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Committee backs advertising plan and backup scoreboard to erase Warriors Stadium shortfall
Summary
District staff told the facilities committee advertising on stadium scoreboards — plus a proposed $74,000 backup scoreboard — could eliminate a roughly $100,000 fundraising shortfall left from the original turf project; the committee voted to proceed with the concept and will seek board approval.
At a Waunakee Community School District facility committee meeting, district staff presented a plan to sell advertising panels and install a backup scoreboard at Warriors Stadium to eliminate a projected fundraising shortfall from the original turf project; the committee approved a motion to proceed with the concept.
The proposal, outlined by Steve Summers (staff member), said the district has already reduced the stadium-related debt from “over $800,000” to about $146,000, but that unpaid pledges will likely leave roughly $100,000 that will never be collected. "The funding shortfall can be completely recouped by paid advertising on a combination of the existing board and a proposal to create a backup board with advertising options as well," Summers told the committee.
Administration recommended adding a backup scoreboard at the west end of the field with an estimated price of $74,000. Summers said the second board would be operable for regular use and could serve as the primary board if the main Daktronics board fails during an event. "If we did have the mechanical issue on the main board, it would then function as the main board," he said.
To fund the board and erase the deficit, staff proposed reselling sponsorship panels on the existing video board (two original donors no longer operate) and offering new panels on both the existing and the proposed new board. Staff cited proposed sponsor rates of $7,500 per year for video-board spots with a five-year commitment and $2,500 per year for fixed panel spots with five-year commitments. Summers said projected revenues from those sponsorships could both cover the shortfall and build a positive balance for future large repairs or replacement.
The administration recommended that any advertising revenue used to repair or sustain stadium assets be returned to the district — not to Warrior Media or booster clubs — so proceeds would offset the original stadium debt. Summers told the committee: "The advertising options would need to go back to the district to first of all, cover the projected deficit. And secondly to build a positive balance." He also noted that some existing fence and bleacher advertising proceeds currently go directly to booster clubs.
A committee member moved to proceed with administration’s concept and the group approved the motion by voice vote. Summers said administrators would add the $74,000 estimate to the Warriors Stadium expense spreadsheet and pursue the sponsorship approach, subject to full board approval.
Next steps: administration will refine the sponsorship and advertising language, coordinate with Warrior Media and booster organizations to clarify fund flows, and bring the matter to the school board for formal approval if the full board is required to authorize the expenditure or the sponsorship program.
