Sports fans will have something new to look forward to at Beaupre Field.
Town Manager Michael Borg and Superintendent Dr. John Antonucci proposed that the town purchase a new scoreboard for the sports field, which is used for a wide variety of games, including football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field.
During a Town Council meeting on Aug.14, Borg said he and Antonucci had discussed replacing the old scoreboard as part of the track renovation project. Borg said the maintenance for keeping the current board running had become expensive due to the rarity of incandescent light bulbs, which are the primary source of light on the board.
“This is not just the sporting aspect, but the communal aspect,” Borg said. “This is about creating a scoreboard that brings us into the 21st century.”
According to a quote from the Town Manager’s office, the scoreboard, lights, components and shipping would cost $298,000, which will come from the $5 million used for the renovations of the sports complex.
Borg said the scoreboard would display the scores of both home and away teams and feature unique animations to keep the crowd invested in the games. Additionally, it will be operated for other events, such as graduation and the Special Olympics.
“Now we can show replays, high school graduates, and a speaker that might visit,” Borg said. “It also provides an academic aspect to it and creates revenue through advertising for the school.”
Council President Justin Pare said he was interested in purchasing a scoreboard, but wanted to see how much maintenance would cost.
“This has to factor into the cost and benefit analysis,” Pare said. “$300,000 is a lot, but if it pays for itself in a few years, it’s probably a solid investment as the high school field is really the ‘flagship’ field/stadium for the town, and the new facility should be a source of pride for our entire community.”
The Town Council voted unanimously to refer the motion to the Finance Committee.
