Minnesota Twins Open Spring Training With New Daktronics System at Hammond Stadium

With Major
League Baseball’s regular-season opening day just around the corner, fans are
enjoying watching the Minnesota Twins prepare at their spring-training site in Florida. They are also
enjoying watching a new scoring and display system installed at Fort Myers’ Hammond
Stadium, designed and built by Daktronics.

“We really
look forward to the arrival of spring and spring training every season,” says
Matt Hoy, VP of operations for the Minnesota Twins. “This spring
was even better, thanks to the addition of the big new Daktronics scoreboard in
the outfield of Hammond Stadium. Our fans have enjoyed the visibility and
capabilities of the new scoring and display system. Daktronics is well-known as
a leader in this industry, and we’re pleased to work them on this project.”

The new
outfield scoreboard is positioned behind left center field and measures
approximately 50 ft. wide by 24 ft. tall. The dedicated scoring section uses
low-power, high-brightness LED digits to show game-in-progress information. It
also incorporates programmable LED team-name displays. Below it is a 36-ft.-wide full-color LED message display. Above it, an analog clock 5 ft. in
diameter shows the time of day. Decorative truss work and backlit sponsor
panels are also included on the custom scoreboard.

“The new
scoreboard is a great improvement to the ballpark,” says Steve Gliner, EVP/GM of the Fort Myers Miracle, a Class A affiliate
of the Minnesota Twins. “We’ve had a very positive reaction to it from Twins
and Miracle fans. The full-color display below allows us to present all kinds
of information, graphics, and animation, including player images and stats. Our
fans will really enjoy it for many years to come.”

Last
October, Daktronics and the Twins released information about the new high-definition video display and other components making up the integrated system
that will turn on when the Twins open the 2010 season in the new spectacular
Target Field. The system will include 50 digital LED displays, scoring and
statistics systems, and fixed advertising panels. The main video board will be
one of only two in Major League Baseball with true 1080 high-def resolution,
measuring 101 ft. wide by 57 ft. high. More than 1,230 feet of digital LED
ribbon board will also be included. Installation of the first components of the
system is scheduled to begin within the next few weeks.