PCL1 Sacramento River Cats

Partnership Scores Triple Play At Triple-A Ballpark, Raley Field

Published on April 13, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 13, 2010 - Conversations can grow into big visions, such as one that has literally become 800 square-feet of high-definition television technology at West Sacramento's Triple-A baseball park, Raley Field, home of the River Cats.

But that one conversation between three future business partners taking in a River Cats ball game last summer turned into far more than the brand new giant HD Cat Vision screen freshly installed above Raley Field. It also delivered employment opportunities for people with disabilities. At the same time, a local company with a global business found its own opportunity to deliver for the hometown team. And Raley Field can now deliver River Cats baseball fans a visual opportunity that rivals - if not exceeds - anything found in major league ballparks.

The partnership that followed that chance conversation involved River Cats President Alan Ledford, PRIDE Industries Senior Business Development Executive, Jerry Clark and George Pappas, managing partner of D3 LED. Based in the Sacramento suburb of Rancho Cordova, D3 LED manufactures HD screens for marquees from New York City's Times Square and Los Angeles' Sunset Strip to entertainment destinations in Tokyo, Dubai and Hong Kong; but until now, only small signs have been installed in the Sacramento area.

At the same time, Raley Field, home of the River Cats, needed a new video board to replace an aging, smaller screen for contests, promotions, score displays and game action. Meanwhile, enter PRIDE Industries, also based in the Sacramento area, a nonprofit and among the nation's leading employers of people with disabilities. High-tech assembly is one of PRIDE's many specialty areas. D3 had the perfect solution, while Clark quickly identified an ideal way to strengthen PRIDE's job base. And everyone shared a vision to give River Cats fans the ultimate in high-quality HD big screen action.

Raley Field's new 800 square-foot HD Cat Vision screen is 60 percent larger than the one it's replacing and clearly visible on the brightest of days. Weighing approximately 21,000 pounds, D3 LED's Raley Field display features 480 x 992 resolution through nearly a half million pixels, delivering the same HD experience as a 44-inch diagonal living room HD TV - but over a 44-foot display area. Most importantly, its HD quality is literally world class, backed by D3 LED's international reputation.

"Our goal is to provide the best solution to the customer's display requirements - not just sell them a video board. We're very excited to partner with the River Cats to provide the finest display in minor league baseball, and a display that likely rivals major league displays as well," Pappas said.

PRIDE's role in the project was to build and test 500 printed circuit boards used to power the control modules inside the new Cat Vision HD video board, dovetailing into the company's close working relationship with the River Cat's since the team's 2000 inaugural season.

"This partnership showcases our region's rich technical resources and the ability to provide world-class solutions at a local level," said Jerry Clark, senior business development executive at PRIDE Industries. "We're excited to showcase our electronics manufacturing capabilities through this highly visible project while supporting the local economy and creating jobs for people with disabilities."

Lighting up for fans the first time during the April 16 season opener, Cat Vision highlights a variety of major capital improvements for Raley Field, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.

"It's well worth the investment," Ledford said. "We've enjoyed phenomenal support over the years as a family destination. Cat Vision - big as it is - represents just one of countless ways we're working to show appreciation to River Cats fans and to deliver an extraordinary experience to every guest at Raley Field."

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 13, 2010


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