The New Jersey Devils debuted more than just Nico Hischier, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, when they opened their season Saturday afternoon at the Prudential Center in Newark.
Also on display was the largest in-arena, center-hung scoreboard in the world.
The scoreboard, which is nearly four stories tall, weighs 88,401 pounds and measures 9,584.9 square feet.
Just how big is that? Prudential Center officials said the video screens in the scoreboard are equivalent in square footage to 1,300 50-inch televisions.
Hugh Weber, president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the Devils and Prudential Center, said the scoreboard is an example of how the groups are committed to the putting on the best events possible.
“The New Jersey Devils, Prudential Center and the family of properties in the Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment portfolio pride themselves on thinking big, innovating and staying ahead of the curve,” Weber said. “Our partnership with Trans-Lux, and the installation of the largest in-arena scoreboard in the world, is another example of our commitment to providing our fans the most dynamic, engaging and technologically-advanced experience in the industry today.
“At roughly four stories tall, this new Trans-Lux scoreboard will put Newark on the international map, where it belongs. In addition to supporting the fan experience, this incredible scoreboard creates new, more dynamic, engaging and visually appealing opportunities for our sponsors.”
Facilities such as AT&T Stadium in Dallas have larger scoreboards, but they are not considered arenas.
Here are some of the facts and figures Prudential Center officials provided:
- At 88,401 pounds, the weight of the new scoreboard is equivalent to 2,562.35 Stanley Cups.
- The total height of the installation, from the bottom of the barge to the top of the main frame, is nearly four stories tall; with overall dimensions of 60’-4.8125” wide x 38’-1.625” height and main displays of 49’-1.625” wide x 27’-4.8124 height.
- The total square footage of the new scoreboard is 9,584.9; making it 3.67 times as large as the average square footage of a single-family home in the northeast U.S. (2,613 square feet).
- With 29,610,024 SMD pixels, there are about 3 1/3 pixels per New Jersey resident in the new scoreboard.
- The scoreboard contains 20 individual displays, including four HD underbelly units.
- Just one of the four main screens on the new Trans-Lux scoreboard is equivalent to nine main screens in Prudential Center’s previous scoreboard.
- The scoreboard was manufactured in the U.S. via Trans-Lux’s plant in St. Louis; the structural frame was fabricated in Burlington.
J.M. Allain, CEO and president of Trans-Lux, said the quality of the video on the scoreboard will be noticeable.
“From a production and viewing standpoint, this technology is changing the way games are watched,” he said. “Videos are clearer, the colors are deeper and the video is four times more engaging.”
The Devils won their opener, 4-1, over the Colorado Avalanche.
