Illinois fans stunned by ‘blinding’ $20.9 million college football record-breaker

· Yahoo Sports

Illinois fans stunned by ‘blinding’ $20.9 million college football record-breaker originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Illinois spent months telling everyone that college football’s largest videoboard would change the atmosphere inside Gies Memorial Stadium.

Visit biznow.biz for more information.

The school was not exaggerating.

The Fighting Illini unveiled their massive new south end-zone screen during Thursday night’s 42-23 season-opening victory over UAB. The $20.94 million attraction immediately became nearly as difficult to ignore as the action on the field. Illinois’ new videoboard measures approximately 69 feet high and 250 feet wide, covering 17,315 square feet. That makes it more than 6,600 square feet larger than Auburn’s previous college football record-holder.

Fans finally saw those staggering numbers come to life Thursday. The initial reviews suggested that even the wildest measurements did not adequately explain the size or brightness of the screen. “It’s blinding!” and Illinois fan told The News-Gazette. “Blinding in the most amazing way.”

Illinois finds dramatic way to unveil enormous videoboard

Illinois did not simply switch on the board and begin showing highlights. During the introduction, nearly the entire display went dark. A small rectangle remained illuminated to represent the size of the stadium’s previous board.

An animation then showed that old screen shattering before the picture expanded across the entire 17,315-square-foot canvas.

The presentation delivered the intended effect. Fans sitting near the south end zone described how the new board appeared to loom over their seats, while others praised the improved view and the abundance of live statistical information. The gigantic display allowed Illinois to show game footage while simultaneously keeping team statistics, scores, graphics and other information visible. That was one of the primary goals behind the unusual design.

The screen is so wide that traditional 16:9 video cannot fill it without losing a significant portion of the image. Illinois instead created multiple content areas around the live feed, giving spectators more information without requiring the game broadcast to disappear. Fighting Illini Productions planned to feature statistics prominently, and fans noticed immediately. One spectator told The News-Gazette that the board made it easy to follow updated yardage, first downs, turnovers and time of possession throughout the game.

How big is Illinois’ new videoboard?

One comparison might explain the scale better than any measurement.

According to Sports Video Group, it would take approximately 1,621 60-inch televisions to cover the same area as Illinois’ new screen. The display is also roughly 3.4 times larger than the main board at Soldier Field and comparable in size to the main outfield screen at Citi Field.

The south end-zone board contains approximately 16 million pixels, but it represents only one part of the stadium’s technology overhaul. Daktronics installed 16 LED displays throughout Gies Memorial Stadium, combining for more than 26,750 square feet and 30 million pixels.

The additions include ribbon boards, field-level displays, smaller screens near the bleachers and two outward-facing boards on the back of the south end-zone structure.

Illinois also upgraded its stadium lighting, audio system, Wi-Fi and production equipment. The football videoboard operation now uses eight field cameras after previously using five.

MORE: WATCH: Illinois produces craziest touchdown of college football season with wild Hail Mary

Illinois’ expensive addition receives one early criticism

Not every reaction was entirely positive. One fan questioned whether some of the nearly $21 million used for the videoboard could have been invested directly into the football team. The project was primarily supported by Larry Gies’ $100 million donation to Illinois athletics, which also resulted in Memorial Stadium being renamed in honor of his late father.

That debate is unlikely to disappear. Schools across the country continue to spend heavily on stadium improvements while also navigating rapidly increasing costs connected to players and roster construction.

For one night, however, Illinois received nearly everything it could have wanted from its giant investment. The videoboard delivered a dramatic debut, the revamped game presentation earned strong reviews and the Illini opened their season with a 19-point victory.

Illinois wanted a screen nobody could overlook. Judging by the first reactions, the school may have created one that is almost impossible to look away from.

More College Football news:

Read full story at source