Starting tonight, Iowa State fans will no longer have to put up with missing light bulbs or cheesy graphics of cartoon fans encouraging the home team to play good defense.

That’s because Hilton Coliseum recently installed a new scoreboard system to be used for basketball, volleyball, wrestling and gymnastic events.

The new system offers new state-of-the-art video boards that are capable of displaying real-time game action and replays.

ISU is the first university to feature the new video technology, which offers television-quality pictures and up to 16.7 million colors, said Mark North, executive director of the Iowa State Center.

Athletic Director Gene Smith is excited about the new technology.

“I think our fans will really enjoy how this video board enhances the atmosphere at Hilton Coliseum,” he said. “All this is possible because of our partnership with the Iowa State Center. It’s a great working relationship.”

Smith said, “Hilton itself is one of the premier facilities in the country. The scoreboard only enhances that.”

The four-sided, seven-ton scoreboard will debut tonight for the ISU men’s basketball game against Kansas. Smith said the unveiling for tonight’s big game was purely coincidental, and that the system was originally to be installed over the holiday break.

Smith said the new scoreboard will further the department’s efforts to bring the game closer to the fans. Currently, the basketball games feature various shooting contests and a trivia contest involving the Cyclone faithful.

Smith said that the “interactive” aspect is important in order to keep putting people in the seats.

North set the idea for the video board on the table, and he and Smith went from there to put the plan into action.

The new scoreboard system includes eight auxiliary scoreboards and four message centers mounted around the coliseum. Also added are new shot and game clocks above the hoops.

The main scoreboard, which hangs above center court, measures 18’6″ square by 17′ high. Each video board is 7′ high by 9′ wide.

The $1.25 million scoreboard system will be funded from acknowledgement signage revenues over a five-year period. Once the system is paid off, it is expected to continue generating revenues beyond the life of the system, North added.

The last time the arena’s scoreboard was replaced was in January of 1986.

Smith said that he had previously looked into replacing the scoreboard at Jack Trice Stadium, but that issue has been on hold pending the completion of the Hilton project.