$86 Million Agreement with IMG College Includes New Daktronics Football Video Board
April 8, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas fans will soon enjoy exciting new video and audio experiences at Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium.
Funding for a $3.2-million video board is included in a five-year extension to Kansas Athletics’ multi-media rights agreement with IMG College. The new deal, worth more than $86 million in guaranteed payments to Kansas Athletics, runs through the 2021-22 academic year.
“The University of Kansas has done an excellent job creating a premier athletics program, and we are honored by the extension,” said Tom Stultz, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for IMG College. “We look forward to our continued partnership with the University as we aim to grow its multi-media rights program.”
IMG College, the nation’s leading collegiate marketing and media company, has managed multi-media rights for Kansas Athletics since 2007. The agreement includes game broadcasts and coaches’ shows for the Jayhawks’ television and radio networks; publications; Internet sales; coaches’ endorsements; corporate partnerships; stadium and venue signage; game promotions, and hospitality.
Under Jayhawk Sports Marketing, the Lawrence-based office of IMG College, the Jayhawk Radio Network has grown to 34 stations in three states. Jayhawk Sports Marketing has successfully negotiated new television affiliates in Kansas City and Wichita, increasing the household reach for Kansas Athletics’ programming.
“Kansas Athletics enjoys a great relationship with Jayhawk Sports Marketing and IMG,” said Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins. “They have helped us develop strong, integrated licensing, marketing, and multi-media opportunities. They’ve done the same for many nationally respected universities and conferences, as well as with the NCAA and its 88 championships. This agreement – and the new video board – will ensure that we are able to provide the best experience possible for our student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
Installation of a first-of-its-kind light-emitting-diode (LED) video display from Daktronics, Inc., has begun at the stadium and should be ready for use at Kansas Athletics’ two upcoming events – the Kansas Relays (April 14-17) and the KU Spring Football Game (April 24).
The new board will measure approximately 28 feet high by 85 feet wide. The technology and its control system will allow for complete flexibility in programming, operating as single giant display or divided into multiple zones (windows) to show a wide variety of statistics, information, graphics, animation, and live and recorded video.
The active area on the stadium’s former video display, installed in 1999, was approximately 740 square feet. The new display has an active video area three times that size – a total of approximately 2,380 square feet. Despite its size, the new board fits within the structural footprint of the old unit in a conscious effort to preserve the tradition and integrity of the hill behind the scoreboard.
Kansas Athletics chose Daktronics Inc., of Brookings, S.D., to design and manufacture the new display. “It will be the first of Daktronics’ newest HD15 technology, having a tighter resolution and better picture enhancements,” said Tony Mulder, Daktronics Regional Manager.
A custom numeric scoreboard will also be part of the video display structure, and the sound system in the stadium will be updated and reconfigured to fit within the new footprint of the structure. Daktronics will completely integrate the new scoreboard and video display system with the existing scoring and messaging system that Daktronics installed on the north end of the stadium in 2005.
Daktronics has previously installed video boards at KU’s Allen Fieldhouse and Hoglund Ballpark, as well as digital signage in the Fieldhouse.
“Daktronics is pleased to continue its partnership with the University of Kansas athletic programs,” Mulder said. “This addition to historic Memorial Stadium will help generate more excitement from the fans and will be another great enhancement for the Kansas football program.”
