Double Play: Professional Baseball 2024 is in Full Swing with Samsung Displays

“If you build it, they will come.” This spring, professional baseball stadiums nationwide opened their gates for opening day, welcoming fans for another exciting season of baseball. The stadium atmosphere was palpable, filled with iconic ballpark fare, the excitement of the crowds and new immersive technologies to elevate the game-day experience.

Recently, Samsung had the honor of working with legendary teams like the New York Mets and Houston Astros to upgrade their home stadiums with larger-than-life outdoor LED scoreboards and other cutting-edge displays throughout the venues.

Bright lights, big Citi Field

On March 21, Samsung joined the New York Mets for its annual What’s New Event at Citi Field to unveil a new 3D anamorphic, two-sided LED display now installed in the stadium’s concourse. The one-of-a-kind 3D display provides fans with an engaging, immersive experience no matter what side they are standing in front of. Each side of the display can showcase different content ranging from scoreboard updates to player stats and advertisements from the Mets’ partners.

“We are showcasing the next phase in our amazing partnership with Samsung and continuing our mission to transform the fan experience via digital display technology,” said Oscar Fernandez, ​​Senior Vice President of Technology for the New York Mets. “We started this joint effort three years ago to enhance the fan experience at Citi Field. Fast forward to today and we now have a refreshed rotunda with new LED ribbons throughout the seating bowl, large format display TVs, 1,300 displays throughout the stadium and the biggest scoreboard in the MLB to connect with fans and bring them closer to the action on the field.”

Samsung and Citi Field have been working together since 2021 to elevate the stadium experience for Mets fans and visitors. In 2023, the Mets unveiled its new scoreboard totaling 17,400 square feet, making it the largest scoreboard in a professional baseball stadium. The scoreboard is double-sided, being tall enough to be seen along the highway so the fan experience begins before they even enter Citi Field. The stadium also features a smaller scoreboard located along the second baseline. Other displays inside the stadium include signage within the team stores at Citi Field, digital menu boards at the concession stands and digital dioramas and billboards around the concourse for advertising.

“We value our relationship with the Mets. Together, we are constantly pushing new technology advancements with one goal in mind — to wow every fan who enters Citi Field,” said Don Szczepaniak, Vice President, Service Delivery, Samsung Electronics America. “The displays and connected stadium experience at Citi Field will continue to bring in fans near and afar, and distinguish the Mets as one of the most innovative, future-minded teams in professional baseball.”

Houston, we have a scoreboard

Last year, the Houston Astros also did a digital makeover of its home at Minute Maid Stadium, including a primary scoreboard, left-field scoreboard and ribbon boards. The stadium’s 6,875-square-foot new scoreboard, nicknamed “El Grande,” located in centerfield delivers a clear view to fans from every angle and is one part of a larger video board spanning eight stories, featuring 5.3 million stunning LEDs designed to digitally enhance the fan experience like never before.

The Astros’ retractable roof at the stadium and natural grass field are unique features of Minute Maid Stadium that make the venue a crown jewel of downtown Houston. Samsung worked with the Astros to ensure the El Grande scoreboard would be a major aesthetic and technological upgrade while fitting seamlessly with the stadium’s iconic design. Other upgrade features include replacing the smaller scoreboard on the left side of the field for enhanced visibility. Over 45,000 square feet of ribbon displays now wrap around the stadium and act as a medium for game information, team branding and advertising space for additional revenue generation. Combined, the total number of displays in the stadium adds up to 54,000 square feet and 9.8 million LEDs to create a dazzling spectacle for Astros fans.

“No matter where an Astro fan is seated at Minute Maid Park, they have a perfect view of the game. Even in the Texas sun, the LED display provides them a clear picture of the action inning after inning,” said David Phelps, Head of the Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “With these technology upgrades, we wanted to ensure the gameday experience felt modern but preserved the timeless charm of the stadium.”

“The technology upgrades to the stadiums are unique for each team, but all achieve one goal—to elevate the venue experience like never before,” added David Phelps. “The Mets and Astros all hit a home run in setting new standards for fan engagement, communications and revenue generation. We hope to help more esteemed teams integrate immersive technologies that draw fans into the stadiums on game day and keep them coming back for more.”

To learn more about Samsung’s Live Events and Sports Signage solutions, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/us/business/solutions/industries/live-events-sports/displays/