San Antonio is cutting a big check to keep the Alamodome’s screens from going dark. On Thursday, City Council signed off on roughly $2.3 million to swap out the venue’s center-hung scoreboard, a move city staff say is needed to keep pace with a packed events calendar.
The upgrade will bring in two permanent center-hung displays so crews no longer have to dismantle and reconfigure the existing board every time the building flips between stadium and arena layouts. Officials say that should stretch the life of the new equipment and cut down on costly downtime ahead of several major events later this year.
Council quietly gives the green light
The council approved an ordinance authorizing a contract with OES-USA, Inc. for a center-hung scoreboard system “in an amount not to exceed $2,325,892,” with funding drawn from the Alamodome Improvement and Contingency Fund, according to the City of San Antonio. The item sailed through on the consent agenda without any public discussion, which clears the way for the purchase to move forward quickly.
What the new setup brings to the rafters
The project calls for two Novastar center-hung systems: a larger stadium display measuring about 18 by 39 feet and a slightly smaller arena screen at roughly 15 by 33 feet. The arena configuration will be paired with an underbelly LED display so fans sitting closer to the floor are not left guessing what just happened.
The package also includes 12 moving lights and new processors and video cards that will integrate with Ross Xpression to support 3D graphics and video playback. OES-USA is listed as the vendor responsible for delivering and installing the full system, which staff expect to have in place by Sept. 4, ahead of the fall slate of events, as reported by KSAT.
Why the old board is getting benched
City documents say the current center-hung scoreboard, purchased in October 2019, has taken a beating from constant reconfiguration. The board has been repeatedly taken apart and moved to accommodate different Alamodome setups, and staff say that “excessive wear and tear” has been compounded by the fact that replacement parts are no longer available.
“Video boards like this usually last about 10 years,” city spokesman Brian Chasnoff told reporters. Staff say the frequent takedowns have effectively shortened that life span, according to the San Antonio Report.
How it fits into the bigger Alamodome picture
The scoreboard project is one of several smaller-ticket investments the city is making while it sorts out larger plans for the Alamodome and the broader downtown sports and entertainment proposal known as Project Marvel. That proposal, which centers on a new Spurs arena and related development, has reshaped how some public dollars are being prioritized. City leaders have signaled a strategy of targeted upgrades for now, with any major renovation work pushed further down the road, according to Texas Public Radio.
City staff say they expect to return to council this fall with a broader look at operating and maintenance costs for the Alamodome over the next decade. For the moment, the new boards are meant to keep the building game-ready for UTSA, the Alamo Bowl and a full slate of concerts and events. With the contract now approved, crews can start procurement and scheduling, and fans are expected to see the upgraded displays in time for the venue’s heavy fall schedule.
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