Anyone seen any pictures of this thing? I came across what looks like some sort of rendering for the scoreboard. There were some pics posted to the 247 site, but they were behind a pay-wall. I hope these aren't the same. These came off twitter:
Virginia Tech to install new 108' scoreboard. Here is what the proposal looks like. Nice! #Hokies, #VT twitter.com/Bill_Lawson_TX…— Bill Lawson (@Bill_Lawson_TX) February 17, 2013
And the backside! #VT, #Hokies twitter.com/Bill_Lawson_TX…— Bill Lawson (@Bill_Lawson_TX) February 17, 2013
I think it looks great. Does anyone have any idea when it's going up? Will it be up by the spring game?
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Looks Awesome
Those came from the RFP available here: http://www.purch.vt.edu/html.docs/bid_administration/upload/0026770_0301.... Scroll about one-third the way down. AJP's portfolio is here: http://www.anthonyjamespartners.com/project-category/stadiums/. The did work for The Bills, Tennessee, The Packers, Penn State, and the list goes on...
Page 4 says "Installation to be complete by August 1, 2013" and "Note : Demolition of existing screen cannot occur until after graduation on May 17, 2013." So no spring game.
I have mixed emotions about the graphics on the back. I love the idea behind it, just not sure about the execution. Seems awkward and out of place. I'm sure I'll warm up to it
agreed
the back idea is nice but the execution and design look dated and corny.
It said in the document that the mural was just an example. The page was labeled VT.FB.14 (near the end of all of the CAD drawing)
Thanks for pointing that out. On that note, what do you guys think the two pics should be? Or what would you put there?
Ryan Williams dragging Earl Wolff
AND...
Either 1) Corey Moore murder eyes
2) Pic of Jacory Harris getting mauled by Worilds
Beamer dancing in the locker room
Can they put gifs on the back of the scoreboard?!?!
Maybe they could put up a lenticular image
y'know, one of those things that changes as you change the viewing angle.
Kind of like a low-tech GIF.
It would be cool if they had the Tech helmet vs the away team's helmet in the trapezoids.
good idea
I would like that but only for gameday.
Mike London crying
yeah but
I think the base design is corny from a design perspective... the pics can be whatever they want...i don't love the base look. I know it is CAD which is always really just a placeholder. I feel that overall the team is missing an innovative graphic design element. We are all over the place with our look and brand. We are unsuccessfully chasing Oregon with unis but they have actual high quality NIKE designers working on such things. Not a grad student that thinks he can design or an engineer that is amazing but doesn't have the graphic design flare to pull off a "big idea" look. I am stoked for the new scoreboard. I think the current one is pretty sad in comparison to many stadiums.
Regardless of how great it is there will still be those annoying intelos/stop in ads and the random commercials with lights sweeping over a photos of bulldozers, and cranes, etc. But hey they need to pay the bills.
Agree...
I sent a few emails to the athletic department about graphics on the old scoreboard. It would drive me crazy that they would put stupid wallpaper images when they were showing stats of the game. The images would distort the actually game stats. I would love to know who is in control of the graphics. Of course, I like simple and clean.
I'm just imagining this thing pumping out graphics in HD with Enter Sandman playing in the background compared to what we have now. The best intro in college football is about to get a hell of a lot more awesome.
Finally! Hope this makes the rest of the ACC super-jealous!
Now let's get that damned indoor practice facility built, too!
I love it. The first time I went into Lane my first thought was, "This screen is way too small for this big of a stadium". Glad to know that we're gonna do something about it.
I do think the backside of the scoreboard should have counter mocking uva's continue lack of possessing the Commonwealth Cup.
A counter
hahaha like a counter of how many days we've been in possession of the Cup. Also a gif of LT's block on Steve Greer would be cool too
Looks awesome
I'm pumped. Everything about next year has me excited!
Looks great, so long as we can do away with the awful branding from the current scoreboard. The McDonald's arches look so, so terrible to me. Would like a clean cut, all-Hokie look, not a big "nTelos/STOP IN" billboard on top
It looks like all of the ads will be part of the LED screen itself, so they can be rotated. If I'm a sponsor, I would like that a bit less - but as a fan, I like a lot more.
