Comerica Park Renovations?

[dadair6]

Im going to miss the old fashioned clock on the top, but everything else is fine. The ad boards give the it a "block" appearance, but we all know they need to sell as space up there.

[catswithbats]

I'm sad about the clock.

[mckibbka]

Naturally, I don't like the abundance of ad space, but understand it. I love that it'll be an HD board and I actually really like the script Tigers at the top. Do you think the script Tigers will be lit up?

[mckibbka]

Naturally, I don't like the abundance of ad space, but understand it. I love that it'll be an HD board and I actually really like the script Tigers at the top. Do you think the script Tigers will be lit up?

Sorry...answered my own question by reading the article.

[DaYooperASBDT]

6,000 square feet - now that's whatca call a big screen!

[Juck Verllo]

This makes me very HAPY seeing this. I’m not going to ***** about the location it’s never getting moved… I’m just thankful for the upgrade. That old board was out of date the minute it was first installed.

Can’t wait for opening day. 49 more days!

Thanks for the update.

[oldglory1999]

I wondered how long it was gonna take before they updated it...awesome, forget the clock-i don't think anyone paid attention to it anyway. I'm just glad that they'll head to hd with this!

[chasfh]

Are the ads they show virtual or permanent? If it's the latter, they're already behind the times.

Nevertheless, getting rid of the 70's-era scoreboard was a must. This will be a huge freaking improvement I look forward to seeing when I come in on 4/22 for the Rangers-Tigers game.

[DaYooperASBDT]

They should add a misting system for those LF bleachers!

[John_Brian_K]

Meh...I hope that is not what it loooks like. It is better in a couple ways and worse it a couple others.

They had a chance to make a big change or at least good change. Not sur eif that pic is what i would have done. I liked the top part of the score board the way it curved like a bell.

[Zakk_Wylde]

I personally had no problem with the old board. The old board was focused more on displaying information than showing video. What's the point of having a huge screen showing the game, when you can just look at the field and ... watch the game? Obviously showing replays is important, but I don't understand the live game on the jumbotron. If I wanted to watch the game on a screen, I'd stay home and watch it in the comfort of my living room.

In the current configuration, the batting order and basic hitting stats are always displayed on the main screen. Hopefully this is still shown.

[lesgoblu02]

I could be wrong but I don't believe they show the live action on the screens in any stadiums. Usually, they have a gigantic picture of who is batting with a whole slew of info. They use the video boards for replays, fan interaction, and commercials.

[Yoda]

I could be wrong but I don't believe they show the live action on the screens in any stadiums. Usually, they have a gigantic picture of who is batting with a whole slew of info. They use the video boards for replays, fan interaction, and commercials.

You are correct.

[lesgoblu02]

As a matter of fact, and this could be an urban legend, but I thought I read somewhere that MLB doesn't allow live action on the video boards.

Again, I could be very,very wrong on this.

[Yoda]

The batter would see the signs pretty easily

[John_Brian_K]

I still, to this day, look up at the board when there is a close play or a play I REALLY believe they got wrong.....I wait and wait and wait and it never comes, but it is weird I do recall seeing a replay once in a blue moon on the display board, but it is never universal or there does not seem to be a pattern.

[dadair6]

As a matter of fact, and this could be an urban legend, but I thought I read somewhere that MLB doesn't allow live action on the video boards.

Again, I could be very,very wrong on this.

You're right and they even have strict guidelines regarding replays. The Blue Jays had a brief note about replays on their site, which they've since removed, that explained what they can and can't show on the board. Two instances stuck with me, close plays and tag plays at second. It also said all other replays are at the descretion of the scoreboard operator.

I understand not showing live play on the board. It's easy for a batter to watch the board as the catcher puts down signs.

For those of you who have been to Rogers Centre and have seen their massive video board in center field, the Comerica board is going to be over 1-1/2 times the size (6,000 sq. ft compared to 3,630 sq ft.).

EDIT: I found the MLB replay policy

"Replay Policy
Subject to annual review, Major League Baseball rules stipulate
the following cannot be shown on the Video Display Board
(JaysVision):
 Pitched balls not put in play
 Forced plays at 2nd base
 “Bean” balls and fights/arguments
Close plays may be shown, but only at regular speed on a
discretionary basis.
Rogerscentre.com"

[tigerfanfromchicago]

I don't like that they got rid of the arch, the block letters, or the clock. The new design looks almost identical top what they have in Cleveland. And why is the script underlined?

[CMRivdog]

Good article in Crain's on the scoreboard..

