Men's Basketball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland Athletics continues to upgrade its facilities and enhance the fan experience as the department announced on Tuesday plans to unveil a new XFINITY Center videoboard and sound system for the 2024-25 season. The new Daktronics videoboard will be a 400 percent increase in size and pixel quality compared to the current board at XFINITY Center.
"Upgrading our venues with a focus on student-athlete and fan experience continues to be a top priority for us at the University of Maryland," said Damon Evans, the Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics. "In unveiling this massive new state-of-the-art videoboard and high-tech sound system at XFINITY Center, Maryland Athletics continues to be on the cutting edge with the best technology in the nation. We continue to invest in our programs demonstrating that Maryland Athletics is leading boldly with the newest innovations and this videoboard at XFINITY Center will be the one of the best in the nation, a showpiece we can all be proud of."
The new centerhung videoboard at XFINITY Center will be a revolutionary replacement for the decade-old sub-high definition board, which had been in place since 2014. The new four-sided display measures 92 feet all the way around by 20 feet tall and promises an immersive experience for all arena spectators. The expanded canvas allows for greater flexibility when displaying in-game statistics, and more in-depth personal player stats, providing fans with comprehensive insights during every game. Boasting near 8K HDR quality, the main display, along with four underbelly displays, will create a visually stunning atmosphere. The surface display size of the new centerhung is 72 percent larger and removes all obstructed viewing angles of the previous board.
The advanced board, with dimensions of 7,800 pixels wide by 1,470 pixels high, offers flexibility in presenting a continuous image wrapped around or segmented into various layouts. This versatility caters to the diverse range of shows and sports events hosted in the main arena, elevating the overall entertainment experience.The new centerhung is most similar to displays at professional sports venues UBS Arena in New York, State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Toyota Center in Houston and FedEx Forum in Memphis.
In tandem with the centerhung videoboard, XFINITY Center is set to install an industry-standard premium sound system by L'Acoustics. This system replaces the original sound system for the facility, which has been in place since it opened in 2002. With 106 Line Array speakers and 48 18-foot subwoofers, this system ensures top-notch audio quality, endorsed by marquee arenas in the United States. Tailored for basketball games, Olympic sports, and special events, the L'Acoustics sound system completes the XFINITY Center's commitment to delivering a premium and immersive entertainment experience.
The unveiling of the plans for the new videoboard and sound system at XFINITY Center continue Maryland Athletics' commitment to upgrades with its venues and facilities. Since June of 2021, the following enhancements have taken place under Evans:
- Opening of Jones-Hill House, home of Maryland Football
- Construction of new state-of-the art 1080p HDR videoboard and upgraded audio system at SECU Stadium
- Installation of new LED state-of-the-art lighting systems at SECU Stadium, Bob Turtle Smith Stadium and the Maryland Softball Stadium
- Construction of a new broadcast operation center inside XFINITY Center, handling all non-linear and in-venue entertainment
- Renovation and reopening of Gossett Hall, housing the Gossett Student-Athlete Center for Academic and Personal Excellence
- Opening of Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex
- Addition of new videoboard at Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex
- Breaking ground on the Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center
- Resurfacing of the Kehoe Track & Field track
- Preparation for the ground breaking on new Baseball and Softball player development centers
- Announcement of partnership with Legends and construction of hospitality and membership club, the Maryland Club at XFINITY Center
