The Dartmouth writes on proposed amendments to the Town’s zoning ordinances, including amendments that deal with athletic scoreboards. The minutes of the Planning Board from February 5 (pdf) state that Dartmouth has eight outdoor scoreboards and provide this background:
Bob Ceplikas, Deputy Director of Dartmouth Athletics, said there have been a lot of changes over the years with the set-up of Division 1 sports venues, including technology. It is more and more standard for Division 1 football stadiums to include video displays in their scoreboards. Dartmouth is now the only Ivy League school that does not provide video display. The Ordinance’s current language does not allow for scoreboards to exist as they currently do; it does not even allow for the score to be displayed. The Ordinance should be brought up to date to reflect the real purpose of an athletic scoreboard.
No comment on the possibility of a video display (one of the thrills of seeing a college football game in person is the presence of it: there is no replay, so you have to pay attention), but the idea that the scoreboard at Memorial Field could be redesigned is intriguing.
A generous donation of the Class of 1966, the scoreboard is informative, traditional, and appealing — but it could be made even better. The number of typefaces could be reduced from five or so to three. The various vertical surfaces could be brought into the same plane. The “TIME OUTS LEFT” text could be aligned in a more balanced way. A little more space could be given inside some of the white borders, and the general crowding and busyness could be reduced.
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[Update 06.09.2013: The text of the ordinance, as found in the March 12 Planning Board minutes (pdf), prohibits advertising:
Athletic scoreboards may display:
A. Information pertinent to the event and facility
B. Recognition of donors and sponsors by name only
C. Other general athletic or institutional information
D. Any other information customarily displayed on contemporary scoreboards, but not to include commercial advertising.
That should remove some concerns.]
Given the financial pressures on the College and the very classic look of Alumni Field, I would hope that all involved could find better uses for their money than revamping and “upgrading” a perfectly good scoreboard. Maybe revamping the football program so the home team could post winning numbers on the scoreboard we have? Our class raised the funds to create what is there now, which has enough glitz and glamor for any New England college. Please leave well enough alone.
I imagine that a new scoreboard at Memorial Field would be similar to the current scoreboard but have a video screen at the top or in the center, taking up perhaps half the width of the scoreboard. The screen would show instant replays and ridiculous swooshy graphics. Although I certainly hope that wouldn’t show advertisements, it probably would do so.
I don’t think it would distract drivers on Lebanon Street. If people on Lebanon Street are getting a view of the game for free, Dartmouth should plant more trees there.
A tacky light show is not inevitable, but it seems very likely.
Is it advertising that matters or the potential for distracting drivers or the Vegas-like light show appearance?
The current Class of ’66 Scoreboard serves us well. A new, glitzy board won’t improve the score — or attendance. A Moose mascot might boost both.
Except that scoreboards don’t advertise products to passing drivers — they aren’t even meant to be seen by people who haven’t paid the entrance fee.
Hanover might not be Las Vegas, but Manchester…
Scoreboards are basically billboards. Hanover isn’t Las Vegas. Sorry Cep, it’s not all about you.