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...board-8212-4th

Highlights on the scoreboard

The replacement video board allows the entire display area to be used for replays, stats, messages — whatever the team wants. Static advertising still will be displayed around the edges of the board separate from the video area.The overall scoreboard structure remains the same physical dimension of the previous version, using the existing metal framework.The scoreboard was designed and manufactured and is being installed by Brookings, S.D.-based Daktronics Inc., which did the new, 94-foot-tall video marquee alongside I-75 for The Palace of Auburn Hills in 2010 and the recent batch of LED digital roadside billboards used by the Michigan Department of Transportation.It also did the video boards at Ford Field and Joe Louis Arena. Daktronics has created 22 of the 30 ballpark scoreboards in Major League Baseball, according to its website.The team declined to disclose the cost of the scoreboard project, but it's thought to be $10.5 million. It's similar to the upgrade the Milwaukee Brewers made last March at Miller Park with a larger, $11 million Daktronics scoreboard.In 2011, the Philadelphia Phillies hired Daktronics to upgrade the scoreboard at Citizens Bank Park for $10 million, and the Houston Astros replaced the scoreboard at Minute Maid Park before last season with a larger, high-definition Daktronics model for $13 million. At the time, Houston's was billed as the fourth-largest in the majors — a distinction the Tigers now claim.None of the Comerica Park project cost was covered by public funds from the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority. The authority owns Comerica Park and Ford Field and leases them to the county, which then subleases them to the teams.The Tigers briefed the authority in December and then this month about the scoreboard project, said William Wolfson, chairman of the six-member public authority. The team didn't disclose the project cost to the authority because it's privately funded, he said.The project, which includes other video board work at the park, is scheduled to be done by the end of March. The public will first see the scoreboard in action on Opening Day, which is April 5 against the Boston Red Sox.Detroit canceled its annual offseason FanFest event at Comerica in January because such a large part of the ballpark is a construction site.Other changes the team said are being made:

• The scoreboard will be elevated an additional 16 feet, which will improve the view of it from previously obstructed-view seats.
• The static, 22-foot-tall, block-letter "Tigers" logo atop the scoreboard will be replaced with a 36-foot-tall LED cursive version that can change each letter's color, the team said.
• The pair of 12-foot decorative fiberglass tigers from atop the old scoreboard — the ones with the glowing eyes — have been sent to their original manufacturer, Milford, Conn.-based Show Motion Inc., to be refurbished after 12 years of being weather-beaten.
• The pitch-count board will continue to be a separate display unit below the main scoreboard. It will be a new LED unit and increase to 5-by-96 feet from the original 5-by-48 feet. That will allow additional stats to be displayed.
• Additional cameras will be installed around the ballpark, allowing different angles for video action to be displayed.
• All current video boards are being upgrading to LED displays, including the 75-foot-long ribbon boards along the face of the upper desk on the first- and third-base lines.
• The team also is replacing the 400 traditional standard-definition Sony televisions throughout the ballpark with HDTV flat screens.

The scoreboard work is the biggest capital project at the $300 million stadium, which opened in 2000, since the outfield fences were moved in before the 2003 season and the bullpens relocated in 2005.

[John_Brian_K]

Good article in Crain's on the scoreboard..

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...board-8212-4th

Highlights on the scoreboard

That is awesome that we have an owner throwing money at his team like this. Replacing 400 TV's is no cheap endeavor. Refurbing something most of us could not really see anyway (the Tigers) the additional cost of changing out the wrap banner on the second deck whcih was fairly new...the whole thing. Great to see.

I am going to do my best to support the team by going to as many games as I can.

[dadair6]

That is awesome that we have an owner throwing money at his team like this. Replacing 400 TV's is no cheap endeavor. Refurbing something most of us could not really see anyway (the Tigers) the additional cost of changing out the wrap banner on the second deck whcih was fairly new...the whole thing. Great to see.

I am going to do my best to support the team by going to as many games as I can.

The TV's in the RF upper deck concourse were useless during the early innings of games. The sun glare on them from the west made the picture impossible to see until dark.

[MSUBrian11]

Are the ads included in part of the screen? Or are they separate like they were on the old scoreboard?

[DaYooperASBDT]

I personally had no problem with the old board. The old board was focused more on displaying information than showing video. What's the point of having a huge screen showing the game, when you can just look at the field and ... watch the game? Obviously showing replays is important, but I don't understand the live game on the jumbotron. If I wanted to watch the game on a screen, I'd stay home and watch it in the comfort of my living room.

In the current configuration, the batting order and basic hitting stats are always displayed on the main screen. Hopefully this is still shown.

