Public-Private Partnership with City of Buffalo Maintains
Coca-Cola Field’s Standing as Marquee Ballpark in MiLB
Buffalo, N.Y., January 12, 2011 –The Buffalo Bisons announced today that they will be installing the LARGEST High-Definition Light Emitting Diode (LED) Video Display in all of Minor League Baseball at Coca-Cola Field before the start of the 2011 season. The new signature 80’ x 33’ LED HD Video Display from Daktronics, Inc. will add an unparalleled level of enjoyment to the Bisons Baseball Experience.
The new $2.5 million BisonsTV HD board will be funded completely by the Bisons organization and will once again demonstrate the team’s private investment in providing the ultimate fan experience and value at every game. Earlier this off-season, the Bisons financed the replacement of the ballpark’s field drainage system and playing surface in a project that exceeded $970,000.
In conjunction with the Bisons announcement, Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown announced the City will finance the installation of new energy-efficient lighting system at Coca-Cola Field that will greatly reduce the ballpark’s energy demands.
“Bisons’ owners, Bob and Mindy Rich, continue to show their dedication to providing the best sports entertainment experience in Western New York; a commitment that hasn’t wavered since the opening of this great ballpark in 1988,” said Mike Buczkowski, Vice President/General Manager of the Bisons. “The public-private partnership that has existed between the Bisons, the City of Buffalo and the County of Erie has been instrumental to the success and standing of this franchise in Western New York and in Minor League Baseball.
“The new BisonsTV HD board will bring an unparalleled level of entertainment and excitement to our great fans, and with the new energy-efficient lighting system, will firmly position Coca-Cola Field’s reputation as a premier ballpark for the next 25 years and beyond,” said Buczkowski.
“The City of Buffalo is making a significant investment in Coca-Cola Field by installing a new state-of-the-art ‘green’ lighting system that will enhance the overall experience fans and players will have in the ballpark, but just as importantly the new lighting system will provide considerable energy costs savings to the city,” said Mayor Brown. “The Buffalo Bisons continue to provide an excellent family-oriented entertainment opportunity for thousands of residents of our city and region. The city is committed to working with the Bob and Mindy Rich, Jonathan Dandes, Mike Buczkowski and the entire Bisons organization to ensure that Coca-Cola Field remains one of the premier professional sports venues at any level in the nation.”
On July 11, 2012, Coca-Cola Field will be the site of the 25th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game.
About the BisonsTV HD Video Display
The new “BisonsTV HD” board will be more than three times the size of the current 38’ x 19’ model that has been in place at Coca-Cola Field since the 1999 season. Daktronics, Inc. of Brookings, South Dakota has been contracted by the team to install the new video board this winter. The state-of-the-art system at Coca-Cola Field will feature the latest Daktronics 15 mm LED video technology with the capabilities to present live and recorded video images, colorful animation and vivid graphics.
The display can show either full video images or windowed images with video, advertisements, statistical information and more. With this project, the Coca-Cola Field control room and camera equipment are being upgraded to High Definition. Sports Display Systems, a local video systems integration company, is providing Engineering and Installation services. Equipment is being provided by Audio Video Corporation.
Daktronics boards are currently in place in the ballparks of 26 of the 30 major league teams. Most recently, the company installed scoreboards at Citi Field, Yankee Stadium and Target Field in Minnesota.
For the third time in the 24-year history of Coca-Cola Field, the Bisons will turn to Daktronics to provide its signature scoreboard. The first centerfield message center in place when the ballpark opened in 1988 was from the South Dakota-company as was the original Big Board in 1999 –then the largest video board in minor league baseball.
“Our strong working relationship with Daktronics has only been solidified over years of great support and high-quality products,” said Buczkowski. “It’s only appropriate that their new signature video board will find a home in a ballpark that has meant so much to the baseball industry over the past two-plus decades.”
“We appreciate the relationship that has grown through the years,” Scott Willson, Daktronics Sales, said. “The Bisons have always looked for ways to update their facility to provide the best in-game presentation for their fans.”
About the new Energy-Efficient Lighting System
The new lighting system at Coca-Cola Field will feature 168 fixtures on the eight poles, less than half as many lights currently used to light the playing field. By requiring 1.564 kW per light, the new system is projected to save 2,536.1 metric tons of CO2 and over 3.5 million kW hours of energy over the next 25-years.
By using less energy and producing less waste, the project will save an estimated $1.5 million in operating cost.
About Daktronics, Inc.
Daktronics has strong leadership positions in, and is the world’s largest supplier of, large screen video displays, electronic scoreboards, computer-programmable displays, digital billboards, and control systems. The company excels in the control of large display systems, including those that require integration of multiple complex displays showing real-time information, graphics, animation and video. Daktronics designs, manufactures, markets and services display systems for customers around the world, in sport, business and transportation applications. For more information, visit the company’s World Wide Web site at: http://www.daktronics.com, e-mail the company at sales@daktronics.com, call (605) 692-0200 or toll-free (800) 325-8766 in the United States or write to the company at 331 32nd Ave. PO Box 5128 Brookings, S.D. 57006-5128.
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