The action on the turf at Missouri Southern State University’s Fred G. Hughes Stadium will soon be larger than life.
The Missouri Southern Foundation today announced that construction has commenced on a new videoboard for the stadium – a privately funded project that will result in one of the three largest of its kind in all of NCAA Division II Athletics.
The $1.3 million project has been funded entirely by donors, with no tuition dollars or state funding to be used. Donors include Freeman Health System, Liberty Utilities/Empire Electric, Missouri Eagle, People’s Bank of Seneca, PepsiCo, RE Smith Construction Co.
“People’s Bank of Seneca recognizes the impact of Missouri Southern graduates and the vital role the university plays in our region,” said Deron Burr, president/CEO of People’s Bank of Seneca. “We view this gift as an investment in the student experience. It will bring a new dimension to the great game day atmosphere at MSSU.”
The foundation partnered on the project with Nevco, a national leader in videoboard development.
The structure, located on the south end of the stadium, will be 63 feet high and 90 feet wide. The video display itself will be 30 feet high and 66 feet wide. With 718,000 pixels, it will provide an excellent viewing experience throughout the stadium. It will offer game day action, interactive fan prompts and live scoring data, and will utilize a built-in sound system to provide an optimal audio experience throughout the stadium.
Denver Johnson, head football coach for Missouri Southern, said the addition of the state-of-the-art board will benefit more than just fans.
“I’m sure our players will appreciate and enjoy it, and it also speaks to our recruits about our continued investment in building a championship-caliber program at MSSU,” he said. “It’s a really exciting development for the football program and I can’t wait to see it in action.”
Scott Boudreaux, president of the Missouri Southern Foundation’s board of directors, said the videoboard will put the university’s student-athletes and coaches in the spotlight while also creating opportunities for broadcasting students who will gain hands-on experience filming games.
“Thanks to the vision of my fellow members of the Missouri Southern Foundation, the action of our generous donors and their passion for the athletics program, the new videoboard will help MSSU stand tall in NCAA Division II athletics, in the state of Missouri and the entire country,” he said.
Construction will be complete before the Lions first home game of the season, when they take on Lindenwood at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8.
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