The Tech Talk

Issue date: 6/25/09 Section: Sports

Photo courtesy of LA Tech Athletics

Athletics Director Derek Dooley met with members of the media June 4 to announce a new partnership with Community Trust Bank and plans for a video board at Joe Aillet Stadium.

Dooley said Tech football entered into a three-year sponsorship with Community Trust and has also committed to using them as the official bank for Bulldog football.

"The video board is now a reality because of our partnership with Louisiana Tech Sports Properties, created by our contract with Learfield Sports," Dooley said. "This has allowed us to finance this board with new revenue from Community Trust Bank and our other many corporate sponsors."

The video board will be the largest in the Western Athletic Conference, measuring 25 feet by 45 feet and featuring a high definition display to accompany a state-of-the-art sound system designed specifically for Joe Aillet Stadium by Daktronics.

"It will transform our game day experience for our fans by creating an event beyond what happens between the lines," Dooley said.

Lance Hall, regional president of Community Trust Bank, said he was excited to have a large part in making the video board at Joe Aillet Stadium come to life.

"We are committed to and excited about continuing our partnership with Louisiana Tech athletics," Hall said. "We are also honored to be partnered with LA Tech Sports Properties. We have bought into Derek's vision for the athletic department."

Hall said the naming rights on the video board will help Community Trust to spread their name across Louisiana.

"The amount Tech provides to our community is huge,"?he said. "Anything we can do to help expand the Tech brand will benefit Louisiana Tech and its fans."

The construction started in early may, beginning with the removal of the previous scoreboard and the addition of four support columns drilled 24 feet into the ground.

Brian Niblett, an employee of Daktronics, said that all panels for the video display have been installed along with the multi-tiered catwalks, leaving the sound, wiring and control board to be set up after arrival.

Another new addition for Bulldog fans will be the ability to purchase game tickets through Ticketmaster, print them at home, and simply have them scanned as they enter the stadium.

Wesley Simpson, a sophomore chemical engineering, said he is eager to see the new video and sound system in the upcoming season.

"It will make the atmosphere of the game a little more exciting and entertaining," Simpson said. "I think it will bring a much needed spark to the game."

Simpson said the new sound system will be a big help as the old public address system was difficult to hear at times and more clarity was needed.

He also said he feels that the new scaffolding surrounding the video board will provide better and safer angles for the camera crews recording the game."It will be essential to the fans who want a little more and it will be easier to see what is going on," Simpson said.

The opening date for fans to see the video board will be Sept. 19 when the Bulldogs face off against Nicholls State University.

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