Daktronics announced the upcoming installation of a new LED video display system at Northern Illinois University’s (NIU) Convocation Center in Dekalb, Illinois. Installation is scheduled for this summer to have the system up and running for the fall sports seasons.

“I cannot wait to see the new videoboard hanging in the NIU Convocation Center,” said NIU Associate Vice-President and Director of Athletics Sean T. Frazier. “Thanks to our Board of Trustees, NIU Vice-President for Administration and Finance Sarah McGill and staff of both NIU Athletics and the NIU Procurement Office for navigating this process from start to finish. This scoreboard system, and especially the videoboard, is going to give the whole arena a new look and feel, bringing even more excitement to our basketball games and events in the Convo. I’m especially excited for our fans as this will significantly improve the in-game experience for people in the stands during our basketball games, and will also make the arena more marketable as we look at bringing in other events.”

The displays in the four-sided centerhung will each measure more than 8 feet high by 14.5 feet wide and will feature a tight 4-millimeter line spacing bringing greater resolution to crisp, clear images for fans throughout the venue. Upper and lower LED ring displays will provide space for game information, fan engagement elements and sponsorships.

“The new LED display system at NIU Convocation Center will surround Huskies fans with video and animations creating a fully immersive atmosphere,” said Joey Hulsebus, Daktronics sales representative. “The new center hung system will bring a new level of resolution to the venue that will have a significant impact on fans. Pairing those displays with the end wall video displays ensures that nobody will miss a moment of the action. I can’t wait to see the completed system in action this fall.”

In addition to the centerhung configuration, two new end wall video displays will be installed on the east and west ends of the Convocation Center. These displays will measure more than 9 feet high by 15.5 feet wide and will feature 10-millimeter line spacing to bring additional views to Huskies fans.

The main centerhung and end wall video displays are capable of variable content zoning allowing each to show one large image or to be divided into multiple different zones. The displays can show any combination of live video, instant replays, game statistics and information, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.

In addition to the LED displays, the Convocation Center will also receive new shot clocks and upgraded display panels on the Lincoln Highway marquee. Digital content provided by Daktronics Creative Services is also included with the installation to bring the displays to life.

The Minneapolis Convention Center is going to be the center of activity in downtown Minneapolis this summer, with more than 25,000 visitors attending three upcoming conventions, starting at the end of June. The National Education Association (NEA) will hold its Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly beginning June 30, followed by the American Legion’s 100th National Convention starting August 23, and culminating with the National Baptist Convention, USA, starting Labor Day weekend.

Cumulatively, these three conventions represent 65,000 room nights for local hotels this summer, bringing additional money and tax revenue to the local economy. These events add to what is shaping up to be a banner year for the Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC). As of June 30, the MCC will have hosted 195 events for the year including Super Bowl-related events, and is currently on pace to exceed its goal of securing $20 million in revenue for the year.

By the Numbers:

National Education Association’s Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly
•June 30 – July 5
•Expecting more than 7,500 attendees and exhibitors
•More than 40,000 room nights in the greater Minneapolis area

American Legion 2018 National Convention
•August 23 – August 29
•More than 9,500 attendees and exhibitors expected
•Approximately 15,000 room nights in Minneapolis

National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.
•September 2 – September 7
•An estimated 8,000 attendees and exhibitors
•More than 10,000 room nights in Minneapolis

“Those outside of our industry might have anticipated a letdown in our business levels after Super Bowl LII. Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Meet Minneapolis President and CEO, Melvin Tennant. “Thanks to the sales and marketing groundwork laid by our team and our community partners, we have a bevy of diverse events set for the rest of 2018 that will allow us to sustain our strong start to the year. That’s good news for our local economy and the more than 36,000 individuals working in the travel and hospitality industry in Minneapolis.”

Another highlight for 2018 will be in the fourth quarter when the MCC hosts nearly 6,000 women engineers for the Society of Women Engineers’ 2018 Annual Conference in October. In all, Meet Minneapolis will bring well over 600 events to the city and region this year, including more than 300 events to the MCC.

Voting is now open and will remain so through July 12, 2018. The complete slate including biographical information and photos can now be viewed through the ballot site as well as on the IAVM web site.

All voting members should have received an email titled “2018-2019 IAVM Board of Directors Election-login information below”. The email contains a generated user name and password to use when logging in to submit votes.  If you haven’t received the email, please contact Rosanne Duke via email or by calling 972.538.1025.

Once again, the ballot is available through Survey & Ballot Systems allowing complete confidentiality and security to our members.

The results of the voting will be posted following the closing of the ballot on July 12.  However, join us in Toronto for VenueConnect, July 22 – 25 and have the opportunity to meet the new board members in person.  Every minute of this year’s program is exceptional, offering new dynamic sessions, topic roundtables, boot camps, and the largest industry trade show and networking events only possible at VenueConnect! 

We have all heard about Google’s new guidelines for ticketing, but what does it mean for our venues, patrons, fans and customers? Expert speakers in Michal Lorenc, head of industry – ticketing, sports and live events, Google, and Jane Kleinberger, founder, Paciolan, will help attendees learn about best practices and consumer protections that venues can employ to drive customers to primary ticket sites, manage multi-channel distribution sources, and put more tickets into the hands of the fans, when they present a session called Putting Our Customers First: New Consumer Protections, at VenueConnect in Toronto.

Lorenc is currently attending World Cup in Russia and will share some of his thoughts on the session upon his return. In the meanwhile, industry veteran and IAVM friend Jane Kleinberger offered her thoughts on the subject matter and more.

Why should attendees want to come to this session?

Protecting patrons is top priority when it comes to live events and Google is taking a bold step forward to lead the charge. Mike Lorenc will talk about these protections and its importance to our live events industry. Discussion will involve registration best practices, the concept of the official ticket source, and the new guidelines Google is implementing that will transform the way fans see search results.

What is a takeaway or two you would like attendees to return home having in their toolkit?

You will directly learn how Google and your industry partners can most effectively work with your digital teams to manage your paid search campaigns and search marketing. You will also gain insights on where ticketing is going and how to best work with world-class partners as you tackle the new world of multi-channel distribution.

What are the current hot topics presenting themselves in the ticketing and venue world?

Safety and security of fans, patrons, and their data is always top of mind. We’re also seeing an expansion of open distribution channels, giving greater reach for organizations to connect with their fans. Lastly, the ongoing efforts of mitigating fraud, data and ticketing site security, and consumer confidence.