Bronco Sports Properties is installing 160 yards of new scoreboard to Bronco Stadium — full-color, LED boards that will display game information like the clock, down and distance and team yardage totals but also display messages (Touchdown!) and advertisements.
Bronco Sports Properties, the local arm of Learfield Sports that took possession of the Boise State athletics sponsorship rights a year ago, paid for the project. It’s part of the $1 million in capital improvements that are part of a contract with Boise State.
The Mitsubishi ribbon boards, which are 3› feet tall, are attached to the facing of the upper decks on both sides of the stadium, running from 10-yard line to 10-yard line. They replace the blue scoreboards that had limited functionality.
The ribbon boards are common in pro stadiums and will add a little pizzazz to 41-year-old Bronco Stadium. They won’t be ready for Saturday’s scrimmage (7 p.m., free).
BSP also is placing 31-foot LED boards at field level behind the goalposts on each end of the stadium. Those will show ads that have added value because they will appear in TV broadcasts.
BSP eventually wants to do a complete scoreboard makeover at Bronco Stadium, including a new video board, but that will have to wait until stadium expansion plans are finalized, said Dan Hawley, the general manager of BSP.
He wouldn’t say how much the ribbon boards cost, but “a good chunk” of the $1 million remains, he said.
Other changes, in the stadium and on the airwaves, that fans will notice this year include:
• BSP hopes to make a temporary improvement to the sound system. A permanent change won’t happen until the expansion plans are in place. The biggest complaints, Hawley said, are spots inside the stadium where the sound is inaudible. One possible solution is to move the speakers to the open north end so they’re aimed toward more seats.
“A number of companies are looking into it,” Hawley said. “We’re hopeful we can pull it off this season.”
BSP tried a temporary fix for the home opener last year but wasn’t pleased with the results.
• The Mountain West has a rule prohibiting fans from using artificial noisemakers — even at nonconference games. Basically, that means anything other than your hands, feet and voice. Schools will be warned once and fined on the second and any subsequent offenses.
• Coach Chris Petersen will be featured on a TV show this year. “Inside Bronco Football with Coach Pete” airs at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays on KTVB during the season. The 30-minute show will help BSP offset the revenue lost because the Broncos don’t have the rights to show football games on local TV anymore.
Petersen’s radio show will air at 6 p.m. Wednesdays on the Bronco Sports Radio Network. The show will originate from the Stueckle Sky Center.
BSP and Boise State have discussed a change to the contract because of the TV rights, Hawley said. The original deal is for seven to 10 years and up to $33 million.
Boise State could lose some revenue. The Mountain West TV contract doesn’t leave room for local TV.
“It hurts,” Hawley said. “We had four to five games each year that you could kind of bank on advertising-wise.”
Chadd Cripe: 377-6398
