The Tamaqua Area School District will be looking at purchasing a video board for its stadium, its superintendent told school directors Tuesday night.

The district used a portable video board during homecoming activities, and will be getting prices this week, Superintendent Ray Kinder said.

Board President Larry Wittig asked about the cost of the large video display board, venturing a guess at about $100,000. Kinder agreed, but said the district would not be using taxpayer dollars.

The district would pull from funding that it receives through an agreement with St. Luke’s for athletics, Kinder said.

Wittig asked how this “Jumbotron” would enhance the district’s athletic program, and Kinder said it would enhance the district’s athletic facilities.

“We have some of our facilities, in many ways, are becoming outdated, and we’re looking to bring them into this century,” Kinder said.

The district is beginning to have issues with the current scoreboard, Kinder said, and is looking at whether the district can use existing supports for a new video display.

The district would also be able to use the video board for non-sporting events, such homecoming, senior recognition and graduation, enhancing the experience not only for athletes but for all students, Kinder said.

Director Mark Rother asked if they could get light bulbs for the defunct scoreboard at the baseball field.

Wittig agreed, saying if the scoreboards on the softball and baseball fields don’t work, they should take priority over the video board.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Stephen Toth said they are also looking at the costs for those as well, in conjunction with the video board for the stadium.

The district can save money if it can use the existing steel supports, he said.

Kinder said that they would be enhancing their facilities with the video board, and not using tax dollars for the purchase.

“I don’t look at this as an extravagance,” he told the board. “We’re bringing things up to what is now becoming the standard, as far as what people are doing when updating their facilities.”

The district would also be able to use the display to sell advertisements, which would generate revenue and cut the cost over time, Kinder said.

Streaming

The district is also looking at using HUDL, a paid, livestreaming service used across the state to broadcast sporting events, Kinder said.

The district already has the cameras, which are being installed at gymnasium and stadium, he said, and they could expand that to other district facilities.

“It would allow us to broadcast our games, livestream our games,” Kinder said, and people could pay to watch from home.

The fees for this year would be $8 a game, $15 a month, or $50 for the remainder of the year. And next year, the fees would be same but the annual pass would be $75.

The district would get 60% of the subscription fees from viewers, while the service would collect the rest, said Mike Hromyak, athletic director.

The district would receive more if it hits a quota for advertisers, he said.

Kinder said that cost for people streaming the events works out to less than the cost of tickets for games, when you consider that more than one person in a household is watching.

People can any of the district’s football games, volleyball games, basketball dame, boys and girls wrestling and track during the year by subscribing to the service for the year, or just individual games, Kinder said.