Pg. 54 has the best view of the front and back sides. It would be awesome if the images on the back-end could change game to game or based on events
What caught my eye was on page 3,
in the Background section where it says "In addition, we would like to replace the outdated sound systems....with something that will make the other team's head coach piss his pants during Enter Sandman like Al Golden did a few years ago."
perfect! seeing his reaction and look of terror from the crowd noise alone he may just faint if there's a new sound system
The back side.. eh The front
The back side.. eh
The front side.. hell yea
hmmm
That's opposite of some girls I know
Excited for a new scoreboard
But some of these renders look like ass.
Im not sure if im digging the back side. I think its the over abundence of maroon panels or possibly the two trapizoids (cant decide) , however; as stated above the rendoring sucks so i wont judge it too much yet. I would almost like some Hokie Stone somewhere on it. I like the front and VT.FB.5 has the best picture of this). Regardless, much better then the current one and i am excited.
I think it would be cool if the murals on the back changed or flipped thru images. But i know thats asking for alot
For those worried about the sound system they are replacing it (Page 32 of the specifications). From the drawings it looks like the front 2 sides are the speakers (42'x17' side accent panels). If thats the case i think the sound will be awesome and up to date. Page 40 in the RFP has the speaker specs. It states an average of 105 dBA must be met which is plenty loud, and i can bet its much louder then the current. To put things in perspective 130 decibles is the threshold of pain.
Then I say make them 131 decibles!
Some Hokie Stone....
I think I like that idea of yours.
Can we all agree the back needs to include the Horse on a Treadmill?
Counter
Add a counter for the number of days the Commonwealth Cup has been in our possession
Updates to Cassell too
Anyone notice on page 3 in the Background it says they will be updating video boards and sound system in Cassell too. About damn time for both Lane and Cassell to be updated.
Package Deal
It was a package deal with IMG. They already have the mock ups of those as well, not sure where to find them though.
I guess this new scoreboard means an expansion of the north endzone is further off then originally anticipated. I really wish they would connect the south endzone with east and west.
Filling in the space isn't economically feasible
While I'm not sure of the specifics, they would probably have to tear out a bit from each end of each section to make it work, and I think I remember hearing that it would be pricier than the entire SEZ expansion was in the first place. As much as it could help with keeping the noise in the stadium, I wouldn't hold my breath on it.
Can't connect South Endzone with the rest. Due to the steepness of East stands, it won't work. The design can never and will never be a bowl like shape. North Endzone expansion is coming when we have more money and have paid off more of our debt from our last expansion.
Thanks
Wasn't there concerns about space for the north endzone? The practice fields are right behind it. I read something about it but I can't remember what was said about expansion.
My guess is maybe thats why they want to build an indoor practice facility? Some people have said on the internets that any expansion to the North Endzone wouldnt be possible due to foundations of Merriman center but that is all bogus in my opinion. Anything is possible with the right $$$
If the foundations of Merriman would be impacted, that would mean Merriman has the most unique foundations ever constructed. Nowhere would you find a building foundation that extends outward from the structure 100+yards, especially for one that is only a few stories high.
The big rumor I've heard and am unsure as to the validity of is that there are underground waterways that would make the foundation work prohibitively expensive.
That could be the case
Streubel's Creek runs under the drillfield, so I don't think it's out of the question.
Creeks
There's a creek that runs under the whole football field. You can see the grates for it by North Endzone.
Do we really need to expand North?
We might "sell-out" every game (even that's questionable), but we don't often "attendance-out" (person in every seat). Why expand?
Bleachers
There is something about Bleacher seats, and a complete section of nothing but students that is what college football is all about.
Can't the back be changed every game and be voted on? Maybe memes mocking that week's opponent like that cracked out Clemson tiger! Obviously won't happen...
Engineering issues
I heard somewhere that there's some sort of underground stream or cave system of some sorts under the NEZ that would require some pretty extensive foundation work in order to plop a big concrete structure on the site. No idea if there's any truth to that though.
I'd like to see Lane seat 80,000 in the next few decades
If we're in the SEC, yes, otherwise I'm not sure if we'd sell that out.
