A little over one week ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Lynx released renderings of the renovations taking place at Target Center. Among many active renovations underway, one that has drawn much attention is the addition of a massive scoreboard.
Intended to debut in the 2016 regular season, the Target Center’s new scoreboard is set to be the largest center-hung arena scoreboard in the Upper Midwest. Each of the four main displays measures 18 feet high by 33 feet wide. They are able to do variable content zoning, allowing for all four displays to show one image. In addition, it also allows the four displays or to be broken up into multiple windows to show any combination of video, instant replay, stats, animations, and sponsorship messages.
In addition to this, four auxiliary displays, each 6 feet high by 33 feet wide, will be placed above the four main displays. A ring display is set to be placed above the main and auxiliary displays. The ring display will be 4 feet high by 203 feet in circumference. All five of these displays provide for prime real estate for both entertainment and sponsor opportunities.
As if this wasn’t enough, the underside of the scoreboard will feature 6 displays. Two of these displays will be facing the sidelines, measuring at 7 feet tall by 13.5 feet wide. The other four will be facing the baselines, with measurements of 3 feet high by 8 feet wide.
The 15-display scoreboard will have a total of 4,300 square feet of display to entertain and inform Timberwolves and Lynx fans during a game. Additional scoreboards will be placed in all corners of the arena to make sure each fan has access to a high-definition screen. The project also includes a new board that will be displayed between 1st Avenue and 7th Street, and a new board that will be displayed on the corner of 1st Avenue and 6th Street.
Daktronics is heading the renovations by supplying Target Center with the scoreboards and screens. The entire Target Center renovation is set to cost $128.9 million dollars. The city of Minneapolis is contributing $74 million towards the project, along with the Timberwolves and Lynx contributing $49 million themselves. AEG Facilities are contributing $5.9 million towards renovations as well.
These renovations are set to start this summer during the WNBA Olympic Break, but work on the scoreboard began Wednesday.
Phase 1 of the renovations includes the new scoreboard, updating the suite level, and improving the acoustics for Target Center. Phase 1 started in Spring 2016 and will finish by the end of Summer 2016.
Phase 2 of the renovations begins in Fall 2016 and runs until Spring 2017. Phase 2 includes work to the loading dock, marshalling yard, and exterior work to the Target Center. The Target Center will still be open for events during Phases 1 & 2.
Phase 3 starts in Summer 2017 and will completely shut down the Target Center for all events. The renovations include building a new lobby, locker rooms, dressing rooms, public restrooms, concourse improvements, additional club spaces, and food and beverage vendor improvements. The plan is for Phase 3 to be finished in plenty of time for the 2017-18 season.
#TCRenovation Check out this week's Scoreboard Removal Time Lapse! New scoreboard coming: https://t.co/RDaOhFfc6w pic.twitter.com/F3uckxgbE6
— Target Center (@TargetCenterMN) July 28, 2016
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