Anthony James Partners (AJP) successfully served as the Technology Consultant for Marshall University, overseeing a series of major technology upgrades across multiple athletic facilities. These upgrades have modernized the infrastructure and transformed the fan experience, positioning Marshall University’s sports venues among the top in college athletics.

ONE OF THE LARGEST SCOREBOARDS IN COLLEGE SPORTS
AJP played a critical role in the ongoing evolution of Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Compared to the previous scoreboard installed in 2010 (also designed by AJP), the new $3 million video board is a significant upgrade, ranking as the fourth-largest scoreboard in college football. Only Purdue (designed by AJP), Oregon and Auburn have larger primary displays.

Supported by new steel structure, the new 10mm pixel pitch video board stands over 38 feet tall and 97 feet wide. It is complemented by an advanced sound system, which includes the DiGiCo Quantum Series mixing console and high-powered Fulcrum AHC loudspeakers, delivering an immersive audio-visual experience for fans. This installation was part of a broader $25 million renovation that included premium seating, restaurants, and other south end zone enhancements, elevating the entire venue.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE ATHLETIC FACILITY UPGRADES
In addition to the football stadium, AJP supported Marshall with technology upgrades at other key Marshall University athletic facilities, including:

• Jack Cook Field (Baseball): Newly constructed baseball stadium received a new video board ahead of the 2024 season, plus scoring/timing systems and basic controls.
• Dot Hicks Field (Softball): Installation of a new video board along with scoring/timing systems and basic controls.
• Hoops Family Field (Soccer): A new video board was installed to match the baseball and softball designs, with scoring/timing systems and basic controls.

These completed projects have positioned Marshall University’s athletic facilities as some of the most technologically advanced in college sports. The improvements not only provide a superior experience for students, athletes, and fans but also reinforce the university’s competitive edge.

Each video board is customized with Marshall University branding and sponsorship placements, ensuring a consistent and visually dynamic presence across all venues. Through a competitive procurement process, installation of the LED assets was awarded to ANC Sports Enterprises.

herald-dispatch.com
August 25, 2023

HERD VIDEO BOARD UPGRADE COMES WITH FANS IN MIND

HUNTINGTON — When the new video board at Joan C. Edwards Stadium fired up for the first time Friday morning, it grabbed the attention of many in the area.

The 38-foot-tall new focal point in the stadium stretches nearly 97 feet — longer than a regulation college basketball court — in the south end zone, where the previous video board was.

The multi-million-dollar addition is one of several planned upgrades to the stadium and is the first phase of large-scale renovations to that end which began last year when the upper end zone general admission seats were tarped off, reducing the official capacity of the facility by about 8,000.

The reduction in seats was a move to create a more intimate environment on game days. The new video board is a move to increase fan interest and engagement.

“When you talk about where college football is going, where college sports are going, the entertainment piece and the game day experience piece is something we have not been on the forefront of in the past,” Thundering Herd coach Charles Huff said.

Huff said he was a big proponent of the new board, then offering a joke that it might distract fans if they don’t like what they see on the field.

“I hope they have the little pierogi race on there, so when we don’t move the ball on third down, people won’t boo because they’ll be trying to figure out where the crab put the ball,” Huff said with a laugh.

A Marshall representative said there will, in fact, be new animations for the video board, which hangs on a new steel structure and is outfitted with an updated sound system, when Marshall takes on Albany on Sept. 2 in the season opener.

While the video board itself is functional, the entire structure including the metal casing for the top and bottom, as well as tension banners for the sides, might not completed in time, the representative said. It will not affect the operation of the video board screens.

Huff also pointed to other improvements across the athletic facilities, including the Cam Henderson Center, construction of a baseball field and light installation at the softball complex as a way to keep the Herd relevant in the field of competition and in touch with the fan base.

“What we’re going to see over the next several years in the facilities race is going to plateau out when this NIL race starts to take off,” Huff said, giving his best guess as to where money will be shoveled. “There’s not going to be as many ‘Taj Mahals’ of buildings now; it’s going to be more fan-engaging, fan-friendly. There’s going to be more suites and more fan areas they can enjoy rather than, hey, we have a 5 million-seat stadium.”

About one third of the working press space in the Ernie Salvatore Press Box at the stadium was renovated and transformed into a private suite, the first major change on the working press level since 2008.

On the camera deck below it, high-tops that seat two and four people were installed and sold for a premium seating option, creating more space for fans in place of traditional seats.

“What Marshall has done, what (president) Brad Smith and (athletic director) Christian Spears have done, they’ve taken where college sports is going and drawn a line so we can get there quickly, and these are some of the upgrades that show that,” Huff said.