Daktronics
Encyclopedia
Daktronics is an American
company based in Brookings, South Dakota
that designs, manufactures, sells, and services video board, scoreboard
s, digital billboard
s and related products. The company is best known for its electronic LED
displays. Founded in 1968 by two South Dakota State University
professors, Daktronics grew from a provider of electronic voting systems for state legislatures to one of the world's largest suppliers of electronic signs
.
in Lake Placid, New York
, its IPO in 1994, and the creation of the world's largest video display for sports in 2004 at Jacobs Field (now known as Progressive Field) in Cleveland, Ohio. The latter was topped with the installation of two High-Definition screens and the world's largest fascia boards at LandShark Stadium (now Sun Life Stadium) in Miami Gardens, Florida
in 2006. Daktronics installed the world's largest high-definition
screen at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
in Austin, Texas
, also in 2006. Daktronics set a new milestone in 2008 by installing the world's largest High Definition lighting display at the time for the Kansas City Royals' Kauffman Stadium in the spring of 2008.
of a video image. These displays vary in size and resolution. Some include 3-dimensional curves such as the Coca-Cola display
in Times Square
. These displays are commonly found in stadiums, arenas, and video advertising displays. The programs used to control these signs are called the Venus 1500 or Venus 7000 controllers.
s for timing competitive swimming events. Daktronics has been supplying scoreboards and video displays for the Olympics
for several years. However, the Olympic Games often have contracts with larger corporations, such as Swiss Timing, so the Daktronics name is not often used.
Daktronics has been an influence in NBA
rule changes in the 2000s. The company manufactured the first backboard light strips to comply with instant replay
rulings, and in 2004, developed a see-through shot clock to improve spectator visibility.
Another major revenue-generating component of the commercial products division is the digital billboard division. Daktronics leads the industry in digital billboard installations with more than 500 as of September 17, 2007. In 2007, Daktronics released a new digital billboard product, the Valo OT digital billboard. Daktronics claims the billboard is very popular among outdoor advertisers because of the billboard's "optimized" pixel layout, reduced weight compared to previous models, and lower power consumption compared to previous models.
s (called Vanguard), which display information about upcoming traffic, weather conditions, and travel time along highways, interstates, and other roadways. Vanguard products use NTCIP, which allows them to communicate with any NTCIP-compliant software, including Daktronics' own Vanguard software.
Transportation also designs displays for aviation, mass transit, and parking applications.
for the 2008 baseball season. The display measures 105 feet (32 m) tall and 85 feet (25.9 m) wide for a total of 8925 sq ft (829.2 m²).
is a brand new High Definition scoreboard in center field. The new scoreboard is 46 ft (14 m). high and 136 ft (41 m). wide and it cost $14 million.
, home of the Auburn University
Tigers, installed a 30 ft (9.1 m) by 74 ft (22.6 m) 2220 square feet (206.2 m²) high-definition display in the South end-zone for the 2007 football season. It is the first HD display in the Southeastern Conference
, second in a college football stadium following Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas.
displays were installed in 2006. The east endzone display was the largest HD LED display in the world at the time of installation. It measures approximately 50 feet (15.2 m) high by 140 feet (42.7 m) wide (736x2112 pixels) and contains about 4.6 million LEDs. The west end-zone HD display measures approximately 50 feet (15.2 m) high by 100 feet (30.5 m) wide (736x1504 pixels). Both displays are capable of displaying 4.4 trillion colors.
A third display was installed in July 2006. The 4 feet (1.2 m) by 2105 feet (641.6 m) display is primarily used to display advertisements and statistical information.
was the largest video display in the Western hemisphere and was the largest high-definition video display in the world at the time of its creation.
, known for being tenants of the Toronto Blue Jays
and the second location of the Buffalo Bills
with a new screen, which came as a result of the mass renovation of the stadium following its purchase by Rogers Communications
.
