Having a broken or poorly located scoreboard can often be worse than no scoreboard at all. No one knows this better than the National Sports Center in Minnesota. The broken scoreboard was an official hall of shame and someone
decided to do something about it!

The National Sports Center had a broken scoreboard sitting on the ground and peeking out above a fence for a number of years. The temporary portable scoreboard that they bought actually caused more problems because anything could and often blocked it. The little portable was the brunt of many of the Thunder fans jokes and overhead announcements were often made requesting fans as well as the occasional golf cart to be moved so that people could see the scores.

There were three fans that had previously gone to Germany and, during their trip attended a St Pauli fan fest. They were invited inside the field area and there they saw one of the quaintest old fashioned, manually controlled scoreboards with a clock in the center. The sight actually endeared them to the experience and the sister location in Germany. Upon their return, all three men became a bit obsessed with the idea of combining an old world look with a modern electronic scoreboard. Their enthusiasm must have been contagious because the idea began to take hold. It seems that the concept was rather unique and it looked like if they were going to get a new scoreboard with an old fashioned appeal, they would have to have it custom made. The talents of the locals could now come into play as everyone began offering their artistic and constructional expertise.

Various mock ups and designs were put together. A clock company was contacted that specialized in larger building clocks. They refined their designs, talked to graphic designers on the font types and even set room aside for sponsorship advertising. Since this was a totally unique situation, they also had to contact the United States Soccer Federation for permission on the design. They had to change the standard clock look with five minute separation marks, but, they finally got approval.

With the design established, team logo placement agreed upon and the sponsor areas set for location above the home and visitor plaque areas, they were set to move forward. They placed a mock up of what the scoreboard will look like once it’s completed and, surprisingly enough, the fans loved it. One might say the word ‘surprising’ because in today’s world of high tech, this is anything but that.

Will this scoreboard be the same kind of center of attention that we find at our major stadiums? No bells, no whistles, no lights or glamour? In this area of the country, at the National Sports Center, it won’t need to be anything else. It just has to be there and work. They have waited a long time, and in their minds, there is no other scoreboard in the world like the one that they have; and they are darned proud of it.

Source:
http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2010/04/20/national-sports-center-gets-a-new-old-fashion-scoreboard/