Ah, sports!
There’s speed, strength, balance, timing and guts… but there’s also that fun scoreboard that may keep kids occupied or hype up the crazies.
Without the F&S electricians shop, those giant, colorful, engaging scoreboards wouldn’t operate.
Although installed by Daktronics, a leader in scoreboards and video and digital signage, you need a primary source of electricity to light up the score, show hype videos, sponsored content, and fun student-athlete interviews.
“We supply the electrical infrastructure for the scoreboards,” said Will Corum, electricians sub-foreperson. “Depending on the location, we are up high in the air sometimes. Safety is what I’m most concerned about during installation. I don’t want any of the team to get hurt.”
Baseball, Tennis, and Softball: Oh my!
For example, at Illinois Field, home to U. of I. baseball, electricians accessed and extended power from the press box and concessions area behind homeplate out to the location of the scoreboard in right field. This upgrade took place in 2015, and electrician sub-foreperson Corum helped manage the project. The work was completed by Larry Lustfeldt, Craig Wise, Dan Holstein, and Ryan Jones.
Corum has maintained a positive relationship with facilities professionals with the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA), and helped get his electricians ready for the work at other locations, like the Armory (installed by Sam Elson and Ryan Jones in 2015) and Eichelberger Field.
At the Atkins Tennis Center, a feature scoreboard stands out in the middle of the space, while simple game-point-match scoreboards accompany each court. Electrical work by F&S was installed there by Jason Maxwell and Mark Klein in 2018.
For the scoreboard installation at Eichelberger Field, home to Illini softball, Corum was proud of the switches behind the outfield wall. There, the electric flow is adjusted and directed where it needs to go. In this case, there is the scoreboard, but also a few cameras located near centerfield and others around and in the press box and dugouts. Work was completed by Larry Lustfeldt and Craig Wise in 2016.
