| June
21, 2001 Indian Club announces video/scoreboard agreements JONESBORO, ARK. - Indian Stadium and the Convocation Center will definitely have a different atmosphere this fall as the Indian Club has announced the sponsorship and beginning construction phases of two scoreboard and videoboard projects. The announcement was made in a press conference June 11 in the Grand Hall of the Fowler Center. In April, Cardiology Associates of Northeast Arkansas became the first organization to sign a major sponsorship package in support of the scoreboard and videoboard project. Since that contract was signed by Dr. Roger and Connie Hill, the following sponsors have made major commitments to the project including Union Planters Bank (represented by John Freeman, Joe Turney and Steve Purtee), Cavenaugh Auto Group (represented by Don Cavenaugh), PepsiAmericas (represented by Chris Conger and Stacey Null), Gregory’s Jewelers (represented by Greg Mooneyham), and B.B. Vance Group (represented by Gene Vance.). An amount by an anonymous donor has also been authorized for the project. The steel for the south end zone portion of the project is being donated by Nucor-Yamato Steel, according to Chris Wyche, Associate Director of Athletics for Marketing and Promotions. "ASU is excited and pleased that the Indian Club has received commitments from several major corporate leaders in our community," said Jennus Burton, Vice President for Finance and Administration at ASU. "These corporate leaders have recognized the benefits of supporting ASU Athletics by providing a major financial commitment toward ASU community entertainment in both Indian Stadium and the Convocation Center. ASU fans will be provided with a greatly enhanced entertainment venue with game replays and a state-of-the art sound system. In addition to thanking all of the sponsors, we also are grateful to the Indian Club for providing the leadership in making this major gift to the university possible." According to Wyche, the Indian Stadium improvements will include a Trans-Lux 39- feet, six-inch by 52-feet main scoreboard located in the south end zone which will house a 17- feet by 23-feet videoscreen, a 14-feet, six-inch by 32-feet auxiliary scoreboard which will replace the current scoreboard in the north end zone, a heavy duty voice and music BOSE wave audio public address system, and new 25-second delay and locker room clocks. "The timing of this project is excellent," said Joe Hollis, Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach. "As our football program embarks on its first year in the Sun Belt Conference and the new football building is being constructed, our facilities are receiving a significant upgrade. Our entire program will benefit from the scoreboards and videoboards." Convocation Center improvements include two main video boards with one located over the green entrance and the other over the yellow entrance that are 12-feet by 26-feet each and feature a nine-feet by 12-feet video screen, tow statistical scoreboards with one located over the red entrance and other over the yellow entrance that are 8-feet by 26-feet each. These boards will provide scoring and fouls for the ten players on the floor during the game. In addition, two pro-line video control systems, digital video equipment including storage and playback capabilities, and a mobile production truck are being purchased. "When all of their equipment is in place in late August, Arkansas State fans will have the benefit of state-of-the-art video and audio in both facilities," said Wyche. "We believe that this will greatly enhance the experience of our fans and make our venue more attractive for our players, coaches and fans." The Department of Athletics has also reached an agreement with the College of Communications and ASU-TV 63 to operate the video boards at home football and basketball events. The mobile truck and video equipment will be used by staff and students at both venues, and the home games will continue to be replayed on ASU-TV, Channel 63. "This is a tremendous opportunity for our students," said Dr. Richard Carvell, Chairman of ASU’s Radio-Television Department and Director of Broadcasting. "One thing which attracts students to the Radio-Television program at Arkansas State University is its hands-on approach in many of our classes. We have radio and TV studios, control rooms, edit bays, an FM radio station, a cable-TV channel, and computer labs, and now this opportunity. This new partnership with the ASU Department of Athletics will add another dimension to our academic program and will give our students the chance to exhibit their creativity and skills in yet another arena. We accept the challenge and look forward to working directly with the Athletic Department once again." "Our partnership with ASU Athletics during last year’s football and basketball cable replays was an extremely positive experience for our students," said Collin Pillow, instructor in the ASU Radio-Television Department. "The opportunity to expand that partnership with the video screens will enhance the over productivity of our students and the entertainment level for ASU fans." "We are excited about the enhancement of our academic programs that this project brings," said Hollis. "Our partnership with ASU-TV 63 to produce the videoboard feeds will provide state-of-the art equipment for use by the staff and students of the College of Communications. In addition, the possibility of curriculum being designed specifically for this project opens up several new possibilities for the College of Communications." # # # Story was submitted by the Arkansas State University Sports Information Department. |
 University Communications Office Jonesboro, Arkansas Staff: Tom Moore Straley Snipes Vic Nelson 870-972-3056 fax 870-972-3069 Send mail: ASUnews@astate.edu Links: List of News/Announcements Upcoming Public Events About ASU ASU Home Page |
|
|
NewsPage: asunews.astate.edu/newspage.htm | Back to TOP | |