The Daktronics Experience

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.

The Denver Broncos invited us back to hear more about their LED display upgrade at Empower Field at Mile High. This time, Justin and Matt were on the field with Russ Trainor and Hailey Sullivan to get the details of how they plan to activate the main display and corner boards, hear more info on the back-end IT side of things and what they are looking forward to this season for special themes at every home game.

Links:

• Denver Broncos Video Board Goes Mile High with Daktronics | Daktronics Experience Podcast Ep.169: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnlVKdrj7WU&t=1631s
• News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/denver-broncos-add-to-game-day-experience-with-24-500-square-feet-of-led-displays-from-daktronics-in-2023
• Building the Mile High Video Experience for the Denver Broncos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo0U2joHMio 

When the Denver Broncos looked to upgrade their video display experience at Empower Field at Mile High, they made it the tallest main end zone display in the league at 72 feet tall by 225 feet wide. But that's not all, they upgraded their auxiliary displays and concourses with new technology as well. Justin and Matt sat down with Nick Schultz and Pat Jordan to hear all about how they are using this technology to build energy for the team and their fans.

Links:

• News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/denver-broncos-add-to-game-day-experience-with-24-500-square-feet-of-led-displays-from-daktronics-in-2023 
• YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnlVKdrj7WU&t=1630s