Jim Sankey: Extra Innings: New scoreboard tops ballpark improvements

Apr. 4—In two days, when fans jam into a sold-out PNC Park for the Pirates home opener, no improvement to the ballpark's 23rd season will be more noticeable than the left field scoreboard.

The video screen in left field will be more than twice the area of the previous display, at 5,680 square feet (142 x 40 feet). However, the new LED board will not change fans' views from inside the ballpark. The 83,000-pound board has increased the screen by removing the four ads that previously framed both ends of the board above the left field bleachers.

I have no idea what this all means, but the board's installer, Mitsubishi Electric's Diamond Vision Systems of Warrendale, says that the scoreboard features "...10-millimetre pixel spacing, resulting in more than 4K pixels in width, and it is hoped the display will deliver 'stunningly clear' imagery to fans. Its true HDR capability and higher brightness will also seek to enhance the fan experience for both day and night games."

Although the smaller board was upgraded in 2006 before the team hosted the All-Star Game, it basically remained the same scoreboard and the same size until this year.

The Post-Gazette's Mark Belko reported last summer that the Sports & Exhibition Authority (municipal authority which owns and operates pubic sports and entertainment venues) had been deemed the old board "beyond its useful life."

As Ryan Niemeyer, vice president of ticket sales and service, put it: "Do you still watch the same TV as you did 16 years ago?"

The cost of the new video screen was $5.6 million and although the new PNC Park board is just the 16th largest scoreboard in major-league baseball stadiums (led by the New York Mets gaudy new 8,600 square feet centerfield), it's like watching the biggest big-screen TV you've ever seen ... all without taking away the views of the downtown Pittsburgh skyline.

The Pirates are paying the Authority $1 for each ticket sold for sports and other events at PNC Park to reimburse the Authority for covering the initial cost of the board.

New ribbon boards have replaced the former ones and new LED displays have been installed to the home plate, dugout and field level areas. Video components in the PNC Park scoreboard control room have also been replaced.

"We know from our many interactions with fans that the way in which they consume the game action is ever-changing," said Pirates president Travis Williams. "The new scoreboard, fascia displays and sound system will allow our fans to be even more immersed in the action on and off the field.

"It is important that we continue to build upon and enhance everything that makes PNC Park a unique and special place," Williams added.

To that end, additional upgrades have been made, none of which are as obvious as the video screen.

Due to the uproar from fans and media alike, the small digital board on the right field Clemente Wall will revert to the out-of-town scoreboard it had been for the ballpark's first 21 seasons. Turned into additional advertising for 2022, the negativity of the move moved the team to return its use to in-game progress of other major league games for 2023.

Thanks to the Pirates partnership with Evolv Technology, admission to the park will be faster and simpler. The state-of-the-art screening system uses senior technology with artificial intelligence to detect any potential threat without fans having to remove cell phones, keys and other metal items or to stop and open bags.

To improve the quality of food, increase the speed of service, and decrease concourse congestion, family-friendly walk-in markets and a touchless self-checkout system should reduce time spent in line.

More drink rails have been installed, and most of the concessions equipment has been replaced throughout the park.

New graphics will be displayed throughout PNC Park's main concourse showing the four ballparks the Pirates have called home (Exposition Park, Forbes Field, Three Rivers Stadium, and PNC Park), key moments in Pirates history, famous sayings of Pirates broadcasters, and Pirates yearbook covers through the years. In addition, banners will feature Hall of Fame players and championships by the Pirates, Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays.

It all sounds great, but let's hope the changes on the field will sound as good.