THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 15, 1994 TAG: 9412130092
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
It had become an on-and-off operation.
Sometimes there would be a complete message. Other times there was only half a message, the wrong message or no message at all.
The lights in the electronic Scope sign facing Brambleton Avenue and St. Paul's Boulevard came and went like the weather.
But on Dec. 2, the nagging problem was solved. After months of continued misprints and blackouts, the 25-year-old marquee was replaced with a bright, new display.
``The old sign was embarrassing - it didn't work half the time,'' said Bill Luther, director of civic facilities for the city of Norfolk, whose department operates Scope. ``We've brought the technology up to 1995.''
The marquee features high-resolution lettering and a refurbished Scope logo. A system of individual lightbulbs has been supplanted by a network of bulb clusters. The technology is entirely computer driven.
``The structure itself is basically the same - the guts are new,'' said John Rhamstine, assistant director for civic facilities. ``This is a quality, much more energy efficient system.''
The sign's display runs from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily, and will list the dates, times and ticket prices for sporting events, concerts and conventions at Scope and Chrysler Hall.
The replacement of the old sign is only part of a larger-scale package deal to update Scope's public information system. Also included are a new interior scoreboard and message center, two ``end-zone'' scoreboards and four smaller message centers along the concourse. The main scoreboard and message center has color and graphics capabilities. It also can support instant-replay services, though there are presently no in-house production facilities to do so.
The entire package has been a year in the works, with a final price tag of $625,000. The system was manufactured by Fairtron Inc. of Atlanta.
The public's feedback about the new scoreboard has been very positive, Rhamstine said. The interior upgrades were all in operation by early November. The marquee has been on-line for but a week or so and still may have a few quirks to be worked out.
``People have called us and told us how nice the new sign looks,'' Luther said. ``But they also pointed out that the new time was five minutes fast.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
The 25-year-old sign outside of Scope, which was often on the blink,
has been replaced by this new marquee.
by CNB