Video board manufacturer Daktronics has claimed a first with the installation of a 2.5-millimetre centre-hung screen at TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics NBA basketball team and the Boston Bruins NHL ice hockey franchise.
Daktronics said the installation marks the tightest pixel pitch on a centre-hung display in professional sport.
The upgrade includes four new main video screens retrofitted into the existing structure, which is designed to overhaul the viewing experience for Bruins and Celtics fans. Each display features 4.5 million pixels and measures 13 feet high by 23 feet wide.
Lorraine Spadaro, vice-president of technology at TD Garden, said: “Our game presentation enhancements are some of the most exciting parts of TD Garden’s significant ‘Legendary Transformation’ this year.
“The complete overhaul of the HDX screens significantly enhances the clarity and quality of game presentation and brings 4K quality video to our guests.”
Daktronics president and chief executive Reece Kurtenbach added: “The tight 2.5-millimetre pixel pitch of their centre-hung screens position TD Garden as innovators in the use of LED technology in sports venues. We’re proud to work with TD Garden on their venue upgrade efforts.”
The improvements have been made after 30 LED displays were installed in 2018 in vomitory locations along the seating fascia. These displays also featured the tight 2.5-millimetre line spacing for high-resolution imagery.
TD Garden announced in September that it was in the “final stages” of its $100m-plus (£76.4m/€90.2m) renovation project, with new seating and innovative viewing options in place for the 2019-20 season.
In other news, Daktronics has partnered with Louisville City FC of the United Soccer League (USL) Championship to design, manufacture and install eight LED displays for its new stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2020.
The main video display features a 13HD pixel layout and measures 40 feet high by 72.5 feet wide. The display is capable of variable content zoning to show one large image or multiple zones of content. Two additional displays will also be fitted to the left and right of the main display.
Other features include a rear-facing display, two ribbon displays, a pitch-perimeter display and a 14.5-foot-high by 25-foot-wide screen in the club’s beer garden.
In April, Louisville City selected venue and live entertainment company AEG Facilities to manage the new stadium, which will have a capacity of 14,000 and permanent seating for 11,700 fans.
Image: Daktronics
