Does anyone know when the first Jumbotron was installed and used in a sports stadium? Our system in the Louisiana Superdome dates from 1985. Before the Jumbotron (actually, a Mitsubishi DiamondVision screen - Jumbotron is a Sony trademark) we had a ceiling suspended gondola with six screens for rear video projection. This system was installed with the building, circa 1977.
I know there were others before. Anyone know where they were?
Comisky Park in Chicago had DiamondVision in 1981. It was one of the first, but I don’t think the very first. I would imagine some ballpark in Japan was probably first.
I think JumboTron is a brand and therefore my first post may not technically be correct. If you are looking for the first true “JumboTron,” then I think the one in the Toronto SkyDome is it.
http://www.rushweb.net/yyz2k/skydome.htm
If you are looking for the first screen that could play instant replays at a sporting event, I think that Yankee Stadium is it.
The Louisiana Superdome opened, I believe, in 1975 and it had an instant replay screen.
I just was looking at some Sporting News issues from the time it opened and they showed some members of the Miami Dolphins looking up at it during an exhibition game.
So just to clarify, this would predate the video screen which I referred to earlier. The renovated Yankee Stadium, with the instant replay board, opened on April 15, 1976. The Superdome opened on August 3, 1975.
Presently the Superdome video panels are SuperVision brand.
Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium has one. I saw it in the mid to late 1970’s at games.
Cartooniverse
Slight hijack:
When the Yankee Stadium one was being installed I remember reading that they weren’t going to show instant replays on it. They were afraid that an obviously bad call by an umpire would start a riot!