Guide to Buying Scoreboards

Scoreboards are used for a number of sporting or social applications. Enough options exist in size and display that a customer can purchase a scoreboard that is perfectly tailored to a specific application. However, this also means that care must be exercised to avoid purchasing a scoreboard that doesn’t fit the game environment. Purchasing a better model of scoreboard can lend an elite atmosphere to your league or sports team.

  1. Budgeting

    • Establish exactly how much money you have to purchase a scoreboard before shopping. You can expect to pay around $1,000 for a 6-foot-by-3-foot LED scoreboard. Larger scoreboards can range in the thousands of dollars. For larger budgets, you can purchase scoreboard models with additional features, such as wireless control and sport-specific LED displays.

      Purchase a manual or a portable scoreboard if your budget is less than $1,000. Portable scoreboards are ideal for sports teams without a home playing location. Manual scoreboards are the cheapest option available; some basic models cost less than $50.

    Sport

    • Search for scoreboards that are compatible with the sport that the scoreboard will be used for. Simpler scoreboard designs, often showing the score only, are compatible with many sports. Some sports, such as tennis or baseball, require more specialized statistical displays on the scoreboard. Sports played on a large playing field, such as football or hockey, benefit from a larger electronic scoreboard, whereas larger scoreboard styles are unnecessary for singles sports, like billiards.

    Level of Play

    • Purchase a scoreboard appropriate to the level of play that it will be used for. House leagues or school intramural squads, which are played to smaller audiences, can utilize manual scoreboards effectively. Representatives purchasing a scoreboard on behalf of a collegiate institution or a professional team can contact scoreboard manufacturers for a scoreboard constructed to customized specifications. Often, the level of play directly influences a program’s scoreboard budget.

    League Accreditation

    • If necessary, ensure that your scoreboard model carries the proper league accreditation. The league in which your sports team plays may have published scoreboard regulations for use in league games. These regulations may be unique or may refer to a similar league’s regulations, often a parent league. Talk to a sales representative prior to purchase if you are unsure whether the scoreboard carries the proper accreditation.

    Game Environment

    • Purchase an electromechanical-display scoreboard for outdoor sports. Electromechanical-display scoreboards use digits printed on boards that are flipped mechanically to indicate a change in score. Printed digit boards utilize brighter colors than LED displays can, making them easier to see in bright outdoor conditions.

      Purchase an LED display scoreboard for indoor sports. LED displays are more visible in indoor low-lighting conditions than electromechanical displays. LED scoreboards are also able to display alphanumeric information, which electromechanical displays cannot do.