Ground broken on EverBank Field upgrades

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ground has been broken at EverBank Field in preparation for installation of the largest video boards of their kind in the world.

"The project also includes the construction of a new interactive fan area in the north end zone that will reflect the spirit of life in Jacksonville," a news release reads.

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The new fan amenity will feature a flexible elevated plaza of about 42,000 square feet. Project completion of the video boards and the fan area is expected in time for the first home game of the 2014 Jacksonville Jaguars preseason.

"As the construction takes shape, we can all envision what an impact this will have on EverBank Field and the game day experience," Jaguars owner Shad Khan said. "And that was one of the reasons from the beginning for embarking on this ambitious project. We want EverBank Field to be a world-class destination, and we want to bring energy and attention to downtown Jacksonville. Our goal is to offer best-in-class amenities and the best in-stadium experience for our fans and for everyone who visits Jacksonville and EverBank Field."

WATCH LIVE: Real-time progress of project

With these video enhancements, EverBank Field will now display about 55,000 feet of video boards, a 660 percent increase over last season's 7,200 square feet and the most offered by any NFL stadium. Fans can go to www.jaguars.com/livecam to follow real-time progress of the project.

"We owe our fans and this community nothing less than the best, and these enhancements will be the best," said Jaguars President Mark Lamping. "These stadium upgrades will drastically change the in-stadium experience and create a truly unique environment that you cannot get at home. This will be an eye-opener and an attention-getter for Jacksonville."

Hunt + Elkins, a joint venture, is the construction manager for the stadium project. Hunt Construction Group has previously built several sports facilities, including Lucas Oil Stadium and University of Phoenix Stadium for football, and Marlins Park, Nationals Park, Busch Stadium and Citi Field for baseball.

Elkins Constructors is a Jacksonville-based construction company, as is Haskell Architects and Engineers, P.A. which is the designer for the scoreboard construction. The Haskell Company will provide structural steel and steel installation services for the scoreboard and north end zone improvements.

Daktronics is creating the video boards, and Haskell is responsible for the project design. Daktronics is in the process of manufacturing the video displays. Each display boasts more than 21,700 square feet of active display area -- almost enough to cover the entire field of play when combined.

North end zone interactive fan area

At the north end of the stadium will be a large two-level deck featuring cabana-style seating areas, video screens, bars and two large spa-type wading pools and other water features. There will be sections dedicated to private functions as well as areas open to all fans in the seating bowl. Populous is responsible for the design of the north end zone area.

Permanent facilities in the deck area will include men's and women's restrooms, food service space and utility boxes for connection to portable amenities. The connections under construction will provide power, data, water and drains for portable bars and food service for fans.

In addition, sun shades, seating and other amenities will be provided. These provisions will be portable and removable for the installation of temporary seating for special events like the Florida-Georgia game, the Gator Bowl and concerts.

Video boards

The two massive end zone displays will each measure 60 feet high by 362 feet wide and feature 13mm HD pixel spacing. The video boards will be capable of showing any combination of live action, instant replays, vivid graphics, colorful animations, up-to-the-minute statistics, scoring information and sponsor advertisements.

Below the north end zone display will be a display measuring nearly 10 feet high by 320 feet wide featuring the same 13mm HD pixel layout.

At the opposite end of the stadium will be two ribbon displays on both levels of fascia in the seating bowl below the south end zone main display. Each ribbon display will feature 15mm HD pixel spacing. The top display, measuring more than 3 feet high by 365 feet wide, is curved to appear the same length as the bottom display, which will measure more than 3 feet high by 295 feet wide.

Each side of the field will feature a ribbon display along the seating fascia, each measuring more than 3 feet high by 573 feet wide and featuring a 15mm HD pixel layout.

Four new displays will replace the existing displays in each corner of the stadium. These new displays will each measure approximately 18 feet high by 32 feet wide and feature a 15mm HD pixel spacing. Two additional displays will be installed above each tunnel at opposite corners of the stadium. These displays will each measure 6 feet high by 24 feet wide and will also feature a 15mm HD pixel layout.

All of these video and ribbon displays will provide the opportunity to present up-to-the-minute statistics, fantasy football updates, out of town scores and other game day information. All displays will incorporate excellent image clarity and contrast, and will provide multiple levels of protection from the elements. The wide angle viewing capability will provide fans with a clear view of the displays from any seat in the stadium.

Daktronics will also be including its powerful Show Control System with this installation. This industry-leading system provides a combination of display control software, world-class video processing, data integration and playback hardware that forms a user-friendly production solution.

Steel structure

The new scoreboards will be constructed of structural steel framing with ribbed metal siding and a single ply roof over rigid insulation on metal roof deck. The bowl side of each structure will be the electronic video board. Each new section of scoreboard will be supported by triangular structural steel towers similar to the existing supports. The design will include the electrical service for the video board operation, lighting of the interior spaces and lighting for the signage to be provided on the back side of the scoreboards.

The installation includes power, cabling, sound and a new expanded state of the art scoreboard control room on the west side suite level of the stadium.