The new video boards would replace the existing scoreboard, facing the north and south ends of the arena (EverythingGP stock photo)

By Shane Clausing

bonnetts energy centre

Video boards being explored for Bonnetts Energy Centre

Aug 31, 2021 | 2:28 PM

The newly named Bonnetts Energy Centre could soon be home new LED video boards.

At a city standing committee meeting Tuesday, committee recommended council allow for $250,000, initially earmarked to be used to upgrade the arena’s loading dock, to be redistributed to purchase the new video boards.

Catherine Ridgeway, the Events and Entertainment Manager for the City of Grande Prairie, says adding a video component inside the facility is something they’ve been looking at for a while.

“Obviously, having digital capabilities in an arena is what everybody is expecting for the fan experience,” said Ridgeway.

“You want to see instant replay and you want fan engagement. With the postponement of that loading dock project, we thought this was a great way to redirect that money and have an instant impact on fans.”

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Ridgeway adds the boards will also increase revenue opportunities for both the Grande Prairie Storm, the arena’s main tenant, and the City of Grande Prairie.

“Ourselves and the Storm will be able to sell more dynamic advertising. Obviously, with digital capabilities versus static, we’ll be able to offer a lot more digital capability to our partners,” she explained.

If the funding is redistributed and approved by council, the plan would be for the arena to have two separate screens facing the seats on the north and south sides of the arena.

As Ridgeway and her team await approval, she says it’s too early to tell when the boards could be able to be installed. This is mainly because the manufacturing industry has slowed down and has seen delays because of equipment shortages.

“We’d hope to get this done this season in 2021-22, but it could also be in the offseason,” she said.

Council will vote on the redistribution at a future meeting yet to be determined.