The Daktronics Experience

The iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium underwent a major LED display upgrade, including a massive Halo display. To hear about the impact it is having a Real Madrid C.F. matches, Justin and Matt sat down with Enrique Uriel, the club’s head of IT, and Ivan Del Rio, Daktronics lead sales on the project. The conversation includes the decision behind the stadium’s new halo, the rest of the displays installed throughout the stadium and how they are using the technology to entertain fans at every event.

Links:

• Daktronics News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/daktronics-new-real-madrid-official-stadium-supplier
• Real Madrid Project Highlight Video: https://youtu.be/-mbnoyWWqXU?si=HvlEAaOKW0b5_LN4
  
  

Join us as Justin and Matt dive into the latest Daktronics projects and product updates from April 2025. They break down multiple installations, including new LED video displays for the Akron RubberDucks, Chesapeake Baysox and UNC Wilmington. They also cover the massive upgrade at Allstate Arena, a groundbreaking partnership with the Tennessee Titans’ new Nissan Stadium and a cutting-edge esports setup at Syracuse University. Plus, they introduce Live Switch, a new video production tool aimed at high schools and small-scale productions. Whether you're a sports tech enthusiast or just love seeing how digital displays transform fan experiences, this roundup episode brings you all the highlights.

Tennessee Titans - Nissan Stadium Rendering

Links:

• Allstate Arena Lights Up for Audiences with 30 LED Displays from Daktronics
• Daktronics Introduces Live Switch, a New Video Production Switcher for High School Marketplace
• Tennessee Titans Bring ‘Ring Of Fire’ to Game-Day with 37-Display Super System at the New Nissan Stadium
• UNC Wilmington Bringing LED Video Experience to Brooks Field from Daktronics
• Improved Baseball Experience Headed to Chesapeake Baysox with Daktronics Installation
• Akron RubberDucks Improve Stadium Experience with Daktronics Displays
• Direct-View LED Video Walls from Daktronics Bring Esports and Gaming to Life at Syracuse University

We're back with another special edition of the podcast for our Women In Sports Online Event. We had Felisa Israel, Founder and Executive Producer of 10 Fold Entertainment, and Founder, Executive Director and Lead Instructor of the IMPACT Learning Institute, join the event. She talks about her experience in professional basketball's entertainment roles, her passion for curating memorable experiences, and connecting college students with careers in the sports industry.

Links:

• Women in Sports Webpage:  https://www.daktronics.com/en-us/events/women-in-sports
• Women in Sports News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/women-in-sports-online-event-focuses-on-creating-memorable-experiences-and-connect-college-students-with-careers-in-the-sports-industry

In this episode, Justin and Matt are joined by Aaron Shephard, Daktronics Senior Project Manager, to talk about the upcoming Tennessee Titans project for their new Nissan Stadium which will be completed and opened in 2027. Aaron shares all about the 37 displays going into the new venue, including the unprecedented Ring of Fire, huge end zone displays, marquees and more.

Links:

• News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/tennessee-titans-bring-ring-of-fire-to-game-day-with-37-display-super-system-at-the-new-nissan-stadium
• Live Construction Cam: https://www.earthcam.net/projects/new_Nissan_Stadium_construction/ 

As our Creative Services team expands, we’ve added Keith Haeberle as Production Manager. We spoke with him earlier this year to hear about his previous experiences and how they relate to his new role with Daktronics, including a focus on processes and operations.

Links:

• Daktronics Creative Services Website: daktronics.com/creativeservices

Not all live events have a full season of event production. To hear how our team handles week-long major events, Justin and Matt spoke with Brent Smith, Senior Art Director for Daktronics Creative Services. He shares his history of making digital content, how the Creative Services team works with these large events to create content on the fly and much more.

Links:

• Daktronics Creative Services Webpage: daktronics.com/creativeservices
• For inquiries, please email us at Professionalservices@daktronics.com

With new technology at their fingertips, Sporting Kansas City is putting on a great match-day experience at Children’s Mercy Park. To get a look behind the scenes, Justin and Matt sat down with Josh Blackford, Vice President of Operations and GM at Children’s Mercy Park, and Blake McFarland, Director of Match Experience for Sporting Kansas City. The conversation covers everything from the unique shape of their main display and how it matches their stadium to how they use multiple displays in coordination to engage their fans.

Links:

• YouTube version: https://youtu.be/uXXGU4Lr-qY?si=55kQIcFwv7E9t-pP
• News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/sporting-kansas-city-revitalizes-led-displays-with-daktronics-technology

Video displays come in all shapes and sizes, and that’s never more apparent than when we partner with DCL (Design Communications Ltd) to bring out-side-the-box projects for our customers. Justin and Matt had a conversation with DCL Vice President Mike McCarthy to hear about these types of projects from channel letters to twisting indoor displays and much more.

Links:

• DCL Website: https://www.designcommunicationsltd.com/
• Patriots News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/gillette-stadium-to-feature-largest-outdoor-end-zone-display-in-professional-football-from-daktronics
• The Conversation News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/new-digital-installation-is-turning-heads-from-design-communications-ltd-dcl-street-works-studio-and-daktronics-at-assembly-row-in-somerville-massachusetts
• The Star News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/daktronics-and-dcl-deliver-curved-led-feature-display-for-complexity-gaming

ON-SITE PODCAST:

Gillette Stadium just completed a massive renovation project in the north end zone as they continually elevate the game-day experience for their fans. To dig into the details, Justin and Matt visited the stadium and spoke with Doug Klausen, Senior Director of AV & Broadcast Systems, and Woody Benisek-Beal, Director of Construction at The Kraft Group. 

Links:

• YouTube Interview: https://www.youtube.com/daktronicsinc 
• Episode 182 - Bringing Life to Gillette Stadium’s Largest End Zone Display
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTIE_XhWagk
  • Audio: https://podcast.daktronics.com/e/182-bringing-life-to-gillette-stadium-s-largest-end-zone-display/ 
• News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/gillette-stadium-to-feature-largest-outdoor-end-zone-display-in-professional-football-from-daktronics 

When it comes to delivering an amazing fan experience using the latest and greatest Daktronics technology, Abbey and Jen at Gillette Stadium know all about it! Abbey Thistle is the Director of Event Presentation and Fan Engagement and Jen Gahan is the Manager of Game Entertainment and Fan Engagement for the stadium and sat down with Justin and Matt after a big win to discuss everything that goes into controlling their game-day experience as well as the largest end zone video display in America.