Athletics Partners with Daktronics for Videoboard Project at Whittemore Center

DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire department of athletics announced Friday that it will partner with Daktronics, Inc. to install the new four-sided, center-hung videoboard along with a LED display band at the Whittemore Center. The project is slated for completion prior to the 2015-16 hockey season.

The system includes a four-sided, high-definition main videoboard at center ice with full LED video capabilities, including highlights and instant replay. The display will feature highlights, graphics, game presentation and other animation to enhance the gameday experience. The board will be complemented by an LED ring display. The project was green-lighted thanks in large part to a donation made by John W. Small '76 for the center-hung videoboard. Small is a member of the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) Board of Trustees and a UNH Foundation Board member.

"Hockey has been such a part of my overall experience at UNH, while a student, local resident and Trustee of the Board," said Small. "UNH hockey games also provide a great opportunity for me to spend time with family and friends. I really am looking forward to this project being completed, so that I can see some of those goals that I sometimes miss while socializing with friends in Section 102."

"This is an exciting time to be a UNH hockey fan," said assistant athletic director for event management Kate McAfee. "The new Daktronics video board will be a great addition and will really enhance the fan experience in a multitude of ways."

"Our marketing efforts are primarily focused on fan engagement and retention, two critical areas that we have addressed with the addition of this videoboard and display band at the Whittemore Center," said Nicole Richard, associate athletic director for marketing and revenue generation. "This will create an energetic, fun and truly unique atmosphere inside the arena. Our digital messaging will be inclusive, informative and, most of all, fun. Win or lose, we want our fans craving the next home game."

"We're excited to partner with the University of New Hampshire to provide a new center-hung video display system for the Whittemore Center Arena," said Dave D'Amico, Daktronics sales representative. "The new equipment will keep the University on the cutting edge of fan entertainment technology and add to an already great home ice advantage for every game. We're looking forward to seeing the final product having an impact this fall."

Videoboard operations will be led by Director of UNH Wildcat Productions Ben Gilbert, who joined the UNH athletic communications staff earlier this month after a three-year stint with the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). With the Pelicans, he held the title of Video Production Coordinator. His responsibilities included loading and creating content for the LED ribbon boards during games and events. He also created content that was displayed on the jumbotrons in the Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans' home arena. He was also featured as an LED coordinator for the 2014 NBA All-Star game in New Orleans. Gilbert graduated from the New England School of Communications in 2012 with a degree in Video Production.

"It is great to see UNH moving forward with such a great and high-end product," said Gilbert. "Daktronics has been the industry standard in the world of professional sports for many years and will continue to be due to their great products and customer service. The company has made its products very user friendly, and the ability to integrate data from their scoring consoles to video boards in real time is just one example of how I view Daktronics above the rest of the competitors."

The videoboard will be used for men's and women's hockey games as well as other University initiatives.

For more information on the video board project and for the latest Wildcat news, visit www.UNHWildcats.com.

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