98 - 2021 Baseball Season Prep with Stephanie Walker

A new baseball season is almost ready to swing into action and that means ballparks are also getting ready to turn on their systems for 2021. Justin and Matt are joined by Stephanie Walker, Daktronics live events services manager, to hear some tips for getting your systems up and running, things to check for, content and control system considerations, and more.

• Royals Crownvision upgrade: https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1353734381270130689
• Royals news release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Upgraded-HDR-Capable-LED-Technology-from-Daktronics-to-Improve-Experience-for-Kansas-City-Royals.aspx
• Rangers news release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Texas-Rangers-Introducing-Nine-LED-Displays.aspx
• Product Maintenance Guide
• Control system start-up & shutdown procedure
• NEW Baseball Essentials Package
  • MLB Package
  • MiLB Package

96 - Exploring Multiple Levels of Event Production with Laura Johnson

What happens when a team is forced to relocate to a different stadium for their remaining home games during a pandemic? Explore that story and more as Justin and Matt are joined by Laura Johnson, Director Game Presentation & Live Events at the San Francisco 49ers. She shares her journey from a 5-year-old keeping score at parks and recreation basketball to Peoria Sports Complex to the 49ers and everything in between. She even shares her experiences of attending the Daktronics NFL User Group in Brookings, South Dakota.

• Peoria Sports Complex: https://www.peoriasportscomplex.com/ 
• Digital Audio Facade: https://www.daktronics.com/en-us/products/audio-systems/digital-audio-facade 

94 - Preparing for NFL Productions and the NFL User Group with Ashley Cummings

When an NFL stadium gets new Daktronics technology, they aren’t just handed the remote and told to have fun turning on their new TV. Our experts are on site for training to ensure they know how to maximize their new investment. Justin and Matt are joined by Ashley Cummings, Control System Specialist at Daktronics, to hear what it’s like to get NFL teams and venues up and running after their display installation. She also shares her path to her position, information about our upcoming NFL User Group and more.

90 - Texas Rangers Opening a New Ballpark

The Texas Rangers opened their new ballpark, Globe Life Field, in 2020 during a pandemic. Justin and Matt talked with the Rangers’ Chris DeRuyscher, senior director of ballpark entertainment, and Colin Drake, Graphics Coordinator, to hear more about their new technology and control system, using the stadium during this year’s playoff bubble and much more.

• Texas Ranger Fact Sheet: https://daktronics.widen.net/s/dvru9hwt1l
• Texas Rangers News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Texas-Rangers-Taking-Total-Control-With-Daktronics-Show-Control-System.aspx
• Texas Rangers Blog Post: https://blog.daktronics.com/2019/12/02/the-texas-rangers-daktronics-together-since-1994/ 

63 - Minnesota Wild and a Scoreboard Collection with Rob Hathaway

To hear about a unique scoreboard collection, Justin and Matt talk with Rob Hathaway, Minnesota Wild Mascot Coordinator and Daktronics scoreboard enthusiast. He opens up about his role with the Wild and the Xcel Energy Center, his scoreboard collection and how he uses them, and how it all got started with a gift from his parents.

• Xcel Energy Center Installation: https://www.daktronics.com/en-us/photos/details?pn=WP-18847&cid=131524
• Before and after of Xcel Energy Center’s centerhung: https://daktne.ws/2XsGO2L 

60 - Discussing the Show Control Experience with Scott Davidson

As our control systems continue to improve and advance, Justin and Matt sit down with Scott Davidson, Broadcast Systems Engineer at American Airlines Center, to talk about his experience with their recent Show Control upgrade. We also talk about Scott’s role and other stories surrounding his work at the venue.

• Daktronics Show Control Webpage: www.daktronics.com/showcontrol 
• American Airlines Center Website: http://www.americanairlinescenter.com/

48 - Diving Into Professional Baseball with New York Mets’ Tim Gunkel

What’s going on behind the scenes of professional baseball? During our Baseball User Group in Brookings, SD, Matt sat down with Tim Gunkel, Executive Director of Ballpark Technology and Procurement for the New York Mets, to find out. He shared his experience in baseball, how his team is focusing on the fan experience and what activities they employ, and his thoughts on the user group where teams are actively sharing ideas and learning from one another.

• New York Mets project photo: https://www.daktronics.com/en-us/photos/details?pn=WP-19900&cid=137135
• What’s new in baseball blog: https://blog.daktronics.com/2020/03/06/6-things-to-know-for-the-2020-mlb-season/