, home of the Ole Miss Rebels
, saw the construction of a 48 ft (14.6 m) by 84 ft (25.6 m) (4,032 square feet) high-definition display in the North end-zone prior to the 2008 football season. It was, at the time, the largest high-definition screen in the Southeastern Conference
before the construction of the new scoreboard at Mississippi State University
. It cost $6 million and was paid for by TeleSouth Communications.
, home of the Indiana Hoosiers
, saw the construction of a 36 ft (11 m) by 91 ft (27.7 m) (3,276 square feet) high-definition display in the South End-Zone prior to the 2010 football season. It is the tenth largest scoreboard in the NCAA and cost $2,062,900 to build.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company based in Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is the fourth largest city in South Dakota, with a population of 22,056 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State University, the largest institution of higher...
that designs, manufactures, sells, and services video board, scoreboard
Scoreboard
A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game or match. Most levels of sport from high school and above use at least one scoreboard for keeping score, measuring time, and displaying statistics. Scoreboards in the past used a mechanical clock and numeral cards to...
s, digital billboard
Billboard (advertising)
A billboard is a large outdoor advertising structure , typically found in high traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertisements to passing pedestrians and drivers...
s and related products. The company is best known for its electronic LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
displays. Founded in 1968 by two South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
professors, Daktronics grew from a provider of electronic voting systems for state legislatures to one of the world's largest suppliers of electronic signs
Electronic signage
Electronic signage, , are illuminant advertising media in signage industry. Major electronic signage include fluorescent signs, HID , incandescent signs, LED signs, and neon signs. Besides, LED signs and HID are so-called digital signage.-Status:Electronic signs may be used indoors or outdoors...
.
History
Major milestones in the company's history included its contract to supply signage for the 1980 Winter Olympics1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
in Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
, its IPO in 1994, and the creation of the world's largest video display for sports in 2004 at Jacobs Field (now known as Progressive Field) in Cleveland, Ohio. The latter was topped with the installation of two High-Definition screens and the world's largest fascia boards at LandShark Stadium (now Sun Life Stadium) in Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...
in 2006. Daktronics installed the world's largest high-definition
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
screen at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
-Major Expansions and Renovations:*1926 - "Horseshoe" built on the north end for US$125,000 raising capacity to 40,500*1948 - Two L-shaped sections added to the east and west stands, raising seating capacity to 60,130. General contractor for this work was Farnsworth & Chambers Inc...
in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, also in 2006. Daktronics set a new milestone in 2008 by installing the world's largest High Definition lighting display at the time for the Kansas City Royals' Kauffman Stadium in the spring of 2008.
Major Product Groups
Design and manufacturing of displays is broken down into four major product groups: Video Products, Sport Products, Commercial Products, and Transportation Products.Video Products
Video displays typically use red, blue, and green light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which combine to form one pixelPixel
In digital imaging, a pixel, or pel, is a single point in a raster image, or the smallest addressable screen element in a display device; it is the smallest unit of picture that can be represented or controlled....
of a video image. These displays vary in size and resolution. Some include 3-dimensional curves such as the Coca-Cola display
Coca-Cola Sign
The Times Square Coca-Cola Sign is an electro-kinetic sculpture created in 2004, replacing the famous three-dimensional bottle design that stood for years in the center of Times Square....
in Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
. These displays are commonly found in stadiums, arenas, and video advertising displays. The programs used to control these signs are called the Venus 1500 or Venus 7000 controllers.
Sport Products
Sport Products include scoreboards and sports timing systems. Scoreboards and timing systems are used by all levels of competition from public parks to the Major Leagues. The company also produces in-water, aquatic timing systemAquatic timing system
Aquatic timing systems are designed to automate the process of timing, judging, and scoring in competitive swimming and other aquatic sports, including diving, water polo, and synchronised swimming...
s for timing competitive swimming events. Daktronics has been supplying scoreboards and video displays for the Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
for several years. However, the Olympic Games often have contracts with larger corporations, such as Swiss Timing, so the Daktronics name is not often used.
