Depending on factors like screen size, functionality, and build quality, an LED scoreboard’s cost may range widely. LED scoreboards may be roughly divided into two groups for convenience.
The first type known as a fixed-digit scoreboard, is very basic and only used for showing text and numbers. The second type, commonly referred to as a digital scoreboard or video scoreboard, includes video screens, which let your venue show the score, animations, films, and other images.
LED video scoreboards have always been considered a premium amenity. Recent technological developments, however, have lowered their price to a point where they are accessible for even the smallest of common areas, sports, and entertainment facilities. Top-level professional stadiums aren’t the only places with access to LED scoreboards these days. We’ll break down the prices so you can see how your team can afford an LED scoreboard.
What is an LED Scoreboard or Video Display?
First, let’s cover the basics. Here’s a short history of scoreboards. Harvard University installed the first football scoreboard in 1893 for a Thanksgiving Day game between Pennsylvania and the Crimson. Early scoreboards required someone to change the score manually and were hard to see from a distance.
With the rise of organized and competitive sports, however, the necessity for a more visible and long-lasting record of the score became evident. In the early 1900s, analog scoreboards were phased out in favor of their digital counterparts, including a more legible display and the ability to update the score semi-automatically. They were, however, pricey and used a lot of electricity, making them unfeasible for many businesses.
For instance, the New York Yankees debuted what would become one of the world’s biggest scoreboards in 1950. The famous scoreboard included 1120 individual bulbs and weighed 25 tons. This board featured a power consumption of 11500 watts and a console with 4860 buttons.
The newest advancement in scoreboard technology, LED video displays provide an upgraded scoreboard experience. In addition to being legible from far away, LED scoreboards need little maintenance and can be managed by almost anybody. Since they only need electricity while being switched on, they are also comparatively inexpensive to run.
LED scoreboards not only have an increasingly affordable initial cost, but they also have several income-generating features, including sponsorship panels, statistics display, and multimedia capabilities, that may be utilized to earn extra cash for your organization via, for example, advertising.
What are the advantages of LED scoreboards?
The installation of a cutting-edge LED scoreboard may appear frivolous to some but the reality is there are a lot of advantages that these systems may bring to sporting facilities.
The use of these scoreboards will:
- Increase your chances of securing lucrative advertising and sponsorship agreements.
- Live scoring updates and rapid replays can significantly enhance the game-day experience for fans.
- Enhance player and fan awareness
- Enhance the building’s aesthetics in general.
Considering how beneficial an LED scoreboard and video display will be, the initial investment price drops significantly. No matter how large or small, all sports complexes would benefit from installing one of these systems if you’re ready to take your sports facility to the next level.
What can affect the cost of an LED scoreboard?
The cost of a scoreboard rises in direct proportion to the dimensions of the sporting venue (the number of spectators it can accommodate and the distance from the stands to the playing field). To give you an idea, a football stadium’s scoreboard must be far larger than a basketball court’s.
Since there are many different kinds of scoreboards, prices might vary widely. An LED scoreboard for a collegiate arena or recreational center will typically cost between $40,000 and $750,000. The price range is relatively wide, as you can see based on several factors including, the size and location of the scoreboard.
1. Type of Scoreboard
The sort of scoreboard you choose may be the single most crucial element in determining your final cost, even when controlling for variables like field size, venue, and level of competition.
Conventional LED Scoreboards
These screens are the bare bones of the display world. These may be seen in community centers and high school sporting events. Traditional LED displays also known as fixed digit scoreboards are often the most cost-effective option since they lack advanced capabilities.
A fixed-digit LED display might answer your prayers if you’re seeking a straightforward method of showing scores and stats to your players and supporters.
Average Cost of a Conventional LED Scoreboard
Prices for scoreboards with this degree of sophistication typically range from $4,000 to $36,000.
Interactive video LED scoreboards
The newest generation of LED scoreboards combines conventional designs with video displays. Many other types of displays will be able to take up residence on these scoreboards. Scores, letters, and digits for team names may all be shown in the same place. You may play standard video clips in the other space and show simple graphics and animations.=
The Cost of an LED Video Scoreboard
Estimate spending anywhere between $30,000 to $200,000 for an indoor video scoreboard in a high school-sized gymnasium and between $150,000 to $850,000 for an outdoor video scoreboard in a high school-sized stadium. Larger venues at the collegiate and professional levels require larger boards which tend to cost between $30,000 to $1,000,000+ for an indoor video scoreboard and between $350,000 to $1,000,000+ for an outdoor video scoreboard. At Formetco Sports, we include installation with the price of the scoreboard.
