Huron Valley Electric (HVE) delivered design-build electrical services for the installation of new high-definition scoreboards across three of the University of Michigan’s premier athletic venues: Michigan Stadium, Crisler Arena, and Yost Ice Arena. The project was driven by the need to replace existing scoreboards with state-of-the-art systems to enhance the fan experience amid the evolving landscape of college athletics.
Executed over a single summer, the project transformed the fan experience through fully integrated power and data systems supporting next-generation display technology, including coordination of all power and data cabling required for each scoreboard installation.
Three venues. Three completely different environments. One immovable deadline, opening day. Each installation presented unique constraints, all under an aggressive schedule with no room for delay. With no architect or engineer involved at the project level, the work relied on real-time coordination and design-build problem-solving, with scoreboard manufacturers providing base system design while HVE led integration of power and communications systems.
University of Michigan
2011
Key challenges included:
The work had to happen fast, safely, and without disrupting the venues themselves. HVE led the full electrical scope across all three venues, integrating power and communication systems behind the scenes of high-performance display technology, delivering detailed electrical installation with a high level of technical precision under an aggressive schedule.
At Yost Ice Arena, the team assembled and wired the scoreboard on the arena floor before hoisting it into place, coordinating work within a narrow window between ice removal and reinstatement.
At Michigan Stadium, two massive scoreboards measuring 110 feet wide by 65 feet tall were installed atop 50-foot support columns. HVE coordinated material handling via cranes, lifts, and manual rigging while designing custom internal support systems for electrical equipment within the structures.
At Crisler Arena, installation took place overnight to protect a newly finished basketball court, requiring daily setup, protection, and teardown of the work environment.
With limited predefined design, HVE played a central role in shaping execution.
Key contributions included:
Every solution had to be developed in the field, often under changing conditions.
HVE delivered three complex installations under extreme conditions without compromise.
The systems operate seamlessly, though most of the work remains invisible to the fans they serve. Through extensive behind-the-scenes coordination and integration of power and communications systems, HVE ensured reliable, high-resolution performance across all venues. What fans see is a scoreboard. What Huron Valley Electric built is the infrastructure behind it, powering the experience, carrying the data, and holding everything together under pressure.
