From the bottom of the pillars holding the board up to its very top, the scoreboard at Valparaiso High School’s Viking Stadium towers at more than 42 feet high.
While people may marvel at its size, Athletic Director Herb Hofer continues to be impressed with the money the board has brought in after a controversial beginning in 2011.
The expense, at almost $323,000, garnered criticism from the State Board of Accounts at the time because the purchase was made without following state or school district purchasing guidelines.
But since that rocky start, Hofer said the board has done exactly what it was supposed to do — raise money for the high school’s athletic programs.
Since the digital display board went up, it’s brought in $567,585 in advertising revenue and an additional $134,000 from in-kind donations for a total of $701,585.
Hofer, who was assistant athletic director when the board was purchased, stressed that it was purchased with ticket revenue and athletic department funds, and the athletic department “thought outside the box” in finding a way to bring in more money.
“The gates were not meeting what our expenses were,” he said, adding that included costs for uniforms, officials and other needs. “Our reserves were going down. This was a way for us to bring in more income so our reserves would not be depleted.”
While some schools bring in additional revenue by charging athletes a fee to play a sport, Valparaiso didn’t want to do that, Hofer said.
School officials said then that they received conflicting advice about whether the purchase needed to go out for bid, because it wasn’t bought with tax dollars, and while the school board discussed the purchase, it never went up for a vote.
School officials pledged then that all purchases of $50,000 or more, regardless of the fund, would go before the board.
“It’s paid for itself a couple times over and helped kids out, so I think it’s done what they said it’s going to do,” said Superintendent Ric Frataccia.
Some school corporations also charge a fee for student athletes to be transported to events, Frataccia said, another option Valparaiso rejected.
While the board may be most prominent when it’s lit up on a Friday night for a home football game, the revenue from the board benefits more than just that sport.
“This is not a football thing at all. This is all athletic sports. You don’t have to pay to play,” Hofer said, adding while most of the revenue is used for high school teams, some also benefits the middle schools, too.
While students pay a gate fee to attend many school sporting events, that revenue doesn’t always cover expenses, Hofer said, and some sports, such as golf, don’t have the option of charging a gate fee.
Money brought in by the board also provides financial support to students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to play a sport, Frataccia said.
“It’s worked,” he said. “It’s generating $100,000 a year that can be used for your department and it doesn’t come out of school dollars.”
The athletic department depleted its funds to pay for the digital display board in 2011, making for a tight year, Hofer said, but the board generated $92,000 the first year it was up and running.
Additionally, video students from the Porter County Career and Technical Center provide the video for the digital display, which is also offered as live stream online.
Much of the equipment to get that program started was purchased with funds from the board, Hofer said, adding the digital board also is used when graduation ceremonies are held in the stadium.
“It’s the experience they gain,” he said.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
