Scoreboards From The End Zone

When the side screens are so big that they stretch the length of the neutral zone, some space has to be given up somewhere and that somewhere is typically on the video screens on the end zone sides of the scoreboards. 

Last fall we released an infographic for the 2015/16 scoreboards that ranked them from largest to smallest. That was based on the largest video screens on the scoreboards, so naturally these 'Cowboy Stadium' style boards ruled the league. But it got me to thinking about how this must be a lot different for those who are used to sitting on the ends of the arena bowl, so here now is a look at how the sizes change their rank when you compare the smaller end boards. 

As you can see, the award for the largest equal sided scoreboard would go to the Maple Leafs with their impressive new board which even considers those in the front rows who get their own video screens under the scoreboard to look at. Colorado and Minnesota still have a pretty good size screen to look at on the ends, and it has been noted that Colorado makes very good use of their end screens to provide better info than you even get on the larger video screens. 

Now we get to Anaheim and Tampa Bay. Anaheim's new board was almost not large enough to warrant the need for smaller end zone boards. All four sides of the Maple Leafs board are almost as large as the main video screens at Honda Center. Then there is Tampa Bay. The end screens have a portrait orientation which is not ideal for much of anything really except maybe taking selfies or Face-timing with a friend. You might be looking at the info graphic above and noticing that the area of those screens are close in comparison with Washington, so how could it be that bad, right? Well considering the fact that the odd shape makes it more difficult to use, and only half of the screen is used for the action/replays, watching the action on the scoreboard from an end zone seat would be roughly the same as watching a game at the Rexall Place, former home of the Edmonton Oilers. That is quite a different in presentation value for a fans sitting in different areas of the arena.

Edmonton is going to have the largest equal sided scoreboard in the league next season and video screens below it for the fans to watch as well. Hopefully as more teams will certainly replace their scoreboards down the road, they will think of their fans who circle the entire arena, and opt for a better fan experience for all.