UTEP Spends $3.4 Million For Video Boards And Sound System

UTEP is getting a much needed upgrade to their video boards in the Sun Bowl and Don Haskins Center. The university is investing $3.4 million and teaming up with Daktronics to bring state-of-the-art video displays to the Sun Bowl, Don Haskins Center, and the marquee on Mesa street. The Sun Bowl will also receive a new sound system, something that has been much needed. Here is the official release from Daktronics.

UTEP to Bolster Video Experience at Facilities
Daktronics to provide LED displays for football and basketball venues

BROOKINGS, S.D. – May 28, 2014 – The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has partnered with Daktronics Inc. (NASDAQ-DAKT) of Brookings, S.D., to make significant improvements to their football and basketball facilities on campus in El Paso, Texas. Four new video displays will be added to Sun Bowl Stadium, two new displays will be added to the Don Haskins Center and an additional marquee display will all be installed this summer.

“We are thrilled to partner with Daktronics to enhance our fan and sponsor experience with the addition of state-of-the-art video displays to the Sun Bowl and Don Haskins Center,” said Bob Stull, UTEP Director of Athletics. “These venues house UTEP football and basketball games as well as numerous special events, all of which will be taken to the next level while completely wowing spectators.”

"IMG is excited about the new video board and the opportunities it will bring for engaging Miner fans while creating new inventory and adding value for loyal UTEP sponsors,” said Sam Torres, GM for Miner IMG Sports Marketing.

Beginning with Sun Bowl Stadium, the new main end zone LED display will measure approximately 34 feet high by 60 feet wide and feature a 15HD pixel layout to provide excellent image clarity and contrast. With wide angle visibility, this display will have maximum appeal to fans throughout the stadium as it shows live video and instant replays to keep fans engrossed in the action. The display can be divided into separate windows to show multiple types of data, statistics, graphics and animations, scoring information and sponsor advertisements.

Also being installed at the stadium are two auxiliary displays in the corners of the same end zone as the main display. Both feature the same 15HD pixel layout and each will measure 6 feet high by 90 feet wide. The opposite end zone will receive an LED ribbon display measuring approximately 4 feet high by 96 feet wide, also featuring a 15HD pixel layout. These displays will provide supplemental game statistics, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.

Aside from the video displays, a custom Daktronics audio system will be installed inside the stadium which will be integrated with the video and scoring system to provide full-range sound reproduction and deliver clear and intelligible speech. This system will provide a powerful audio experience for Miners fans at every home game.

Moving indoors, the Don Haskins Center will be receiving two endwall LED video displays, each measuring approximately 13 feet high by 40 feet wide and each featuring 10 millimeter line spacing. Similar to the football displays, these will also be capable of highlighting one large image for live video and instant replays, but they can also be divided into separate windows to provide other game information, statistics and sponsor messages.

Additional equipment to be installed at the arena includes locker room clocks, shot clocks, a backboard lighting kit and Daktronics powerful DakStats® software interface. This software is the ultimate tool for managing game, season and career statistics for sports and helps automatically pull that information to show on a video display.

Daktronics will also be installing a 4-foot high by 18-foot wide marquee display by the University Ticket Center. This display will feature 20 millimeter line spacing and can show a variety of information and graphics to promote upcoming events and meet other campus messaging needs.

“We appreciate the opportunity to provide The University of Texas at El Paso with upgraded technology for their facilities,” said Dan Fjeldheim, Daktronics sales representative. “We’re grateful for this partnership and are confident the university and fans will benefit from the video displays and sound system being installed on campus. It will be exciting to see everything lit up.”

Daktronics LED video and messaging display technology offers a long lifetime with minimal maintenance and low power consumption, providing value and excitement for years to come. Daktronics audio systems offer high quality sound that can be integrated into indoor and outdoor venues.

About The University of Texas at El Paso
UTEP is proud to be well on the way toward becoming the first national research university in the United States with a 21st century student demographic. Celebrating its Centennial year in 2014, UTEP has also seen its enrollment increase to more than 23,000 students, a school record. In its 2013 national university rankings, Washington Monthly ranks UTEP #7 overall between #6 Stanford and #8 Harvard. Schools are rated based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and Ph.D.s) and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their community). UTEP also maintained its standing as the nation’s #1 university in fostering student social mobility. UTEP Athletics sponsors 16 Division I sports and is a member of Conference USA. UTEP has won 21 Division I national championships, most notably the historic men’s basketball victory over Kentucky on March 19, 1966. On that day Hall of Famer Don Haskins became the first coach to start five black players in the championship game. UTEP remains the only Division I school in the state of Texas to capture a national title in men’s basketball.

About Daktronics
Daktronics helps its customers impact audiences throughout the world with large-format LED video displays, message displays, scoreboards, digital billboards and control systems in sport, business and transportation applications. Founded in 1968 as a USA-based manufacturing company, Daktronics has grown into the world leader in audio-visual systems and implementation with offices around the globe. Discover more at www.daktronics.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Cautionary Notice: In addition to statements of historical fact, this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is intended to enjoy the protection of that Act. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations or beliefs concerning future events. The Company cautions that these and similar statements involve risk and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations, including, but not limited to, changes in economic and market conditions, management of growth, timing and magnitude of future contracts, fluctuations in margins, the introduction of new products and technology, the impact of adverse weather conditions and other risks noted in the Company's SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its 2013 fiscal year. Forward-looking statements are made in the context of information available as of the date stated. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated events as they occur.