2. Size
A primary factor is the dimensions of your scoreboard. A 6-foot by 4-foot display may be sufficient for smaller common areas, while a 30-foot by 20-foot screen would be ideal for huge high school stadiums. When deciding on a scoreboard’s size, it’s crucial to consider both the number of expected spectators and the range of possible viewing angles.
Indoor scoreboards typically start at about 12’ x 6’ and outdoor scoreboards start at 20’ x 10’.
3. Features
Regarding LED scoreboards, some are more classic in that they merely show the scores, team names, and very minimum statistics. More information may be shown, though, on modern video screens. Animations, videos, and commercials are all examples of this.
4. Competition Level
Consider upgrading to a higher-end screen if the competition your athletes will be facing is really stiff. Championship contenders often need state-of-the-art visual displays to offer fan experiences worthy of their status.
You may be able to get away with a more conventional and inexpensive display if you’re installing an LED scoreboard for younger student-athletes or even at a community leisure center.
But pay attention to how a brand-new, eye-catching video display will affect your neighborhood. A successful strategy for maintaining consistent customer attendance and income is to generate excitement about your location.
5. Controller Board & Sound System
Having the proper hardware to operate the scoreboard of your choice is essential. A variety of controllers are available for your perusal. A personal computer with the appropriate software is a cheap option.
However, yearly software licensing might cost thousands of dollars. You must include this in your regular expenditures.
You may use either wifi or fiber optic to connect to the board. The latter is significantly more dependable but adds building expense through cable from the control center to the display.
6. Customization
Since you want to make an unforgettable investment, tailoring your scoreboard to your specific needs is an absolute must. Colors, logos, and animations may all be customized on LED scoreboards.
The total price tag will be affected by how individualized you want the product to be.
Are you buying a new display or replacing an old scoreboard?
Is there an older scoreboard at your venue that you’d want to upgrade? Compared to the cost of a brand-new installation, this one may save you money.
A new LED scoreboard could work with your current setup. However, you should seek the advice of an expert to be sure. The same principles apply to prices, but you may save money by reusing the structure you already have.
The cost of an LED scoreboard has decreased significantly, making it affordable even for new installations. A premium display is now available at a lower price than ten years ago.
How do you finance the purchase of an LED scoreboard?
When you sum up the whole cost of building an LED scoreboard, it’s clear that it may be quite a significant investment. You might be scratching your head about how to get the money together for such an endeavor. Raising funds for a new scoreboard or video display may be accomplished in many ways.
Advertising and Sponsorship
Sponsorship from a nearby business might help pay for installing an LED scoreboard. The participation and financial support of residents may be invaluable as well.
The scoreboard itself is an excellent place to sell advertisements. This is standard procedure at many stadiums. The scoreboard may be bought and set up using the money made through these trades.
Financing from the government
Local or state governments may be able to provide financial aid in certain situations. Public institutions and nonprofits are the usual recipients of such funding.
Do some digging to find out if there are any grants out there that can assist in covering the cost of your scoreboard project if you believe you may be eligible. A local installation partner that is well-versed in funding is another great asset.
Donations, contributions, and crowdsourcing
Fundraising might be possible if you’re a non-profit or educational institution looking to buy a scoreboard. One of the best ways to get people interested in your idea is to have a meeting.
LED scoreboards are only one example of the many projects that may be funded via crowdfunding campaigns. In this day and age, crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter and GoFundMe have made it simple to launch a campaign and solicit contributions from the public.
Loans
Obtaining a loan is another option for funding your LED scoreboard installation. If you’re in a position to make consistent payments, this may be a viable choice for you. Loans for installing LED scoreboards may be obtained from several different sources. Be sure to shop for the best deal possible by comparing interest rates and other details of several contracts.
Purchasing an LED scoreboard for your venue may be funded in various ways. Working with an installation partner who can guide you through the possibilities and help you settle on the optimal solution within your budget is the best approach to discovering the appropriate service.
Ready for a custom LED Scoreboard?
Formetco Sports has been crafting excellent LED scoreboards for schools, universities, sports stadiums, and many more places in the Georgia area for years. We can answer your questions about our company, divisions, video display scoreboards, or services. Send us a message, and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.
