EVERETT — Aquavision is here.
Fans enjoyed AquaSox baseball in a whole new way on Monday thanks to the unveiling of a giant video board. Dubbed Aquavision by team officials, the 16-foot tall, 26-foot wide screen displayed players’ stats and photos, live video, replays, ads and highlights from previous games.
Installed above and beyond the wall in left-center field, the video board delighted fans. People cheering in the bleachers — a crowd of 2,077 that watched Everett play the Boise Hawks at Everett Memorial Stadium — weren’t the only ones excited.
“It’s nice and the color is good. A lot of places, other teams have video boards but this one has a vivid picture,” AquaSox outfielder Ryan Royster said after checking out Aquavision during batting practice.
The AquaSox are the third team in the eight-team Northwest League to get a video board, which is used to boost fan interaction and visibility of sponsors. Yakima and Salem-Keizer also have video boards but Everett’s is significantly larger.
“With everything we do, we’re trying to enhance the fan experience. In this day and age in minor league baseball, video boards are a huge part of doing that,” AquaSox executive vice president Tom Backemeyer said. “While it’s a great facility and it always has been a great facility, I think a video board will take it to that next level.”
The AquaSox teamed with the National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 191 to build the 44-foot tall, 40-foot wide structure that contains the video board. The video board was made by TubeArt, which has an office in Seattle and created several signs and boards used at Safeco Field and Qwest Field. When asked about the cost of the Aquavision video board, Backemeyer declined comment.
Technically, Monday’s game was the “soft opening” of Aquavision, AquaSox general manager Brian Sloan said. The video board crew (two technical workers in the press box and two camera operators near each dugout) will use Monday’s game and today’s game to get used to basic aspects of the system. The official introduction of Aquavision will be at Wednesday’s game.
“Hopefully there’s no bugs,” Sloan said. “If there are, we can work those out.”
Construction of the video board structure began about a month ago, Sloan said. After building the foundation, workers spent the last two weeks installing screen panels and wiring.
AquaSox officials hope the state-of-the-art video board attracts more fans and generates buzz.
“Fans can connect with the players more,” Sloan said. “Instant replays that we can do, updated stats — just more fan interaction that you see in so many other ballparks.
“It’s just bringing our entertainment value to a major-league level,” Sloan added. “We’re definitely hoping to see an increase in our fan base.”
Of course, fans usually flock to winning teams and Everett has played well this season, staying in contention behind Salem-Keizer in the West Division. Royster, the AquaSox outfielder, joked that he and his teammates feel extra pressure to succeed.
“Hopefully we keep playing well,” he said, “or else they’re going to have to take (the new video board) down.”
Herald Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com.
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