Cost Is a Fair Question. Here Are a Few More Worth Asking.
“How much will it cost?” is almost always the first question schools ask and it should be. Budgets are real, and we’ve built flexible payment options so cost doesn’t have to be the barrier. But the schools that get the most out of their scoreboard ten years later are the ones who asked a few more questions before signing anything. Here’s what belongs on that list and why each one matters long after the board goes up.
What Your Current Board Is Actually Costing You
Before comparing anything new, get an honest number on what staying put is costing. Pull every service call, invoice, and parts order over the past three years and add them up. For most schools with boards over seven to ten years old, the total is higher than expected.
Beyond maintenance, some costs never appear in a budget line: the advertising revenue an older board cannot support, the signal a deteriorating display sends to recruits and donors, and the risk of a system failing on the night it matters most.
The question to ask: What has this board cost us over the past three years, in repairs and in what it cannot do?
Matching the Right Scoreboard to Your Facility
The right scoreboard depends entirely on your sport, your venue, your sight lines, and how many programs will share it. Outdoor stadiums and indoor gymnasiums have different engineering requirements. Multi-sport configurations need to handle a variety of sports from a single system. The best vendors assess your facility before they propose anything.
The questions to ask: Which sports will use this board? What are the sight line distances? Do we need multi-sport capability? Are there indoor and outdoor needs that could be addressed under one partner?
Service, Warranty, and Support After Installation
The company you buy from becomes the company you call at 6 PM on a Friday if something goes dark. Ask what support looks like after the install, what the warranty actually covers, and whether there is proactive monitoring or just a generic support line.
Digital Scoreboards provides support seven days a week, 365 days a year. Every outdoor installation is backed by an 11-year parts warranty, 1-year labor warranty with the option of an extended warranty coverage, significantly longer than the industry standard of three to five years. A live diagnostics monitoring system watches every display around the clock for LED module health, power supply status, data communications, and connectivity.
The questions to ask: Who do we call if something happens? What does the warranty cover? Is there proactive monitoring?
Revenue and Community Impact
Modern LED scoreboards support video playback, animated graphics, sponsor recognition, emergency notifications, and multi-sport configurations. For qualifying schools, local advertising revenue managed through DS Media can offset the cost of the installation entirely.
“We, superintendents, have to change our thinking. We realized that we need to monetize this thing. How can we generate additional revenue without asking our local taxpayers to pay more? If it pays for the scoreboard in a couple of years, now the district’s generating $500,000 a year in revenue. So, it’s a win-win for the partnership, for the community, and the district.”
The question to ask: Do we want a scoreboard, or a platform that generates revenue, serves the community, and pays for itself?
DS Education and CTE Integration
K-12 CTE enrollment grew 10% between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, reaching 8.6 million students nationally (U.S. Department of Education). DS Education is an 8-level project-based curriculum built around the school’s own scoreboard as a studio. Students learn video production, graphic design, sports journalism, broadcast operations, and digital marketing, aligned to CTE career pathway standards.
The question to ask: Is there a curriculum program tied to this installation that connects to our CTE goals?
Results From Schools Like Yours
The proof isn’t just on our website. It’s in the stands, the classroom, and the budget meeting where a superintendent explains to the board why the scoreboard paid for itself.
Springdale School District went from a facility upgrade to five Emmy wins in two years, driven entirely by students using the board as a production studio. The district now generates $500,000 a year in revenue without asking a single taxpayer for more. And their superintendent will tell you the decision wasn’t just financial. It changed how the entire district thinks about what a scoreboard can be.
The Replacement Process, Start to Finish
A vendor worth working with walks you through the full process before you commit. Digital Scoreboards has completed more than 1,200 scoreboard installations nationwide since 2014. Every engagement starts with a facility assessment and a solution built around your programs, your community, and your goals. Nothing gets proposed until that work is done.
Frequently Asked Questions
What questions should I ask a school scoreboard company?
Ask about warranty length and whether labor is included, what post-installation support looks like, whether there is proactive monitoring, and whether there is a curriculum program tied to the installation. Ask for references from schools similar to yours in size and sport.
How long does a school scoreboard replacement take?
The timeline varies based on facility size and scope. Digital Scoreboards manages the full process from assessment through installation with the goal of being game-ready before the season opens.
What is the warranty on a Digital Scoreboards outdoor installation?
An 11-year parts warranty with 1-year onsite labor coverage, significantly longer than the industry standard of three to five years. Every display is monitored 24/7 through a live diagnostics system.
Can a school scoreboard support multiple sports?
Yes, modern LED scoreboards support multi-sport configurations: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and more, from a single system.
What is DS Education?
An 8-level project-based digital media curriculum built around the school’s own scoreboard as a studio. Students learn video production, graphic design, sports journalism, broadcast operations, and digital marketing. Aligned to CTE standards. Available to schools with a Digital Scoreboards installation.
Can a school scoreboard generate revenue?
Yes, modern LED scoreboards support digital advertising. DS Media manages the full sponsorship program for qualifying schools. For those that qualify, advertising income can offset the installation cost entirely.
Do I need a capital budget to replace a school scoreboard?
No, Digital Scoreboards offers equipment financing with terms from 1 to 7 years. Qualifying schools can also access a community sponsorship model where local advertising revenue covers the installation at zero upfront cost.
How do I start the process?
Start with a conversation about your facility, your programs, and your goals. Digital Scoreboards assesses your current setup and designs a solution before anything is proposed.
The right scoreboard decision starts with the right conversation.
More than 1,200 scoreboard installations. A process built to get yours right. The conversation is free and there is no obligation until you are ready.