The screen, whose sale was negotiated by VRS (Vision Reality Systems Ltd), is a fully weatherproof Lighthouse LVP2056 (20mm pixel pitch, 5600 Nits of brightness). Gareth Moores, Bolton Wanderers’ commercial director, comments: "We bought the screen for two reasons. We’re constantly looking to enhance the matchday experience for all our supporters, including live relays of away matches, and the video screen and the content on it is an integral part of that. Secondly, it’s an important revenue generator for the club as a high-impact advertising medium for our partners, sponsors and advertisers, and the quality of the Lighthouse screen is far superior to the existing screen. We looked at a number of alternatives and we were very impressed with the Lighthouse technology - we feel that we’ve acquired a fantastic screen at a tremendous price."
Julian Radley of VRS, a Lighthouse systems integrator, explains: "We have strong relationships with football clubs across Europe, and completed two European football stadium installations last year, including one at the new stadium at Roda JC in Holland. During their evaluation of different screens, we invited key people from Bolton Wanderers FC to Roda JC to see their new screen in action, and then organized a comparative demonstration at the Reebok. That allowed the club chairman and others to see how much of an improvement the latest Lighthouse technology offers over the screen they already had - the performance is in a completely different league."
Intense competition from the LED industry followed, but the club confirmed the deal and the screen will be installed during the close season in mid June, using a new support structure fabricated by Horwich Steelworks. The club’s media partner, Touchline TV, will continue to use its existing control room and camera set-up at the stadium. Touchline also produces the complete programme of highlights, commercials, promotions, and live action camerawork on match days to feed the screen and broadcasters.
Explains Touchline’s Peter Myers: "We were commissioned by Bolton Wanderers to survey all the likely screen manufacturers in order to choose a replacement, and we felt that Lighthouse’s screen, their presentation and their financial offer was the best package all round, and recommended it to the Bolton board."
(Lee Baldock)
