This week, the Washington Redskins began mailing letters to their general admission and premium club seat ticket holders, informing them of significant changes to the in-game video experience, headlined by two 30 feet tall by 100 feet wide high-definition video boards, one in each end zone.
Now, there are two ways fans could react to this news. (And no, drunken indifference is not an option. It's the offseason.) Some fans will say it's about time, that after living with a scoreboard nicknamed The Lite Brite and a video board that seemed smaller than Albert Haynesworth, the franchise owed season ticket holders this much and more. They'll talk about the lack of out-of-town scores and in-game stats, and the 28-by-28 feet JumboTron that hadn't been updated in 13 years, and the high-def screens in Philadelphia and Baltimore, and the in-game experience at FedEx that Sports Illustrated rated 28th out of 32 teams in 2007.
But because I'm an optimist, I'm choosing to take a different point of view. Redskins fans this fall were as angry as local observers could remember. They demanded change. And whatever the reason, no matter how late the hour, some signs of change have arrived. Fans wanted a general manager, and they got one in December. They wanted Daniel Snyder to take a step back, and while it's early, at least there are public nods in that direction. And they wanted the game-day experience to leave the 20th century; this is a first step. If you demand something, and then it happens, you can hardly complain that it only happened because you demanded it.
So what does this letter announce? There will be the HD boards in both end zones, replacing the comically small scoreboards, the old JumboTrons, and two end zone billboards. The big screens, which should be in place for the preseason, can be split into a variety of configurations; for example, displaying the same replay from different angles simultaneously, or showing replays and stats at the same time. There will be 10 other new screens in the lower bowl, from the game clocks to the time clocks to the out-of-town scoreboard displays, which will be equipped to also convey game stats and fantasy football totals.
Obviously we need to wait and see how it all looks, but these sound to me like massive upgrades.
"I think Dan Snyder's finally realizing that he doesn't have an endless supply of fans, so the product on the field has to be improved and the amenities have to be improved as well," said Mike Broderick, one of the franchise's most vocal critics during the past fall. "At least they're trying," he added, which is the angle I'm going for.
"It's about time that they actually gave back to the fans as opposed to just taking money from them with nothing to show for it," said Ted Abela, another of my go-to fan voices.
The big boards will compare in size quite favorably to other models in the close vicinity. Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field has two 27-by-96 foot screens. Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium has two 24-by-100 foot screens. Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium has a 31.5-by-77 foot screen.
Of course, that team in Dallas has some sort of 71-by-160 monstrosity, along with the pole dancers and the playoff losses and the kicker that can't make clutch field goals, but they can keep all that.
Last time I was there, I thought that the screen was terrible. Also, I'm really hoping that we get the audio system upgraded for communicating plays on the field. Seems to be consistently going out.
Things have been changing at Redskin Park. I finally think that Dan Snyder is listening to the fans (i.e.-Vinny's gone, Zorn gone, GM hired, Super Bowl winning coach).
RedskinTexan wrote:Things have been changing at Redskin Park. I finally think that Dan Snyder is listening to the fans (i.e.-Vinny's gone, Zorn gone, GM hired, Super Bowl winning coach).
I'm not sure that's what we want, either. I want him to listen to his GM and his coach. Not talk to them... listen. And don't read a word of anything the fans say.
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
I don't believe it. There has to be an angle that the Danny is playing. The area that he is going to fill with a new big screen TV is currently all advertisements. In fact, the whole stadium is all advertisements. I can't believe that he would sacrifice revenue for a spectator upgrade.
We joke in my section that since everything he can possibly put a logo on in the stadium has been logo'ed, he's going to move onto the field and start having sponsorships for the various yard markers. Picture this:
"The Redskins have the ball and are 1st and 10 at the Home Depot 35 Yard Line".
I don't believe it. There has to be an angle that the Danny is playing. The area that he is going to fill with a new big screen TV is currently all advertisements. In fact, the whole stadium is all advertisements. I can't believe that he would sacrifice revenue for a spectator upgrade.
We joke in my section that since everything he can possibly put a logo on in the stadium has been logo'ed, he's going to move onto the field and start having sponsorships for the various yard markers. Picture this:
"The Redskins have the ball and are 1st and 10 at the Home Depot 35 Yard Line".
That would be weird, but it wont happen. Snyder will find a way to advertise around the new HD screens
Advanced beyond all that you can hope to comprehend with 100% of your brain!
Hello, he will be advertising on the new HD screens, only now it will be dynamic, so he can sell more ads on the same space and for more money because it won't just be a sign, and it will be some place everyone in the stadium looks during the course of the game.
RIP 21
"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru
JansenFan wrote:Hello, he will be advertising on the new HD screens, only now it will be dynamic, so he can sell more ads on the same space and for more money because it won't just be a sign, and it will be some place everyone in the stadium looks during the course of the game.
BINGO!!! this allows for a variety of ads, in which I am sure he will have no problem selling the space...
My children, gather round! No retreat, no surrender; that is Spartan law. And by Spartan law we will stand and fight... and die. A new age has begun. An age of freedom, and all will know, that 300 Spartans gave their last breaths to defend it!
RedskinTexan wrote:Things have been changing at Redskin Park. I finally think that Dan Snyder is listening to the fans (i.e.-Vinny's gone, Zorn gone, GM hired, Super Bowl winning coach).
I'm not sure that's what we want, either. I want him to listen to his GM and his coach. Not talk to them... listen. And don't read a word of anything the fans say.
Good idea. God forbid that he should read or listen to anything by anyone like................................ uh, US!
JansenFan wrote:Hello, he will be advertising on the new HD screens, only now it will be dynamic, so he can sell more ads on the same space and for more money because it won't just be a sign, and it will be some place everyone in the stadium looks during the course of the game.
BINGO!!! this allows for a variety of ads, in which I am sure he will have no problem selling the space...
Why shouldn't he?
...any given Sunday....
RIP #21 Sean Taylor. You will be loved and adored by Redskins fans forever!!!!!
GSPODS:
The National Anthem sucks.
What a useless piece of propagandist rhetoric that is.
JansenFan wrote:Hello, he will be advertising on the new HD screens, only now it will be dynamic, so he can sell more ads on the same space and for more money because it won't just be a sign, and it will be some place everyone in the stadium looks during the course of the game.
BINGO!!! this allows for a variety of ads, in which I am sure he will have no problem selling the space...
Why shouldn't he?
huh? i am not against the new screens, i was stating that for Snyder, I am sure this was practically a no-brainer to make the move... makes fans happy, and he will be able to increase his ad revenue...
My children, gather round! No retreat, no surrender; that is Spartan law. And by Spartan law we will stand and fight... and die. A new age has begun. An age of freedom, and all will know, that 300 Spartans gave their last breaths to defend it!
there not moving any seats are they and will any be obstructed hmmm i guess i can't find the room with all the sets thats all. and no this is not vinny lol lol lol lol lol
I love watching and waiting to see what the hecks going on.
god blessed us with # 59 ... go skins
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