08.08.2008 — Lord’s Cricket Ground in St. John Wood, London, is known as the “home of cricket.” It’s like Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field all in one.

So when the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) decided to invest in state-of-the-art scoreboards at its world-famous cricket ground (known colloquially as “Lord’s”), the equipment was not chosen “lightly.”

With more residential integrators than ever turning to commercial work, jobs like this high-profile one can go a long way in enhancing a reputation.

But the equipment choices are different. For example, commercial-grade video stands must be used due to the immense weight of large screens, and copper cable often has to be changed to fiber due to the long, outdoor runs.

Dealers need to understand these types of design challenges before trying to undertake commercial jobs, especially when installing the world's largest chandelier.

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MCC engaged Gardiner and Theobald, a worldwide construction management firm, as project managers to put out a tender for a full design and build contract.

Lighthouse Technologies, a manufacturer of commercial LED modular video panels, got the job after an on-site “shoot out” with six companies.

The installation company was EDS, which designed and built the screen housings, installed and integrated the displays. The contract includes a complete control system from AMX.

The “home of cricket” custodians are constantly working to maintain high standards. So when the scoreboards became tatty and dated, the powers-that-be felt it was time to replace them with the latest in information technology.

“We had two scoreboards that had been there for some time and the 16,000 light bulbs of which they consisted needed constant replacement,” explains Steve Jones, IT manager at MCC.

“We also had a temporary video screen which was brought in for major matches. So when we decided to replace the two scoreboards, the decision was made to add a third and set them all up to be capable of showing video.

“It has been a sizable investment,” he admits, “but it’s part of an on-going policy of upgrading our facility to ensure that Lord’s continues to be the best cricket ground in the world.”

“When we first displayed white text on a black background, which is how a traditional scoreboard would look, the Lighthouse screens provided more contrast than those of its competitors,” says Jones.

“They provided better display quality when used as scoreboards and for showing video. This was the major consideration in awarding the contract to Lighthouse Technologies.”

Stands Create Design Challenges

Lighthouse was responsible for the entire project and it subcontracted the installation to EDS. The 11 x 6-meter (36 x 19 feet) screens are used to produce sharp information and clear replay images. AMX developed an integrated content management system for all three screens.

“This was a significant undertaking for Lighthouse and we have gained a vast amount of experience from our main contractor status,” reveals Graham Filmer, Lord’s project manager for Lighthouse.

“But we were wholly confident in our ability to remove the two old scoreboards and their support structures, install a new 20 meter-high mast, and to supply the three screens,” one for each grandstand named Allen, Compton and Edrich.

With a strict deadline to adhere to (the cricket season waits for no one), Lighthouse ran into a challenge that nobody could have foreseen.