Xavier University, Cintas Center

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

HIGH DEFINITION CENTER HUNG SCOREBOARD
Winter 2021 will be an exciting time for Xavier University sports fans and student athletes following the completion of a $3 million technology upgrade to Cintas Center that will take the in-game fan and visitor experience, along with broadcast streaming capabilities for multiple sporting facilities to a new level. Anthony James Partners (AJP) was proud to be the university’s Owner’s Representative and AV Consultant.

The Cintas Center’s most notable LED upgrade, a center hung scoreboard designed by AJP and manufactured and installed by ANC, is two and half times larger than its predecessor. The center hung features (4) Convex LED displays measuring 1920×1080 pixels natively at a 4mm pixel pitch for true 1080 HD, along with a convex LED video ring for branding, graphics and sponsorship. Static signage elements include a lower sponsorship affinity ring with dimensional “Cintas Center” lettering and underbelly branding with a huge custom illuminated letter “X.” The arena bowl was also upgraded with a 10mm LED fascia ribbon displays for sponsor and game in-progress messaging. The turnkey system design included hoist, production controls, scoring system and software.

BROADCAST UPGRADES
For broadcast upgrades, AJP worked closely with Xavier to procure HD broadcast-quality cameras and a suite of hardware from Ross Video, including a new high-end suite of graphics systems (Ross Xpression & Tessera). These improvements were designed to impact the quality of Xavier broadcast streams for multiple sports, with the HD cameras producing better replays of key in-game video for in-person and broadcast streaming. The new graphics systems will drive both the in-bowl arena displays and all of Xavier’s streaming video efforts both in Cintas Center and across campus at soccer and baseball.

“AJP delivered value that surpassed both our budgets and expectations for arena LED displays and broadcast capability enhancements,” said Brian Hicks, Xavier Associate Athletic Director for External Relations. “To get ahead of the manufacturing and shipping issues that plagued the industry in 2021, AJP encouraged us move early on project planning. We’re thankful we did. We would not have had the same timely and successful outcome without AJP at our side.”

The $3 million investment for Cintas Center technology enhancements was funded through private gifts and revenue from Xavier’s multimedia rights relationship with Learfield IMG College.

One of the nation’s best on-campus arenas, 10,250-seat arena is home to Xavier’s men’s and women’s basketball teams and the volleyball team and hosts a variety of other concerts and events throughout the year, including commencement, outside exhibits, concerts, trade shows, weddings and family entertainment events.

www.anc.com
November 30, 2021

TECH UPGRADES AT XAVIER UNIVERSITY’S CINTAS CENTER ENHANCE EXPERIENCE OR SPORTS AND BEYOND

Xavier University’s Cintas Center debuted a substantial technology upgrade for its men’s basketball home opener against Niagara University, designed by Anthony James Partners (AJP) and supplied and installed by experience design and execution company ANC.

The $3million upgrade includes a new centerhung videoboard supplied by Lighthouse Technologies that is 2.5 times the size of the previous one with a high-definition video display, upgraded ribbon board display, new graphics systems and HD cameras. The new tech experience puts Xavier’s arena on par with the top collegiate arenas in the country.

“Our new system gives us more flexibility, a much more crisp display and more engaging content thanks to the creativity of our partners AJP and ANC,” said Brian Hicks, Xavier University Associate Athletic Director.

The new centerhung is the third-generation scoreboard at Cintas Center. The new display, 1920x1080pixels with a 4mm pixel pitch, is complemented by HD broadcast-quality cameras, hardware and a new suite of graphics systems. A more modern system allows Xavier to stream content across campus for all athletic events, graduations and other special events in the building.

“Working with universities like Xavier makes our job easy, because they are eager to understand the full capabilities of what we can offer,” said George Linardos, ANC Chief Executive Officer. “With access to the best products on the market, coupled with creative services, we are able to provide Xavier with an exceptional experience no matter the need.”

“It has been a pleasure working on this latest project with the entire staff at Xavier University,” said Anthony James Partner’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Rowe. “AJP has been fortunate to have been a partner with Xavier for over twelve years, and on every occasion, they impress us with their understanding of what is required along with a can-do attitude that makes projects flow smoothly.”

www.cincinnati.com
May 6, 2021

XAVIER UNVEILS $3 MILLION PROJECT TO ADD A NEW SCOREBOARD, UPGRADE CINTAS CENTER TECHNOLOGY

The Cintas Center experience is about to change in a big way.

Xavier University announced Thursday that its on-campus arena will undergo a $3 million technology upgrade this summer.

The project, which the school said will be funded through private gifts and revenue from Xavier’s multimedia partnership with Learfield IMG College, includes a new center-hung scoreboard that will be 2.5 times the size of the current one with a high definition video display, upgraded fascia ribbon display, new graphics systems and HD cameras.

“We’re spending a lot of time right now putting some thought into the game experience,” Brian Hicks, Xavier University’s Associate Athletics Director for External Relations, told The Enquirer. “And it’s probably never been a more important time than now in hopes of getting fans back into Cintas Center and really trying to reimagine that live experience and that’s where I think a new center-hung scoreboard is going to give us a lot more flexibility with the technology upgrades and a true HD display. We’re thinking about the type of content that we’re going to be able to provide, more fan engagement, and a higher level of content to enhance the experience.”

The new scoreboard, [designed by Anthony James Partners, Owner’s Representative and AV Consultant and] supplied by ANC, a sports marketing and signage company that specializes in multimedia displays, is the third generation Cintas Center scoreboard and a substantial upgrade from the last scoreboard that was installed in 2010. The new display will be in 1080 HD and it will be complemented by HD broadcast-quality cameras, hardware and a new suite of graphics systems, all geared to improve the fan experience.

These technological upgrades will allow Xavier to expand its streaming video endeavors both in Cintas Center and across campus for soccer and baseball, allowing broadcast-quality graphics and statistics on every screen in the building.

“The technology investment in Cintas Center is a game-changer for the fan engagement and experience for our athletic events,” said Hicks, “but also impacts every university function, high school and college graduation and all other events that visit the arena.”

It’s a project that’s been years in the making, Hicks said.

Xavier leaned on Anthony James Partners, a consulting firm, to help research and identify other professional and college venues that have recently done similar projects.

“It’s being produced right now,” said Hicks. “We’ve got a window to install this in July. It’s a pretty exhaustive process when you think about the demolition of the current display in the venue, that’s got to come down along with the fascia, that ribbon that runs in a horseshoe shape around the Cintas Center, that’s all getting pulled out and replaced.

“You’re looking at a good four to five weeks that we have to shutter the arena so we’ve blocked off the entire month of July because our goal is we want to have this in for the beginning of volleyball season. So the first part of August we’ll be done and hopefully fully operational.”

Xavier’s hope is that these upgrades will open up even more possibilities for events inside Cintas Center.

“We’re always thinking about what’s next for Cintas Center,” said Hicks. “This project impacts recruiting, it impacts fan experience, it impacts all the other events, and we think there’s probably going to be a lot of new opportunities for other events whether it’s e-sports, viewing parties (for) away games or other special events. With a larger, fully HD, center-hung scoreboard, I think it opens up some new possibilities for our facility.”