I doubt Lane will ever expand again. A lot of NFL stadiums have settled on the 65,000-75,000 range for capacity, and it is my opinion that the same range is perfect for Lane Stadium as well. Not only does it sell out, but it also creates a demand for tickets... but not such an overwhelming demand to justify expansion. Our administration is able to guarantee sellouts, and more or less charge what they want. We don't have to put up shitty family packages on groupon because the secondary market has cheaper tickets. Couple that with ever-improving technology for viewing at home, and it becomes pretty clear that expansion would probably be unrealistic. A quick glance at the basic supply and demand of the situation (considering distance to nearest metropolitan areas, demographics, etc.) makes expansion pretty unreasonable and not necessary, in my opinion.
Well, to edit, I probably shouldn't have said ever ...
but I would imagine not anytime in the foreseeable future.
While it makes sense to remain where we are for selling tickets, there are blueprints and design plans at Tech for expanding the North Endzone. They may never be used, but the idea has been considered and I don't think it has been eliminated either.
I doubt anything has been eliminated.
A move to the SEC would most likely require increased capactity.
Or a national championship...
NFL Stadiums are haven't grown to collegiate size (~100K) for a couple reasons. They love to charge a whole lot more than college, which they would be able to do if there were more seats. Also, the NFL has a STUPID rule that if you don't sell out your stadium or come close to it, there will be a local TV blackout. Which means, not letting locals see the game on TV, which kills a fanbase and makes teams consider changing cities (San Diego and Jacksonville are common examples). Franchises have to avoid that situation at all costs, which means keeping the stadiums small.
An easy way to manage that
The Jaguars have removed blocks of seats from ticket sales, effectively reducing the stadium capacity.
I'm sure in good years they could re-add them, and I think in the playoffs they could as well.
Good point about removing the seats, but Jags in the playoffs?
I meant moreso in general, a team that reduced seats could add them back if they made the playoffs. The NFL rule is, you set a capacity for the entire regular season.
just finished
my proposed design
Can you?
throw some Hokie stone on there
My attempt
Not too bad. I definitely like the idea/look of stone framing aspects of the scoreboard. It represents the school and campus well and keeps the scoreboard from being an overwhelming amount of maroon and/or orange.
What, no lunchpail? Skipper? I know you have to be careful...
not to get too cluttered to ruin the impact. Maybe they could be amongst rotated images.
turkey leg
Nothing like a 30 degrees home game with a scalding hot turkey leg. I love it. It truly is my happy place. Also a full flask helps as well.
Add bacon on your turkey leg.
They call it a Swanson.
WOW
I have never seen that one. I have to say Ron Swanson has done it again. I am thoroughly impressed.
I was thinking the exterior of the structural columns could be cladded in Hokiestone all the way up, but this looks cool too
I may be in the minority here, and if you -1 me, so be it, but can we for once build SOMETHING that is not bedazzled in Hokie Stone? I get that it is a piece of our University Architectural Standard, but with all of the new buildings popping up on campus, 50% of the building is Hokie Stone and the other 50% is a combination of glass and crappy precast concrete panels. It is completely uninspired, unimaginative, and frankly outdated. Collegiate Gothic architecture (as seen around the drillfield, at Duke, Princeton, etc.) was the standard in the late 19th/early 20th Century. We're 100 years past that, at an institution known for kickass architecture and engineering programs. As a graduate of the architecture program, I am frankly offended by the shitty architecture of the new construction. For the love of Christ can one building element be constructed that is not an homage to Hokie Stone?
After the abomination that is our basketball practice facility, please just put up something modern and in the context of our stadium. It is a giant ass video board for a football stadium. Plus, adorning it in stone gives it way too much visual mass and makes it look heavy and clumsy. It should be light, it should use modern materials. If you want a little stone here and there, use it intelligently. Your rendering is a good example of this, so high five.
Rant over. I'm sorry if I offended any of you.
Pride in our Roots
On the same site that we all beg and complain to get back to our football roots of smash mouth football where we don't care what we look like I'm perfectly fine never going away from Hokie Stone roots as a university. I also think that some of the newer buildings look great. The parking garage is on of the most aesthetically pleasing parking garages I've ever seen.
