Tucked away on the service level of the Coors Event Center on the University of Colorado’s Boulder Campus is the headquarters for the CU Athletics scoreboard production team, also known as BuffVision. This state-of-the-art HD control center drives video replays at the Coors Event Center at Folsom Field, located a half-mile away. Denver-based systems integrator Burst Communications was selected as the design/ builder for the WJHW specified video replay system.
This system produces live shows of Buffaloes basketball, football, volleyball, etc., for both the videoboard and Pac-12 Network streams. The project included two new multimillion-dollar Daktronics HD video scoreboards at Folsom Field and was managed by PCL Construction Services.
The goal of the new facility was to build a central video production facility in support of all of the campus’s athletic venues. The infrastructure for this is based on fiber interconnection primarily using Evertz fiber transport products. A major fiber expansion between these venues was required and was managed by the campus IT department.
This project included significant construction on the service level of the Coors Events Center, while other parts of the center were in normal and constant use. Event conflicts and construction delays are all challenges that Burst has experienced, but by coordination with the GC, other trades and with the facility, substantial completion was on time.
The control room supports multiple venues, connected by fiber. Evertz has a fiber product line that allows any type of signal to be transported. For this build, a combination of analog video, analog audio, intercom, data and HD/ SD video are carried over fiber. Burst designed a fiber patching solution for the BuffVision staff that separates it from campus IT facilities. This created a demark that allowed BuffVision staff to change fiber patches on its own.
Evertz was selected for the core systems and fiber infrastructure due to its reliability, cost effectiveness, product integration and design approach. The X-LINK interconnection between the Evertz Xenon routing switcher and its multiviewer simplifies installation and allows any source in the switcher to be available on any of four multiviewers. Evertz’s MAGNUM controls the core system, and it allows operators to manage all broadcast chain components from one control point.
The multiviewers drive four displays, including two large LCD displays used by the director, producer and TD for the main show. A second set of large LCD displays is used by replay and is available for a second TD at a second production switcher control panel. This second position is planned for occasions when events overlap to produce a second show or feed a separate main show cut to the Pac-12 Network broadcast or stream.
Other key products selected for versatility, reliability, ease of interfacing and operational ease: a Riedel dual matrix intercom system, a Ross Vision production switcher with two control panels and Ross XPression character generator, Ross BlackStorm video server and two Tightrope ZEPLAY slo-mo systems.