Latest news alert: Phillies reveal and justify introduction of new out-of-town scoreboard…
In marking the 20th anniversary of Citizens Bank Park, changes are afoot in right field, bidding farewell to a familiar feature of the ballpark.
A fresh 2,000-square-foot LED video board has taken the place of the original out-of-town scoreboard that adorned the stadium’s right-field wall. Sporting movable nameplates for visiting teams, fixed basepath outlines, and colored lights to signify outs and runners, the former scoreboard, with its retro design, had been a fixture in South Philadelphia since 2004.
Sean Walker, Phillies’ vice president of technology services and chief technology officer, unveiled the scoreboard on Monday, shedding light on the club’s decision-making process behind the addition of the digital display at an event showcasing the updates for the 2024 season at Citizens Bank Park’s Pass & Stow restaurant.
“We’ve been deliberating over this for the past few years, striving to uphold the ballpark’s ambiance while enriching the visual fan experience and accommodating the need for more content space on that side of the park,” Walker told Phillies Nation.
Following the introduction of a new 152-foot-tall, 86-foot-wide digital video board in left field last season, the Phillies opted to replace the right-field scoreboard, which had vintage fixtures displaying out-of-town scores for every Major League Baseball game played on the day of each Phillies game. It featured room for two permanent advertising boards — one along the right-field foul line and the other in right-center field.
Additionally, there were two digital boards capable of showcasing videos, advertisements, and statistics such as pitch type and speed on a rotational basis.
The new fully digital video board in right field boasts more space for replays, introductory clips (with enhanced quality), stats, and advertisements. During Monday’s event, seven ads were displayed on the board, each separated by a faux-brick display, alongside a limited out-of-town scoreboard highlighting four matchups. When the regular season commences this week, a significant portion of that space will be dedicated to advanced stats.
“We now have much more screen real estate to work with in terms of baseball statistics. We’ll be able to incorporate more advanced stats that complement the right-field scoreboard, as well as the left field. This enhancement benefits everyone, particularly those seated in right field who may not have a clear view of the current big board,” Walker explained.
Walker declined to disclose the specific stats the new board will regularly display, stating that the list is being finalized and will be revealed on Opening Day. The Phillies began integrating advanced statistics into the ballpark experience last season on their left-field scoreboard, experimenting with various metrics.
Citizens Bank Park will no longer display every game’s score on every game day, departing from the full-schedule arrangement that had been in place since 2004. The team aims to modernize the right-field scoreboard with a blend of stats, videos, and advertisements, focusing more on games relevant to the Phillies.
“We won’t always display each out-of-town score, but we’ll ensure that fans are kept informed. We’re in a different era now; out-of-town scores are readily available on mobile devices, lessening the urgency compared to previous times,” Walker remarked.
Undoubtedly, the old out-of-town scoreboard held nostalgic value for many fans, embodying the retro-classic design of Citizens Bank Park and serving as a backdrop for Phillies memories. However, with a brighter display, clearer video, and more comprehensive information, the Phillies are confident that the switch in right field will enhance the fan experience. Fans can evaluate the change for themselves at “the Bank” starting Thursday.
“We were mindful of preserving the fan-friendly atmosphere of Citizens Bank Park. Given all considerations, we concluded that this enhancement would enrich the fan experience without deviating significantly from the stadium’s original vision. Over the past 20 years, numerous capital improvements have been made, and we believe this is one of them,” Walker concluded.
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