It was a blast from the past during an invite-only lunch Tuesday at the Pepsi Center when my Internet marketing guru and man about town Bradley Joseph accompanied me to the unveiling of the new Pepsi Vision scoreboard at (where else?) the Pepsi Center.
Before the unveiling, a boffo buffet lunch was served and I had a deja vu moment walking down memory lane with Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic and famed former goalie and new Avalanche Coach Patrick Roy.
I covered those two during the hey days when I was working with my sidekick Dahlia Weinstein at The Rocky Mountain News. Those were the days, my friends, we thought they’d never end, but we were naïve.
It was good to catch up with my former Avalanche heroes, and I had the chance to tell Roy that he was and is my son’s sports hero.
Here are the facts about the new Pepsi Vision scoreboard, which is beyond impressive:
* Largest surface area of any scoreboard in the NBA or NHL (more than 4,400 square feet)
* 27 x 48 feet lengthwise with 21 x 25 feet end screens
* Screen spans blue line to blue line in hockey and 3-point line to 3-point line in basketball
* Daktronics “black” package
* Full 1080p HD capabilities with no image distortion
* More than 8 million LEDs
* Weighs more than 70,000 pounds
* Installed over Summer 2013 without disrupting arena event schedule
* Almost eight times more video display viewing area than the old scorebaord
* More than 2 million cans of 12-ounce Pepsis could fit inside
* Three levels of catwalks for service
* Built in Brookings, S.D.
The new Pepsi Vision scoreboard in Pepsi Center, home of the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets. (Pepsi Center photo)
New sports sheriff
Ken Chin has been hired as the first executive director of the newly aligned Metro Denver Sports Commission (MDSC; now Denver Sports), which is now part of Visit Denver. Chin comes to Denver with nearly 20 years of experience in sports business marketing.
Most recently, he served as vice president, business development and events, for the Atlanta Sports Council (ASC), the sports division of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. In that position, he was part of the senior team that launched the first Chick-fil-A Bowl Alma Mater, a made-for-television, celebrity-amateur golf event.
Chin also played a leading event role with ESPN College GameDay’s first appearance at the inaugural Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game (Alabama vs. Clemson) in 2008. He oversaw production for the ASC’s Atlanta Sports Awards show from 2007-2013 and for the Naismith Awards hospitality events held in Atlanta during the 2013 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
“Ken Chin brings the perfect mix of experience in both managing major sports events, and in recruiting and creating these types of events for city destinations,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver. “We were particularly pleased with his experience in creating partnerships and outreach that involve an entire community in bringing major sporting events to the region.”
Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, and one of Denver’s biggest sports fans, helped create the alignment between Visit Denver and the Metro Denver Sports Commission that resulted in Denver Sports. “Denver is one of the great sports cities of America. In Ken, we have a phenomenal individual to lead Denver Sports and help bring major new sporting events to our region,” Mayor Hancock said. “The city looks forward to working with Ken and the Visit Denver team on the future of Denver Metro sporting events. Together, the future is bright for stimulating the regional economy and strengthening our national and international recognition.”
Chin said he was delighted to be joining a successful team in The Mile High City. “Denver already has an outstanding reputation as Sports City U.S.A. and does an outstanding job hosting world-class sporting events. I look forward to working with Mayor Hancock, the Denver Sports Advisory Board and the Visit Denver team, to help elevate Denver’s sports image and bring even more world-class sports events to this area.
This girl’s got game
From my cancer surviving pal Cindy Atherton: “We’ve chatted about this already but I’m just getting to your column where you mention it. The logo that was created for the floods last week, the big “C” with the umbrella in the shape of a heart, is 10 times more creative! Although I wish it didn’t have to be created.”
A reader’s option for a new Colorado logo.
Winner winner
Lois Saul was the most recent winner in the subscription sweepstakes for two tickets to the “Clean Guys of Comedy” performance coming up. Thanks Lois, for subscribing, you rock. Pass it on for your peeps to subscribe to www.blacktie-colorado.com/pennyparker. We will be giving away many valuable prizes!
Eavesdropping on a man at the Pepsi Center unveiling of the new electronic signage: “Wow, that sign is bigger than my townhouse, plus my neighbor’s townhouse.”
Did you hear that I have a new column, “Mile High Life,” in Colorado Community Media’s 17 weekly newspapers circling Denver? Be sure to like my Facebook page! Also, here’s where you go to get my column emailed to you Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My email: penny@blacktie-llc.com. Want to advertise your business here? Contact Trisha at trilind@hotmail.com.
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