Fresno State and Bulldog Sports Enterprises, its multimedia rights partner, have been in the process of sprucing up Valley Children’ Stadium for the past six weeks.
But scaffolding along the front of the suites on the east side and the press box on the west side of the venue suggests more than just new branding elements will be in place for the Bulldogs’ Sept. 12 home opener against Sacramento State.
What’s next for the aged venue? Ribbon boards: two on the suite wall on the east side of the stadium that measure 7 by 56 feet, and two on the press box wall on the west side adjacent to the Valley Children’s Stadium signage that measure 5 by 36 feet.
“The intent is to add a more dynamic presentation to the game experience,” said Ryan O’Rorke, Bulldog Sports Enterprises general manager. “We’re working in collaboration with (athletics department) marketing on leveraging that for not only crowd prompts, animations and exciting visuals, but we’re actively selling them to sponsors as well, for more visibility.”
During game breaks — media timeouts, quarter breaks — the ribbon boards will serve as an extension of a main video board on the north end of the stadium that was installed in 2015. Eventually, they could be programmed to carry game stats and information, as well.
The branding elements inside and around the stadium make a difference dressing up a venue that has not seen substantive upgrades since 1991 when the 22 suites were added along with about 10,000 chair-back and bench seats.
The back of the press box facing Millbrook Avenue, once a dreary brown, now sport right and white Fresno State football and Pac-12 Conference logos. Branded wraps also have been added around the venue.
Related Stories from Fresno Bee