Scope of Work: Design, Financial Modeling, Procurement, Construction Oversight.
Product Categories: LED Display Systems, Scoring, Integrated Digital and Static Signage.

Toronto Sun, July 23, 2015

AIR CANADA CENTRE SCOREBOARD GETS MAKEOVER

But it’s going to be friendly fire, a sound, light and pyrotechnic show that should make Leafs and Raptors games a lot more interesting, even if the teams are trailing in the game. It’s a Canadian designed and built maple leaf sculpture made of aircraft aluminum that can be seen through the corners of four enlarged LED screens and from underneath.

“The Leaf is an icon of our country and of our company.” said Jim Steele, director of live production and venue technology at the ACC for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. “The screens will conceal it to some degree, but the story is that you can walk around it, underneath it, on top of it and see that at our soul, we are Canadian. Within the leaf are LED lights that can change colours to represent whatever we need for the team. We can do more pyrotechnics off the basket and a fully lighted chase within the leaf. It will be very exciting.”

The ACC took a long look at the so-called boxcar model of scoreclock used in arenas such as Tampa Bay and in football venues such as Dallas. But Steele said that such a long design stretching over the bluelines robbed end zone viewers of the experience. The small footprint of the ACC, which borders Union Station and the Gardiner Expressway, also favoured a four sided model. The whole package, the sculpture, the four 18 by 32 feet screens and extra screens under the clock, weighs 80,000 pounds and required some roof reinforcement to hoist into place. It’s possible the Raptors mascot can rappel down from it.

Toronto Star, July 24, 2015

AIR CANADA CENTRE TO DEBUT NEW SCOREBOARD THIS YEAR

At its centre will be a 23-foot-tall aluminum steel Maple Leaf sculpture which will be surrounded by four giant 32 x 18 foot screens, that will be four times as large as the previous scoreboard.

Bright lights, big city, big Maple Leaf.

On a day where the literally biggest news in Leaf Nation was overshadowed by some hire, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment also showed off their new scoreboard, that is in the process of being built. At its centre will be a 23-foot-tall aluminum steel Maple Leaf sculpture — looking a bit like a giant Christmas ornament — which will be surrounded by four giant 32 x 18 foot screens, that will be four times as large as the previous scoreboard.

“What we’re doing here is improving our fan experience, it’s part of a multi-year initiative, last year, we put in a 3D projection system that put images on the court or rink,” said Jim Steele, director live production & venue technology. “ What we’re doing here is improving our scoreboard … Within the leaf are LED lighting elements that will change colours to represent whatever colour we need depending on the team that’s playing, but it’s an icon of our country, an icon of our company, the Maple leaf and that’s what we’re hoping to represent.”

The new scoreboard will weigh approximately 80,000 lbs. and all the in-arena improvements will cost $10 million, and include new improvements to LED screens and banners that depicts out of town scores and advertisements.

The new scoreboard is following the trend set by other NHL teams with newer, extremely large in-arena screens, likely kicked off by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who still have the largest. Steele said that due to the Air Canada Centre’s size, they had to go a little smaller, so as not to negatively affect sightlines for patrons.

The arena improvements and scoreboard will be built throughout the summer and unveiled at the Toronto Maple Leaf’s Fan Fest in early September.

As for the old scoreboard, the company is treating it as a bit of a hand-me-down, as it is being dismantled and being placed at Ricoh Coliseum, so that the Marlies and their fans will also benefit from an improved in-arena experience.

Asked if the new, big shiny scoreboard might be part of a larger conspiracy to provide a spectacle to obscure potentially dreadful teams on the actual ice, Steele answered: “I don’t know if that’s the case, but I think no matter what is happening (on the ice), we present a really quality show at every game and that’s what it’s about.”