MSU plans to build largest video board in college baseball

STARKVILLE - Mississippi State expects to take its first major step in the renovation of Dudy Noble Field next week. The university announced Thursday that construction on a 2,592-square foot video board is set to begin.

The board would be the biggest in college baseball and would also be larger than jumbotrons at three Major League Baseball stadiums (Baltimore, Colorado, Tampa Bay).

The video board is expected to measure 43.2 feet tall by 60 feet wide. MSU’s current video board is 20x36 or 720 square feet.

"The new video board is an exciting first step in our ambitious baseball stadium project,” athletic director Scott Stricklin said in a statement. "Completing it in time for the 2017 season gets that part of the renovation in place and will allow workers to move quickly on substantial construction once the upcoming season is complete."

The video board is part of a $55 million renovation to Dudy Noble Field that is scheduled to break ground at the end of the 2017 season. The original plan called for a $40 million renovation with a timetable of almost two years. 

"I am extremely excited for this project and what it will do to continue to elevate the Dudy Noble Field experience," coach John Cohen said in a statement. "This is the first part of a project that will set our facility apart from the rest of the country and I can't wait to see the progress on it moving forward."

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.