Mets lay claim to biggest scoreboard in baseball

The US division of South Korean firm Samsung Electronics and the New York Mets have unveiled what they claim is the largest scoreboard across all professional ballparks.

As the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season prepares to get underway tomorrow (Thursday), Samsung and the Mets have revealed the latest developments of a multi-year partnership that was first agreed in December 2021.

Citi Field’s enhanced and fully upgraded dual-sided centrefield video board, which features a 17,400 square feet LED screen on the front and 6,900 square feet on the back, is part of over 29,800 square feet of new LED introduced since autumn 2022.

Citi Field’s main video LED board is claimed to be substantially the largest scoreboard across all professional ballparks and over three times larger than the stadium’s previous centrefield scoreboard.

Including the new enhanced display on the back, the centrefield scoreboard features over 24,000 square feet of LED signage and over 13 million pixels, along with a high-resolution, 10mm pixel pitch display to enhance the in-stadium fan experience. Teams in the dugouts and fans in the stands can watch 4K instant replays, along with the likes of up-close game action, game stats and interactive updates.

“Samsung’s innovative technology at Citi Field will expand the standard for what fans expect when entering the country’s best stadiums,” said David Phelps, vice-president of product management at the display division of Samsung Electronics America.

“Over a two-year period, we’ve transformed a once static signage environment to an all-digital experience. While working with the Mets, we’ve been able to push the boundaries of what is possible by delivering more creative and unique experiences for its fan base.”

The multi-year digital transformation included the deployment of over 300 LFD displays and several new large-format LED displays last year, totalling over 15 million pixels. The second phase of instalments, which will be fully operational by Citi Field’s opening home game on April 6, will feature several new outfield displays, including the new centerfield scoreboard, increasing the stadium’s total pixel count to 40 million.

In addition to the centrefield scoreboard, Mets fans will see display improvements in all corners of the stadium, including exterior signage and digital concession menu boards.

The new LED technology also enables opportunities for DOOH (Digital Out-of-Home) advertising by transforming once static displays. The scoreboard offers near unlimited configurations for advertisers to stand out from the competition and deliver entirely new visual experiences to fans.

With the ability to accept multiple forms of content, the dynamic display seeks to help foster the local economy by providing business owners with an affordable solution to advertise at Citi Field.

The back of the dual-sided scoreboard reaches heights so tall that it’s visible from the highway, offering yet another opportunity to increase sponsorship and advertisement revenue, as well as inform and excite fans waiting to enter the stadium.

“Samsung’s state-of-the-art technology upgrades at Citi Field underscore our goal of providing best-in-class experiences for our fans,” said Mark Brubaker, chief technology officer of the New York Mets.

“The quality of these enhancements will not only provide our fans with more immersive and memorable visits to the ballpark, but it also positions Citi Field as a trailblazer in the industry.”