New State-Of-The-Art Scoreboard In Doubt

It looks like Jay Jacobs spoke too soon. Last week Jacobs said that it was all but a done deal that Jordan-Hare Stadium would have a new scoreboard in the north end-zone next season. Then the bill came in.

What was expected to cost $600,000 to install has now ballooned to more than $1.2 million. Jacobs says it's not out of the question but improbable at this point.

The story below is from the Huntsville Times...

AUBURN - Jay Jacobs thought the deal was all but done.
All that remained for a state-of-the-art video board to be erected at north end zone at Jordan-Hare Stadium in time for next season was verification that the infrastructure would support it, Jacobs told The Huntsville Times in an interview last week.

But things changed quickly.

The Auburn athletics director said Sunday the original estimate was that the video board could be installed for some $600,000. He got the word late last week that the board would instead probably cost $1.2 million-$1.4 million.

"I'm not saying it's out of the question, but I don't think it's likely now," Jacobs said.

Instead, Jacobs said, he will look at installing a new scoreboard in the north end zone. The decision has already been made to install a video board on the face of the upper deck on the east side of the stadium in time for next season. The board will display real time statistics, scores from other games and other information.

With a $28 million renovation of the concourses, restrooms and concession stands under way, Jacobs said steady improvements at Jordan-Hare Stadium are necessary.

"We are going to try to do something every year to enhance the game day experience for our fans," Jacobs said. "That's something we feel like we need to do."

Schedule Almost Set...

Final schedule near: Auburn hopes to be ready to announce its 2006 football schedule within the next week.

Southeastern Conference approval of moving the game against LSU, originally scheduled for Oct. 21, to Sept. 16 is expected to be a formality, but two questions remain.

Will Auburn play Temple on Sept. 23? Will a visit to South Carolina, scheduled for Sept. 30, be moved to Thursday, Sept. 28?
Auburn is working closely with the Mid-American Conference, which Temple is scheduled to join.

If Auburn does not play Temple, it is expected to play another Mid-American Conference team and would have a short week to prepare for the visit to South Carolina if the game is moved to Thursday.

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