Nearly 35 years ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers installed one of the first ever color video boards. The Mitsubishi Diamond Vision board made its debut at the 1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, forever changing the fan experience. Today, you can find these same screens in venues all over the world. Mitsubishi has broken numerous world records for largest and most advanced video boards. The massive screens found in Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, that will be on display tonight as Oregon takes on Ohio State, prove just how far the technology has come over the past 35 years.
Beyond sheer size, the stadium experience has been transformed by the content shared on the screens. Van Wagner Big Screen Networks Productions (VWBSN) has been the world leader in video board production since the technology was introduced in 1980. Paul Kalil, Chief Executive Officer of VWBSN, is no stranger to this technology. Kalil took on production for the new video screen while working for the Dodgers in 1980.
“We believe content is king. You want to make it the best possible for fans and teams,” said Kalil during SportTechie’s exclusive interview.
“Our mission was to compliment the game without interrupting it. Bringing the game closer to fans in the stands.”
Technology has come a long way from the “dot races” that first captivated fans. Stadiums are pulling out all the stops to compete with the at home experience. Social media integration, on-field sights and sounds, and new 4K technology involve fans in the game like never before.
Tonight’s College Football Championship game between Oregon and Ohio State is one of the many world class events that features VWBSN’s innovative production content. Special in-stadium only field reports from talent, analysis, sponsorship activations and more. More than improving the experience for fans, sponsors are greatly benefiting from this technology.
According to Kalil, “It’s not just about the entertainment value, but how to maximize every sponsor dollar in-stadium and give the home team a competitive advantage. You can put your logo on something and have people see it, or you can attach it to the fans through presentation that goes beyond a simple sign.”