I love Hokie stone
It makes you feel like you're somewhere important (BECAUSE YOU ARE). Go to radford and tell me how you like a campus without a prestigious feel.
I agree, Hokie stone FTW
I personally want every new building to include Hokie stone, and wouldn't mind if Derring and Whittemore received facelifts to add more to them as well. And although Lane isn't the biggest or most intimidating of stadiums to see when you approach, you have to admit that it looks damn good when you're walking up. It is our Hokie Castle, they just need to add a moat and drawbridge.
I digress
Derring needs it asap. The design of it is blocky and ugly as it is, then you factor that's it on the edge of campus so it's one of the first things newcomers see getting off of 460. I've said that since I first visited in '05.
New Buildings
I'm pretty sure thats why they chose the spots for the ChemP building, parking garage, Bishop Favrao and signature engineering building. To cover up Derring and Tittamore. Next logical spot for me is in the Derring parking lot.
They could also do something about the horrible faux Hokie Stone on Litton Reaves. Buildings on that side of West Campus don't match like Hillcrest and Wallace except the newer ones like ICTAS2 and the Life Sciences buildings.
I believe there are plans to put new buildings in all of the remaining prices fork lots, as Tech anymore only builds new buildings in existing parking lots. This would hide all of those old ugly buildings. They are also building something in the open spot next to Bishop Favrao.
we already tried that "mix it up a bit" approach ...
the result was Derring & Whittemore
It appears you've offended at least 9 people.
While I'm not sure this rant deserves a -9, I can see where people are coming from. Hokie stone is something that makes our architecture extremely unique. Besides, trying to put a bunch of modernized buildings around campus in the middle of the old-school collegiate Gothic architecture would completely wreck the feel of the campus, IMHO. I think the school has done a pretty good job so far of making the newer buildings look modernized without losing that "Hokie" feel and a really big part of that is the generous use of Hokie stone. But what do I know? I'm just a humble engineer.
Too late
"trying to put a bunch of modernized buildings around campus in the middle of the old-school collegiate Gothic architecture would completely wreck the feel of the campus"
Derring Hall says hello.
There are some things I force myself not to look at or, at the very least, immediately remove them from my memory once I leave.
I wasn't saying get rid of HokieStone altogether. I love Hokie Stone. I have a giant piece of it on my desk (that may or may not have been stolen during the construction of a building...). My point was that most of the architecture going up around campus has been by-and-large uninspired. The new Snohetta-designed Center for the Arts building is a nice start. I just wish they would shake it up more, rather than value-engineer everything to the same look. So when people say "yeah clad the whole giant scoreboard in Hokie Stone!", my response is more rooted in the fact that from a design standpoint, cladding a large object like a scoreboard in stone is visually heavy. It would look funny. And if you don't believe me, thats fine, its only my opinion. And the -9 is fine, I knew it was coming. I felt comfortable with everyone here to just voice my opinion and let my voice be heard. I'm glad people disagree, its what makes the site great.
People are misusing the -1 anyway
It's meant to be for offensive material, or comments that are altogether not welcomed. Not for disagreements. I completely understand where you're coming from with this comment though, as for me, having a scoreboard decked out in all Hokiestone may be a bit much. But a little couldn't hurt it either. It's just dependent on how well it's integrated into the design. And as a civil engineering student, I will gladly admit that I have no idea as to what may be appealing visually from an architecture standpoint.
I didn't -1 you either (I have seriously only used that bottom maybe five times since it's conception, it def gets misused). The thing is, nobody said to have the scoreboard "cladded out in Hokie Stone." I said throw some up there and the picture that the key player responded with didn't even have a lot, so I'm unsure why your rant was focused on a scoreboard full of Hokie stone. Don't want to get into another key play argument like earlier in the week, just saying that nobody said to "clad it out in Hokie stone." I agree that a scoreboard full of Hokie stone would be too much.
I actually agree with a lot of the comments you made about the campus architecture. I think the mistake that was made is that it is really hard to combine Gothic with modern. So instead of intricate relief work you would see in traditional Gothic architecture like this:
We tried to modernize it and ended up with cheesy concrete panels like this:
To me, it's a bad Venturi rip-off
However, if anyone ever visits the campus with me, I make sure they walk into the main entrance of Burruss Hall.
