Carson High School athletic complex has new scoreboard

Thanks to the generosity of several area businesses and the booster clubs for football and track, the new scoreboard has become a reality at Carson High School.

The new scoreboard, which measures 38 feet tall and 20 feet wide was erected by workers on Wednesday. The $140,000 scoreboard was purchased from Daktronics, a company that’s headquartered in South Dakota with a regional office in Sacramento. The project was privately funded and no public funds were used.

“It’s super exciting,” said Blair Roman, Carson’s head football coach. “Our facility has gone through some major upgrades (field turf, lights and now the scoreboard) in the last six or seven years. It is another example of the community stepping up to help the youth in Carson City. You see it in Little League and AYSO. It’s a special thing.”

Dick Campagni’s Carson Auto Group — Capital Ford, Carson City Hyundai, Carson City Toyota and Carson City Scion, Casino Fandango, Carson-Tahoe Health, Tahoe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Carson Nugget, Click Bond and Nature’s Bakery were the major donors to the project, said Keith Shaffer, who’s the capital projects manager for the Carson City School District.

Dr. Sandra Koch also donated to the project.

All major donors will have their company listed on the scoreboard.

The scoreboard is expected to get a test run at tonight’s junior varsity football game, and school officials are hoping for a debut on Friday when the Senators host McQueen at 7 p.m.

“This was started by the booster clubs,” Shaffer said. “I just helped close the loop. Dick Campagni was the first on board. I certainly don’t have a problem with the casinos being involved.

“They contribute to our community and to our programs.”

Shaffer said the scoreboard is high resolution, similar to the sign outside of the Carson City Community Center.

Bob Bateman, Carson High athletic director, said various department personnel are being trained to learn the computer system which operates the scoreboard.

“We’re going to be very selective on who will be trained,” Bateman said.

It’s not known whether the current scoreboard can be synced with the new scoreboard, which will have a box to do the scoreboard information (score, down and distance and yard-line etc..) and a computer which will operate the message portion of the board.

The scoreboard can be utilized for boys and girls soccer and track.

For track, lane assignments and results can be posted along with team scores.

The new scoreboard can also display photos and highlights from other sports.

It also can be utilized to publish event reminders that are being held at Carson and around the community.

“What it can’t do is the immediate,” Bateman said. “We can’t do live action. We won’t do instant replay.”