Eastlink Centre, a sports and events facility in Charlottetown, P.E.I., recently installed a new centrehung digital scoreboard—one of the first of its kind in the province. Photo courtesy Watchfire
Eastlink Centre, a sports and events facility in Charlottetown, P.E.I., recently installed a new centrehung digital scoreboard—one of the first of its kind in the province.
Built in 1991, the centre is home to the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and the Charlottetown Power of the East Coast Basketball League (ECBL), and hosts concerts and other events throughout the year.
The new four-sided centerhung display serves as an upgrade to the facility’s aging fixed-digit scoreboard. It provides fans with a 360-degree view of scores, live game footage, and replay videos, as well as crowd engagement content, animations, and advertisements.
The Gemini Group of Companies of Charlottetown submitted the winning bid to design and install the scoreboard, and specified Watchfire to manufacture the display. The centrehung measures 2.5 x 4.1 m (8.5 x 13.5 ft) on each side and has a pitch of 3.9 mm (0.1 in.). Watchfire mounted the scoreboard using a hoist system, so venue operators can easily lower and raise the display for routine maintenance or repair.
The new scoreboard is part of a $2 million renovation of the centre, which includes new arena glass, renovated dressing rooms and showers, and upgraded sound and lighting systems. Venue organizers have even discussed hosting viewing events when the Islanders are on the road, as well as streaming other important events.
“The resolution on the scoreboard is so good, it’s like watching a huge television,” says John Abbott, interim general manager of Eastlink Centre. “It’s a blank canvas and we’re excited about the possibilities.”
