The south end of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium will have a new look this fall, as a massive scoreboard is being installed.
To spruce up the fan experience and improve video production for Navy Midshipmen games, Navy is installing a new Daktronics to replace a much smaller structure. Built as an exact replica as its counterpart on the north end, the scoreboard is 25 feet-by-87 feet.
According to Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk, this project is a much-needed addition for the school. In fact, it has been discussed for years, but was repeatedly set aside until this summer. More from the Baltimore Sun:
Part of the reason it took 10 years to install a south end zone scoreboard that matched its north end zone counterpart involved money and other priorities at the stadium.
Manhattan Construction is doing the installation, scheduled to be completed in time for the Navy football home opener Sept. 3.
A large crane for moving heavy materials has been positioned just outside the stadium for several weeks. Big footers were dug into the ground underneath the south side bleachers.
The installation was “a little tricky,” Gladchuk said. “There were some minor curveballs, but nothing the engineers couldn’t work through.”
The scoreboard will cost $2.5 million. Navy estimates that it is four times larger than the previous structure that was utilized on the south end.
Image courtesy of Navy Athletics.