Oh...back to the Hokie Stone on the scoreboard; I think it'd look best as part of the columns holding up the scoreboard.
I won't -1 you but I disagree. Hokie Stone for life.
Nice look on the horseonthetreadmill, btw, RivaHokie
I can't believe nobody has brought this up
The back of the new scoreboard is the perfect place to bring back the "Home of the Fighting Gobblers"
They did eventually put the letters back up.
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2010/april/17/order-has-been-restored-...
Well I'm apparently a bad fan to have not noticed that. Or I just never go to the west side.
I'm all in favor of the horse on the treadmill now.
no, you're not.
they put them in a weird place in order to draw less attention to them. that's probably the only way they could get the people who wanted them taken down in the first place to approve putting them back up.
but I do like your suggestion of putting "home of the fighting gobblers" on the scoreboard. I was always a fan of those letters and I was upset when they never put them back up on the outside of the west stands, where they belong.
How about
just a close-up view of Corey Moore's eyes, with the words "Welcome to the Terror Dome" imposed at the top?
well, you also need to make sure you capture the steam coming off of the top of his head.
THURSDAY NIGHT GOT MORE AWESOME
Due to the anima-tronic Bud Foster Head
Sold!
It would be great to put Grimes on the other side. Full team Goatee blowing fire would be badass!!!!
Can't we just have the Thankskilling turkey rise up from behind the scoreboard for every 3rd down key play?
Or every sack.
Grimes shoots lazors out the eyes
Friggin' Grimes with the friggin' laser beam on his friggin' head
Update
I added your suggestions, plus I thought Beamer should ride in on Thankskilling Turkey, and the pet Turkey Bear would guard the lunch pail while defense was on the field.
Hopefully there will be an addendum to the drawings that reflect these changes.
lol i just noticed you drew mechanical mouths on Foster's and Grimes' jaw. Nice touch
frank on thankskilling turkey
just made my day
One thing is for sure
There will not be any plans to expand the student section for at least 10-15 years.
I was just wondering when this was going to happen...
Weather permitting, it looks like they are starting the tear out this week and hopefully should be all out by next week I'd think. Quicker they get that done, quicker they can come put these massive boards up in Cassell.
Oh, is that the plan? I guess I was a little confused. So Cassel isn't getting new screens they're just taking the old ones out of Lane and putting them in there?
No it is brand new screens in Cassell, but it is the same company doing it, so they have to do Lane first. Working in Cassell though, those are the ones I'm more concerned with considering I do some pregame ops stuff like making sure the clocks work and stuff like that. I said massive screens because that is what is going in there. If people have been coming to games for years, they will notice it about as quickly as people noticed the bigassfans.
The more immature part of my brain read that last bit as big ass-fans. Tee hee. Here's hoping this is buried enough in the comments that no young eyes see it. Cause really, this is just tasteless.
Yeah, can't really get around it since that is the companies name. I'm honestly surprised we didn't get complaints from random parents.
ha, my company uses their fans too. we all got a kick out of it when they were installed.
I love that they advertise their fans being great for worship centers: http://www.bigassfans.com/application/commercial/worship/
more photos:
I hope this new scoreboard will coincide with a new, more competent era of Hokie Offense
After taking yesterday off, they are back out there and as of 5 minutes ago when I walked by they completely have the S off.
*View is from Bowman Room
I love the progress updates, keep up the good work.
Another bleak day in Blacksburg, but they have the O strapped in and is awaiting takedown.
kind of sad actually.
The 9 year old in me thinks its hilarious that it now says "Ho" on our campus...
The 31-year-old in me thinks the same thing.
Well...at least that's legal. I'm pretty sure vtfly is guilty of a felony.
"we were just talking officer"
What's crazy is that it seems like the other day that I was excited when we finally got a video scoreboard. I feel old.... Bring on the new!!
I regret not contacting the athletic department to try to buy one of the old letters.
What was in no more.
Should have the new one up next week and I believe they start setting up to take down the boards in Cassell next week as well.
Can't wait for the new board!