March DakMadness 2025: Behind the Scenes with David Reynhout
In this blog, we talk about our podcast episode with Daktronics Customer Success Specialist, David Reynhout, to discuss how Daktronics is supporting the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments during March Madness. From pre-event checks to on-site game day support, learn how Daktronics technology ensures everything runs smoothly in 13 tournament venues. David also dives into the importance of shot clocks in those critical last-second moments and how our team makes sure venues are ready for the biggest games of the year.
Matt Anderson on 3/17/2025
Categories: Pro Sports and Colleges
March DakMadness 2025: Behind the Scenes with David Reynhout
March Madness is here, and if you're anything like me, this is one of the most exciting times of the year. Whether you're filling out brackets, rooting for your alma mater, or just soaking in the buzzer-beaters and upsets, there’s a special magic in the air when college basketball takes center stage.
At Daktronics, we get to experience this magic in a unique way – by being part of the action, literally. In this latest episode of The Daktronics Experience podcast, Justin and I had the pleasure of sitting down with David Reynhout, our Customer Success Specialist, who gave us an inside look at how our team is supporting the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments this year. With more than a decade of experience between the three of us, we had a lot to talk about.
13 Venues, 1 Mission: Seamless Game-Day Experiences
You might not think much about the tech behind the game when you’re watching a nail-biting buzzer-beater, but trust me, it's there, working seamlessly to make sure the game runs smoothly. As David pointed out, “There are 13 out of 17 venues in this year’s tournament using Daktronics equipment, including places like the Alamodome for the men’s championship and Amalie Arena for the women’s Final Four.”
These venues rely on us for everything from video boards and ribbon displays to the shot clocks that can make or break those crucial moments. I mean, just think about it – how many times have you seen that red LED strip light up the backboard right as a player releases the ball? The precision of that timing is thanks to the shot clocks we provide.
Prepping for March Madness: Pre-Event Checks and Game-Day Support
David also talked about the process we go through to make sure everything is set before the games even tip off. “We come to the site at least two days before an event to fire things up and make sure everything’s running smoothly,” he said. These pre-event checks are a big part of what we do – identifying potential issues early so the venue has time to fix them before game day.
And when game day does arrive, we’ve got boots on the ground with our event support team. David explained it perfectly: “On game day, we have at least one technician on-site to troubleshoot any issues with the display or control room. Our goal is to make sure everything runs smoothly.” It's all about making sure that nothing distracts from the excitement on the court.
Shot Clocks: The Unsung Heroes of Buzzer-Beaters
One of my favorite moments during our conversation was when David shared his thoughts on shot clocks. He explained, “It’s just really interesting to think about how technology works its way into sports and becomes a key part of the game. Shot clocks were introduced in the 1950s to speed up play, and now, they’re a vital part of basketball.”
That’s the beauty of it – our technology quietly supports the game, and most fans won’t notice unless something goes wrong. But when you think about it, moments like buzzer-beaters would lose their drama without the reliability of our systems.
Wrapping Up: Daktronics at the Heart of the Madness
As March Madness continues, I can’t help but feel proud of the role our team plays in these historic events. From pre-event checks to real-time event support, we’re doing everything we can to ensure the tournament runs without a hitch. It’s a lot of work, but as David said, “We love to help these events go smoothly, whether it’s the national tournament or a local championship.”
So, as you watch the madness unfold this year, know that Daktronics is behind the scenes, making sure every shot, every display and every game is as perfect as possible. Follow us on social media and keep an eye out for #DakMadness – we’ll be sharing some great moments from the venues we’re supporting.
Want to dive even deeper into the behind-the-scenes of March Madness? Listen to our full conversation with David Reynhout in this episode of The Daktronics Experience podcast:
https://podcast.daktronics.com/e/243-%e2%80%93-march-dakmadness-2025-a-conversation-with-david-reynhout/