New scoreboard, video displays highlight White Auditorium renovations

Some might go so far as to call it an “extreme makeover,” but fans of Emporia State University volleyball and basketball will definitely notice something different in their home court this season. University and City of Emporia officials unveiled the upgrades to William Lindsay White Auditorium at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, Nov. 3 at the auditorium, 111 E. Sixth Ave.

Take a video peek at the new scoreboard and other improvements at White Auditorium.

	Emporia Mayor Bob Agler wields the ribbon-cutting scissors.
	Visitors check out the auditorium's new, brighter color scheme, scoreboard and video screen.

Audiences will notice a newly-refinished floor with updated graphics, the fresh coat of paint on the interior walls with gold and black stripe accents, new scoreboards and high-resolution video display screen.

“Emporia State University and the City of Emporia have partnered on so many projects over the years,” said Dr. Michael R. Lane, ESU president. “Each year, nearly 100,000 fans watch ESU sporting events in this venue. This great new scoreboard and the addition of the video screen will enhance the game experience for sports fans and student-athletes alike.”

“It’s the first major change in White Auditorium since 1984,” explained Ed Rathke, facilities manager for the City of Emporia. The approximately $270,000 improvement project was funded with City of Emporia general fund and Convention and Visitors Bureau money, along with contributions from ESU, the Walter S. and Evan C. Jones Trust, Emporia Sports Promotions, Inc., and Sunflower Gymnastics.

Mounted on the south wall of the arena, the video board will display everything from player photos and statistics to video scenes. Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas utilizes the same video display equipment, Rathke noted.

John Decker, ESU’s graphic artist, created the color scheme, decorative striping and lettering design which gives the arena its bright new look. The auditorium’s inch-thick maple floor was sanded and refinished this fall, just in time for ESU volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball teams to compete.

Last Updated December 5, 2008>