Minor League Baseball is Back!

Let’s Play Ball

It was an unprecedented sports year in 2020 to say the least, but perhaps none more so than for Minor League Baseball. From the unfortunate cancellation of the 2020 MiLB season to the new MLB affiliation restructure, MiLB has had a lot on its plate over the past year. But now it’s time for baseball and the 2021 season!

We missed a lot in 2020, including the opening of some new ballparks and integrated LED systems across the minor league landscape. Those projects, along with some more for 2021, will finally get their time to shine. Some of our recent projects across all of the minors include new ballpark LED systems for the Gastonia Honey Hunters, Fredericksburg Nationals and Rocket City Trash Pandas. New video boards have also been installed over the past year-plus for the Columbus Clippers, Gwinnett Stripes, Lincoln Salt Dogs, Rome Braves, Sioux Falls Canaries, Stockton Ports, Sugar Land Skeeters and Williamsport Crosscutters.

Same Game New Experience

As MiLB teams welcome fans back, we know sharing information and connecting with audiences will be more important now than ever before. Let our team and our displays help design your communication plan for before, during and after events, whether it’s for a game or other events at the ballpark.

Speaking of how our displays can help with your needs, we recently sat down with the Round Rock Express for a podcast and talked about their need to get creative last year with how they used their new and existing displays and their facility when the pandemic hit. Also, how they hosted different types of events, how they did it safely, and how they have to think of new ways to activate sponsorships going into this year. Listen to the Podcast!

The 120 Affiliates

You’ve also probably heard with the new PBA agreement, MLB officially invited and announced it’s 120 MiLB affiliate teams. At Daktronics, we’re proud that 77 of these 120 teams rely on us for their main video display. That’s 64%! This includes the largest video board in MiLB at the Las Vegas Aviators installed in 2019.

Outside the 120 affiliates, there is plenty of other baseball in the minors including the partner, independent, summer-collegiate and other leagues. Nearly 50 additional ballparks in these leagues also use Daktronics for LED video boards. Our presence in MiLB is unmatched with over 120+ venues that use our video boards. Check out our customer list!

From new systems making their debut in 2021 to video boards dating back to 2004 still in use today, our displays continue to support teams in their efforts to provide an immersive experience for fans. Because that’s what MiLB is all about…Fun!

Facility Upgrades

Part of the new PBA also means facility upgrades for MiLB ballparks. Whether it’s upgrading your facility or building a new ballpark, we have solutions for every situation. From updating existing video boards, adding new displays to help generate additional revenue and put on an even better show, trendy LED fence or backstop displays, digital media solutions, concourse or exterior signage, audio systems, to content packages and interactive fan play along games, we’re here to help!

And if you’re planning to purchase a new video board, have you asked yourself these questions?

• How much do you plan to spend on a new video board?
• What are the potential hidden costs associated with the video board purchase?
• Do you know where your displays are being made?
• How do you know what you are getting and the short cuts vendors are taking?
• Who is integrating what into your digital signage?
• How often do you replace your video board?
• What happens when you need service or parts?

Purchasing a new video board should be filled with excitement for what’s to come. However, many points in the LED purchasing process can prove to be painful and challenging. Learn more about Daktronics approach to a better way forward and suggestions from industry leaders around MiLB.

To learn more, download the Evaluating Total Cost of Ownership in MiLB White Paper.

Also, listen in to the Greensboro Grasshoppers talk about their experience with video boards, the purchasing process, their journey to partnering with Daktronics, and the importance of service and support after the sale. Listen to the Podcast!

Here To Support You

While having a reliable display is critical to keeping fans engaged, so too are the efforts behind the scenes to make this happen. How are we able to support over 120 minor league ballparks displays? We have the largest support team in the industry including 300 Daktronics trained local technicians backed by a service organization that has been in place for over 50 years!

“WHEN WE CHOSE DAKTRONICS, WE KNEW WE WERE GOING WITH A COMPANY THAT HAS OUR BACK, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE WEREN’T ABLE TO SAY IN THE PAST.” — Donald Moore, President & GM, Greensboro Grasshoppers

And don’t forget about stats. Our powerful, easy to use and always advancing control system offers the ability to put on the best show possible, from our MiLB stats packages to our broadcast graphics Live Book solution, we have an integrated, turnkey solution for your game-day production.

We can’t wait for the return of Minor League Baseball!