Notre Dame announced a number of enhancements to Notre Dame Stadium on Tuesday. Most notable among them, a video board that’ll go atop the south end zone.
That’s right. Notre Dame Stadium is getting a “Jumbotron.”
Joining Purcell Pavilion and the Compton Family Ice Arena with video screens, Notre Dame fans will be able to watch replays of game action and other highlights from their seats. Also like the basketball and hockey venues, a commitment to no advertisements and commercials have been made.
In a statement released by the university, athletic director Jack Swarbrick explained the upgrades.
“Campus Crossroads planning from the very beginning has involved a commitment to ensuring that our fans enjoy a top-quality in-stadium experience,” Swarbrick said in the statement. “That commitment involves everything from technology to amenities such as restrooms and concessions. When completed the Crossroads Project will improve the experience of every fan who attends our games.”
While the video board will garner most of the attention, the wooden bench seats are also being replaced with vinyl upgrades. An 18-inch standard width will also be part of the retrofitting, making one of the tightest squeezes in college football a little less snug.
For those who have tried to communicate on campus during a football Saturday, there will be improved wifi networks within the stadium. The sound system inside the stadium has also been upgraded, while renovations to restrooms and concession stands are among the other, long-overdue enhancements.
All are part of the Campus Crossroads project, an ambitious $400 million project that plans to turn Notre Dame Stadium into a campus hub, with academic and student life buildings attached to the east and west sides of the stadium.
“Notre Dame Stadium is one of the most tradition-rich facilities in all of college football,” Swarbrick said. “The Campus Crossroads Project is indicative of our commitment to making even greater use of it in the decades to come.”
In addition to the video board on the south side of the stadium, ribbon boards will be on the east and west sides of the stadium (the sidelines), adding additional information boards where fans can see basic stats. Another big change will be the removal of the scoreboard above the north end zone, that has long blocked the view of Touchdown Jesus.
For all the cries that’ll certainly come from traditionalists who enjoyed the “old-school” experience, it’s worth pointing out the success Notre Dame’s athletic department has had using the video boards not just for the hockey and basketball teams, but also at Shamrock Series games. Introducing the video boards will also help the in-game experience, getting rid of some of the cumbersome on-field introductions and keeping fans engaged during commercial breaks.