Budget is almost always the first question. Here is a straightforward look at how schools actually pay for a new scoreboard.
Financing a School Scoreboard
School scoreboard financing runs 1 to 10 years and draws from the capital budget. The school owns the equipment outright. It can also cover more than the scoreboard itself: Digital Scoreboards has financed packages that include smart boards, classroom equipment, turf, and lights alongside the display. If a school has a broader facility wish list, that conversation is worth having early.
Leasing a School Scoreboard
Leasing a school scoreboard runs 1 to 7 years. Payments come from the operations budget rather than capital, which means a different approval process for many schools and districts. The school does not own the equipment under a lease, but stays within the warranty period and always has access to current equipment.
Revenue Programs Through DS Media
A third path for qualifying schools is offsetting the cost of the scoreboard through local advertising revenue. Through DS Media, schools can generate advertising revenue from local businesses through their display. Three program structures are available depending on how involved the school wants to be:
- School-managed: DS Media builds the program, hands it off to the school to run. School keeps 100% of revenue.
- DS Media-managed: DS Media handles everything. 50/50 revenue split. Minimum 5-year contract term on outright scoreboard purchases.
- Fully managed advertising: A lower revenue-share model where DS Media helps apply advertising income toward paying down the scoreboard. Evaluated school by school.
Availability depends on the school’s market. DS Media assesses each situation individually.
Side by Side
| Financing | Leasing | DS Media Program | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terms | 1–10 years | 1–7 years | Program-dependent |
| Budget source | Capital | Operations | Advertising revenue |
| School owns equipment | Yes | No | Varies by structure |
| Revenue to school | No | No | Yes, structure-dependent |
| Available everywhere | Yes | Yes | Market-dependent |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between financing and leasing a school scoreboard?
Financing runs 1 to 10 years from the capital budget. The school owns the equipment. Leasing runs 1 to 7 years from the operations budget. The school does not own under a lease, but stays in warranty and on current equipment. Because leasing draws from operations rather than capital, the approval process is different at most schools and districts.
Can a school use its operations budget for a scoreboard?
Yes, through leasing. Terms of 1 to 7 years allow payments to come from the operations budget rather than capital, which goes through a different process at most schools and districts.
Do I need a capital budget to get a new scoreboard?
No. Leasing uses the operations budget. Revenue programs through DS Media are also available for qualifying schools, where local advertising income contributes to or covers the cost. The Digital Scoreboards team works through what is available for each school's specific situation.
How can a school generate revenue from a new scoreboard?
Three structures: a school-managed program where the school keeps 100% of revenue, a DS Media-managed program with a 50/50 revenue split and minimum 5-year contract term, and a fully managed advertising program where revenue helps pay down the scoreboard. Each is evaluated based on the school's market.
Can Digital Scoreboards finance equipment beyond the scoreboard?
Yes. Digital Scoreboards has financed packages that include smart boards, classroom equipment, new buildings, turf, and lights alongside the scoreboard. Schools with broader facility needs can bundle those into a single agreement.
Our team works through the available options with every school before anything is proposed. Curious about what this could look like for your facility?