SMT Helps Valero Texas Open Improve Fan Experience

This past weekend’s Valero Texas Open once again relied on SMT to further enrich the spectator experience with signature production services across TPC San Antonio. For the 100^th anniversary of the tournament SMT provided 18 on-course LED displays; IPTV services for 325 TVs; 12 interactive kiosks; pro-am draw party and social media production; broadcast services, and displays for the Digital Media Center, 100^th anniversary concert and Dash to VTO 5K.

SMT provided a wealth of AV support at the Valero Texas Open this past weekend for spectators.

Spectators at TPC San Antonio stayed informed via a variety of on-course LED video boards that displayed tournament information such as the leaderboard, social media tagging, VTO messaging, sponsor content and player video captures. New this year was a three-panel, 16-by-57-foot Monsterboard on the 18^th hole and another 14-by-22-foot Monsterboard was stationed at the 16^th green. Two double-sided, 8-foot tall, curved displays located at the VIP entrance and the Backyard also made their debut along with two four-sided Info Towers at the 17th green and the Backyard with live scoring and directional information. Ribbon boards flanked the player walkway/bridge behind No. 18, highlighting a count-up of donations to Champions fore Charity, the tournament’s fundraising program.

“For the 100^th anniversary of the Valero Texas Open, we have worked closely with SMT to enhance the fan experience with a multitude of content-rich LED displays stationed at key areas across the course,” says Ted Kneale, Director of Operations, VTO. “We are excited to welcome back our full contingent of spectators who can follow the action of their favorite players no matter where they are on the grounds of TPC San Antonio. Thanks to our supporters, we are looking forward to unprecedented tournament as we aim to break our charitable fundraising record.”

In the VTO Media Center, SMT supplied an LED display with a real-time leaderboard, live broadcast, player locator and tournament messaging. In addition to displays, SMT provided:

• Tournament IPTV Platform and Service (TIPS) for 325 monitors around the grounds
• Pro-Am Draw Party production
• A feed of the Jason Aldean/Darius Rucker concert to mobile displays and TVs in hospitality venues
• Cameras and feeds for the Dash to VTO 5K
• Pose with the Pros selfie stations where fans can pose with images of various golf pros
• Enhanced channel on the TIPS network for the Valero hospitality tent on No. 18
• A virtual Drive Grid for the tournament’s broadcast partners

SMT’s VTO team, led by Jeff Carella, senior business development manager, offers an unprecedented level of experience, having worked numerous high-level sports broadcasts.

“We are honored to play such a large role in the Valero Texas Open’s 100^th anniversary,” says Carella. “Since 2005, our relationship with the Valero Texas Open and Valero has continued to grow each year and we are grateful for our longstanding relationship with this prestigious event. Months of planning and coordination between SMT, the Valero Texas Open tournament staff, and Valero Corporate has led to a successful execution of distributing Valero’s brand messaging, tournament scoring and tournament sponsor content on-site through our displays and televisions.”