In 2022, Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, home of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, underwent a major technology upgrade aimed at enhancing the fan experience and improving their control room operations. With outdated displays that were in desperate need of replacement, the Rays partnered with LED screen experts digiLED.
The project included the installation of over 5,700 square feet of high-brightness LED displays throughout the stadium. The centerpiece of the upgrade was the addition of three enormous 10mm VISION A LED screens, offering the 42,735 crowd vivid, up close views of the action on the field.
VISION AAn additional three screens were installed across the venue using both digiLED’s VISION A and ultra fine pitch digiTHIN HD technology.
Even though the screens are housed entirely within the stadium, digiLED’s VISION A product was chosen for the main displays due to its high brightness and IP65 rating, making it ideal for the high humidity levels that can accumulate when the stadium is closed between games.
These screens made their debut at the season opener on March 30th 2023 against the Detroit Tigers, a game that not only showcased the new system but also kicked off the Rays’ 13 game winning streak, their best start to a season since 1884. The vibrant displays immediately caught the attention of fans, media and league officials, setting a new standard for in-stadium visuals.
In parallel with the main stadium upgrades, the Rays control room received a significant upgrade. Replacing a wall of LCD monitors, two ultra-slim 1.3mm digiTHIN HD screens were installed with unique resolutions of 3456 x 1296 and 1152 x 648. These screens were carefully selected not only for their image quality and viewing flexibility but also for their low heat generation, which is critical for the confined space where operators work in close proximity. The modular design has proven practical, requiring virtually no maintenance to date and offering effortless module removal and replacement.
digiTHIN HDRESPONSIVE DESIGN
The whole installation was completed within a tight three month window ahead of the 2023 baseball season, despite external challenges such as hurricane related disruptions and an accelerated home game schedule. Thanks to seamless coordination between the Rays’ team and digiLED, the project met all its deadlines and performance targets.