Daktronics has been an influence in NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
rule changes in the 2000s. The company manufactured the first backboard light strips to comply with instant replay
Instant replay
Instant replay is the replaying of video footage of an event or incident very soon after it has occurred. In television broadcasting of sports events, instant replay is often used during live broadcast, to show a passage of play which was important or remarkable, or which was unclear on first...
rulings, and in 2004, developed a see-through shot clock to improve spectator visibility.
Commercial Products
Commercial Products are displays for businesses, municipalities, and non-profit organizations. Daktronics commercial products division supplies signs for quick-serve restaurants, petroleum marketers, retail outlets, and many other businesses and organizations. The signs supplied to businesses typically have lower refresh rates than full video displays. These displays are typically seen in front of stores, gas stations, casinos, restaurants, and hotels.Another major revenue-generating component of the commercial products division is the digital billboard division. Daktronics leads the industry in digital billboard installations with more than 500 as of September 17, 2007. In 2007, Daktronics released a new digital billboard product, the Valo OT digital billboard. Daktronics claims the billboard is very popular among outdoor advertisers because of the billboard's "optimized" pixel layout, reduced weight compared to previous models, and lower power consumption compared to previous models.
Transportation Products
Transportation products include Variable Message SignVariable message sign
A variable- message sign, often abbreviated VMS, CMS, or DMS, and in the UK known as a matrix sign,...
s (called Vanguard), which display information about upcoming traffic, weather conditions, and travel time along highways, interstates, and other roadways. Vanguard products use NTCIP, which allows them to communicate with any NTCIP-compliant software, including Daktronics' own Vanguard software.
Transportation also designs displays for aviation, mass transit, and parking applications.
Sportsound
Sportsound is a newly acquired division of Daktronics. According to the company, it is aimed towards providing high quality sound systems at major sports venues throughout the world. Sportsound consists of an audio technician team with more than 100 years of combined experience, and experience with more than 60 Division I installations. The division recently released its newest project the Sportsound 2000, which is described as an all-encompassing sound source for any major sporting event. Like its predecessor the Sportsound 1000, it is a self-contained cabinet with a number of hi-fidelity bass and mid range drivers as well as high frequency horns. Sportsound's products are predominantly single-point source, however, the division is also capable of engineering custom tailored sound systems for venues such as major arenas, high schools, shopping centers, waterparks, etc.Keyframe
Keyframe is a creative services division of Daktronics that designs innovative, entertaining digital content in HD video, 3D animation and motion graphics, specializing in media networks and large scale LED displays, to evoke an emotional connection with viewers. Keyframe's website explains more and shows examples of their work: www.keyframe.com http://www.keyframe.comEmployment
Daktronics currently employs more than 2,500 people between its Brookings, SD headquarters, Sioux Falls, SD and Redwood Falls, MN manufacturing facilities, and more than 50 regional offices around the world.Major projects
Kauffman Stadium - Kansas City Royals - Kansas City, MO - 2008
Daktronics installed the world's largest HD display (at the time) in Kauffman StadiumKauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
for the 2008 baseball season. The display measures 105 feet (32 m) tall and 85 feet (25.9 m) wide for a total of 8925 sq ft (829.2 m²).
Bell Center - Montreal, QC - 2008
The Bell Center has a Daktronics display above center ice. It is the largest screen in the NHL.Citi Field - Flushing, NY - 2008
In August 2008, New York Mets and Daktronics installed 12000 sq ft (1,114.8 m²) of video displaysChase Field - Phoenix, AZ - 2008
New in the 2008 season at Chase FieldChase Field
Chase Field is a baseball stadium located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona and is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. It opened in , just in time for the Diamondbacks' first game as an expansion team...
is a brand new High Definition scoreboard in center field. The new scoreboard is 46 ft (14 m). high and 136 ft (41 m). wide and it cost $14 million.
