The West Virginia Power will have a bigger and brighter video board ready when it starts the season at Appalachian Power Park in April.
Workers installed the brand new LSI Smartvision LED video board on Thursday. It replaces the original video board, line score and message center when the ballpark was built in 2004.
The new video board is triple the size of the original, measuring 28 feet tall by 35 feet wide for a total of about 980 square feet. The board's pixel display is nearly double that of the original at 350,000 pixels, resulting in clearer and brighter quality.
"These upgrades are really about improving the fan experience," said Adam Marco, the Power's director of marketing and media. "It allows us to do so much more, not just for the games, but for family nights and events."
The Power will also have a new production suite ready in the next couple of weeks for its staff to create improved live video, instant replay and animations during games. The suite will include new cameras, computers, sound equipment and software.
The costs for the upgrades total around $700,000, with $500,000 being for the video board.
The state Economic Development Authority loaned West Virginia Baseball, LLC., which owns the West Virginia Power, the money for the upgrades.
West Virginia Baseball and the city of Charleston are about halfway through their 20-year lease for Appalachian Power Park bonds from the EDA. The EDA approved the refinancing of those bonds in October, which is expected to save the city about $400,000.
Reach Max Garland at
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