Might come in handy if they decide to "televise" certain away games - like Game 7 of our WS victory!

[Gehringer_2]

Are the ads included in part of the screen? Or are they separate like they were on the old scoreboard?

except for the pitcher's stat board along the bottom the rest of it is now all one display. It can show any arrangement of sub-regions they program it to.

[Oblong]

I actually like the replacement of the clock and curved portion of the board. I like the TIgers script logo.

[DaYooperASBDT]

Run some Pure Michigan ads on dat sum*****

[mmwatkin]

except for the pitcher's stat board along the bottom the rest of it is now all one display. It can show any arrangement of sub-regions they program it to.

So...

[KleShreen]

So...

Doesn't this part:

"Static advertising still will be displayed around the edges of the board separate from the video area."

mean that there will still be old-style physical advertisements around the new screen?

[mmwatkin]

Doesn't this part:

"Static advertising still will be displayed around the edges of the board separate from the video area."

mean that there will still be old-style physical advertisements around the new screen?

It could. The wording is kinda odd. The paragraph reads:

The replacement video board allows the entire display area to be used for replays, stats, messages — whatever the team wants. Static advertising still will be displayed around the edges of the board separate from the video area.

So is the replacement board just what is shown in the middle with Cabrera? Is the entire thing the replacement board and digital ads will be shown?

The board will be bigger than Yankee Stadium's and Miller Park's board. For comparison





I honestly don't know. If the screen was a rectangle, you would think they would give us the dimensions instead of just the square footage

[mmwatkin]

Nevermind. They did release the dimensions. 48'x127'

Based on comparisons, I would say my image was wrong.

[sabretooth]

They should rent out luxury suites and put March Madness games on there.

[John_Brian_K]

Nevermind. They did release the dimensions. 48'x127'

Based on comparisons, I would say my image was wrong.

Nice photoshop work. I like how they are raising it. I am not a fan of removing the bell curve at the top and still not a fan of those ads being static.

[Oblong]

I was also confused by Crain's description. I am wondering if they have it wrong. I think the intent is to make it look as though the ads around the edge are static but they can be replaced with whatever they choose at any time. Saves you the hassle of physicall removing boards and signs. They'll be up there most, if not all, the time.

I think the user Fenway's picture from Boston is more like it:



It would be pretty stupid to go through an upgrade like this yet maintain physical signage along the screen portion of the scoreboard like that when the technology allows you to do it on the screen itself.

Also, when you look at the torn out picture of the board the entire physical board is opened up, I would think that wouldn't be necessary if the signs were still going to be physical in nature.

[mmwatkin]

I was also confused by Crain's description. I am wondering if they have it wrong. I think the intent is to make it look as though the ads around the edge are static but they can be replaced with whatever they choose at any time. Saves you the hassle of physicall removing boards and signs. They'll be up there most, if not all, the time.

I think the user Fenway's picture from Boston is more like it:

It would be pretty stupid to go through an upgrade like this yet maintain physical signage along the screen portion of the scoreboard like that when the technology allows you to do it on the screen itself.

Also, when you look at the torn out picture of the board the entire physical board is opened up, I would think that wouldn't be necessary if the signs were still going to be physical in nature.

If you do the math, it doesn't look like the entire area will be video board. The old scoreboard's entire size was roughly 200'x150'. That is about 30,000 sq. ft. The new video board will be 6,000 sq. ft. It is probably safe to assume that the portion in the middle will be the video board and the surrounding area will be ads.

And it would make sens that they would have to take everything off of the old scoreboard, considering they are raising the entire thing up 16 ft.

[John_Brian_K]

"The new scoreboard will be entirely LED and is contracted with Daktronics, which has built and programmed scoring and display equipment at 26 big league ballparks. It is expected to be raised nearly 16 feet in an effort to prevent obstruction and provide better sight for fans. "

[caseyo4]

Does the scripted Tigers logo at the top look odd to anyone else? It's not the same one they traditionally use. Kind of looks like the Indians scripted logo...

[dabeave]

Updated picture from yesdetroit.com

[John_Brian_K]

Why cant they just release a rendering of what it will look like? Making us all sweat it out! lol

[Oblong]

Does the scripted Tigers logo at the top look odd to anyone else? It's not the same one they traditionally use. Kind of looks like the Indians scripted logo...

yea it does look familiar.....

[LJK004]

I like it! I think the script logo looks awesome up there. It'll be nice to have HD, too.

Maybe we will get to see a replay or two during a game now. Over the past few years, I've been to a few other parks and we are the only one who doesn't show replays on a regular basis.