJP developed a delivery strategy that allowed design, procurement, engineering coordination and construction activities to move forward on an accelerated and, in several cases, overlapping schedule.
“We’ve worked with many of the people at UNC for a long time, so it was great to have the opportunity to take this on with them,” said Michael Rowe, Chief Executive Officer of Anthony James Partners. “The challenge was the timeline. We had to put together a comprehensive LED and audio program, get it designed and procured, and get everything built and ready for the season in an incredibly short amount of time. Everybody involved worked extremely hard to pull it off. It’s always rewarding to do a project like this, but even more so when you’re doing it with great friends and longtime clients.”
More Than 10,000 Square Feet of New LED Displays
Two matching main videoboards anchor the east and west ends of Kenan Stadium. Each measures approximately 31.5 feet high by 106.5 feet wide and features 8-millimeter pixel spacing.
Nine additional ribbon displays extend throughout the seating bowl, including sideline ribbons, east-end ribbon displays and two larger west-end “super ribbons.” Together, the ribbon displays provide approximately 1,450 linear feet of additional digital display space for game information, statistics, content and sponsorship opportunities.
AJP led the planning, design and competitive procurement process for the LED program and coordinated closely with UNC, CRA Associates, structural engineers and the selected technology contractor throughout construction.
Completely Redesigned Stadium Audio System
Kenan Stadium’s audio system was also completely replaced as part of the project.
AJP designed the new system to improve speech intelligibility, coverage consistency and overall performance throughout the stadium while addressing the complex geometry and operational requirements of the venue.
The system incorporates Fulcrum Acoustic loudspeaker technology with a combination of primary point-source and distributed coverage elements designed to provide consistent sound throughout the seating bowl and supporting areas. Precision Audio served as the audio systems integrator.
The audio design required extensive acoustic modeling and coordination with the new scoreboard structures, electrical infrastructure, equipment rooms, cabling pathways and other stadium systems. The project team continued resolving structural and installation conditions during construction while maintaining the overall completion schedule. Precision Audio served as the audio systems integrator.
Accelerated Delivery Through Design, Procurement and Construction
To meet the project schedule, AJP worked with the broader design and construction team to develop a bridging and delegated-design approach that allowed procurement and State Construction review to advance while final engineering and vendor coordination continued.
AJP managed the competitive technology procurement process, coordinated technical requirements among the University, architect, engineers and contractors, and remained involved throughout fabrication, installation, system testing and commissioning.
The approach allowed a complex stadium-wide technology program to move from design and procurement into construction within months, while maintaining competition, technical performance requirements and project accountability.
“Projects like this only happen on schedules like this when everybody is moving in the same direction,” Rowe added. “UNC, the design team, the contractors, manufacturers and our people all understood what had to happen and how quickly it had to happen. There wasn’t much room in the schedule, and everybody worked hard to get it across the finish line.”
The completed technology program begins a new chapter for Kenan Stadium as North Carolina celebrates the venue’s 100th season.