Broad and High - Columbus, OH - 2007
In August 2007, Daktronics announced that four floors of the company's video boards and one monochrome digital display will wrap the corner of the historic crossroads of Broad and High in downtown Columbus, Ohio.Jordan-Hare Stadium - Auburn University - Auburn, AL - 2007
Jordan-Hare StadiumJordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan–Hare Stadium is the playing venue for Auburn University's football team located on campus in Auburn, Alabama, USA. The stadium is named for Ralph "Shug" Jordan, the University's winningest football coach, and Cliff Hare, a member of Auburn's first football team as well as Dean of the Auburn...
, home of the Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
Tigers, installed a 30 ft (9.1 m) by 74 ft (22.6 m) 2220 square feet (206.2 m²) high-definition display in the South end-zone for the 2007 football season. It is the first HD display in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, second in a college football stadium following Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas.
Grand Lisboa - Macau, China - 2007
In early 2007, Daktronics applied its LED technology to the exterior of the Grand Lisboa in Macau, China.Sun Life Stadium - Miami Gardens, FL - 2006
Two high-definition videoHigh-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
displays were installed in 2006. The east endzone display was the largest HD LED display in the world at the time of installation. It measures approximately 50 feet (15.2 m) high by 140 feet (42.7 m) wide (736x2112 pixels) and contains about 4.6 million LEDs. The west end-zone HD display measures approximately 50 feet (15.2 m) high by 100 feet (30.5 m) wide (736x1504 pixels). Both displays are capable of displaying 4.4 trillion colors.
A third display was installed in July 2006. The 4 feet (1.2 m) by 2105 feet (641.6 m) display is primarily used to display advertisements and statistical information.
Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium - University of Texas - Austin, TX - 2006
The 55 feet (16.8 m) high by 134 feet (40.8 m) wide (7,370 sq ft) GodzillatronGodzillatron
"Godzillatron" or "Adzillatron" is the nickname given to the scoreboard at the University of Texas at Austin's Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The official name of the board has not yet been decided; it is simply referred to as the "Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Scoreboard" by the...
was the largest video display in the Western hemisphere and was the largest high-definition video display in the world at the time of its creation.
Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON - 2005
Daktronics replaced the aging Sony Jumbotron at the Rogers CentreRogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
, known for being tenants of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and the second location of the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
with a new screen, which came as a result of the mass renovation of the stadium following its purchase by Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
.
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium - University of Mississippi - Oxford, MS - 2008
Vaught-Hemingway StadiumVaught-Hemingway Stadium
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium at Hollingsworth Field is an outdoor athletic stadium located in Oxford, Mississippi. The stadium serves as the home for the University of Mississippi Rebels college football team...
, home of the Ole Miss Rebels
Ole Miss Rebels
University of Mississippi sports teams, originally known as the "Mississippi Flood" , were re-named the Rebels in 1936 and compete in the twelve-member Southeastern Conference of the NCAA's Division I. The school's colors are cardinal red and navy blue , purposely chosen to mirror the school...
, saw the construction of a 48 ft (14.6 m) by 84 ft (25.6 m) (4,032 square feet) high-definition display in the North end-zone prior to the 2008 football season. It was, at the time, the largest high-definition screen in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
before the construction of the new scoreboard at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. It cost $6 million and was paid for by TeleSouth Communications.
Memorial Stadium - Indiana University - Bloomington, IN - 2010
Memorial StadiumMemorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium may refer to:In Canada:* Memorial Stadium , St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador; former home of the St. John's Maple LeafsIn the United Kingdom:...
, home of the Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
, saw the construction of a 36 ft (11 m) by 91 ft (27.7 m) (3,276 square feet) high-definition display in the South End-Zone prior to the 2010 football season. It is the tenth largest scoreboard in the NCAA and cost $2,062,900 to build.