On Saturday, September 14, fans at Ted Runner Stadium witnessed something extraordinary during the Bulldog football game. A brand-new videoboard made its debut, and this state-of-the-art audiovisual system not only announced the team’s 58-7 victory against the University of Puget Sound, but also showcased the power of the Campaign for Bulldog Athletics.
As the largest videoboard in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), it replaces the stadium’s previous scoreboard of 35 years with a 15HD pixel, 19-by-33.5-foot display.
“We are thrilled to be enhancing the overall fan experience at Ted Runner Stadium,” said Director of Athletics Jeff Martinez. “This project will positively impact all our teams, allowing us to further promote the efforts of our student-athletes.”
With a goal of $20 million, the Campaign for Bulldog Athletics is chaired by Trustees Tom Gilmer ’62, ’67 and Jim Schroeder ’65. Gilmer and Schroeder were on the field for the countdown to the videoboard’s unveiling, and fans were provided with a behind-the-scenes view as the Bulldog football team prepared to enter the stadium with its traditional chant “Recognize Us.”
“It was great to see the videoboard light up for the first time,” said Schroeder, who played basketball as a Redlands student. “It gave us a sense of accomplishment in completing an early-phase project of the Athletic Campaign. Athletics programs are not only critical to the University’s recruiting efforts, they are a vital part of our mission, providing opportunities for leadership, learning, and community building.”
Several partners brought this project to fruition, including Pepsi as a Title Sponsor and Harvest Table Culinary Group as a Major Sponsor. Bulldog Athletics also worked closely with Daktronics, the company that designed and manufactured this videoboard along with several other athletic scoreboards and systems throughout campus. Additionally, the University collaborated with Redlands East Valley High School’s video production class and the Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program to create the Bulldog Live Video Crew for the game. “It was a great experience for these young people,” shares Martinez. “They were a big part of this history-making event.”
Gilmer, a dual Bulldog student-athlete in football and cross-country/track and field, knows firsthand the importance of these programs. “Our student-athletes graduate at higher rates, achieve higher GPAs, and more actively participate in University life,” notes Gilmer. “Our alumni’s fondest memories at the University often involve athletics. We appreciate everyone’s financial support to date and hope to keep the momentum going in this important campaign.”
To learn more about the Campaign for Bulldog Athletics, visit foreveryours.redlands.edu/bulldog-athletics/. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities with the videoboard, contact Ray Watts, senior vice president for advancement, at 909-748-8358 or ray_watts@redlands.edu.
