Toadvine Blog

Did you know that Toadvine Enterprises can help you customize your scoreboard? We can help you piece together a scoreboard that is right for you based on your budget. And now is a great time to start thinking about a new scoreboard for your facility. We are running a special on scoreboards: buy two indoor scoreboards and receive a free indoor school name sign. This offer is valid through November 16.

Here are some trends we're seeing in the scoreboard arena: 

• Many facilities are adding protective nets and screens. It may not happen often, but an object can strike the scoreboard causing damage to the lighting or the overall functionality. Putting up a net or screen in front of your scoreboard is a simple measure many are taking to protect their investment.
• Electronic team names are becoming very popular, especially for facilities that host tournaments where it may be confusing who the home and guest teams are. 
• Custom caption plates are another way to differentiate which team is which. You can have caption plates made that are easily removed from the scoreboard and can be rearranged for every game. It is a simple change out.
• Nevco has created cable switcher systems that allow score keepers to score multiple games at the same time. Suppose you have two or three basketball games or volleyball matches happening simultaneously. Now you have a system that will let you access many score boards at the same time. This system is for wired systems only and are ideal for larger facilities with multiple courts.

For more information about Toadvine's scoreboard special, contact us today.

Are your bleachers and stadium seating up to code? There are new requirements for bleacher safety, and any facility with bleachers and public seating (indoor or outdoor), must be inspected annually. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends the following bleacher safety guidelines: 

• Provide routine inspection and maintenance, at least twice a year, in accordance with the bleacher's owner's manual.
• Use only trained personnel to open and close bleachers following instructions provided in the owner's manual. DO NOT ALLOW STUDENTS OR UNTRAINED PERSONNEL TO OPERATE BLEACHERS.
• Install bleacher guard rails as a safety precaution and as an indication that the bleachers are fully extended.
• A licensed professional engineer, registered architect, or company that is qualified to provide bleacher products and services should inspect the bleachers and provide a written certification that the bleachers are fit for use.
• The option of replacing bleachers as opposed to retrofitting should be considered.

Toadvine Enterprises and Vine & Branch introduce a maintenance and safety inspection program for all of your indoor and outdoor seating and equipment. Vine & Branch is fully staffed with manufacturer-certified service technicians to ensure the safety of your seating. If you have not complied with your states regulations, you run the risk of having your facility closed. 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) also requires that all outdoor grandstands and folding or telescoping seating be inspected annually by an engineer, registered architect, or manufacturer-certified inspector. It just makes sense to have your equipment inspected by someone who is an expert of that equipment. Call us today to schedule an inspection of your bleachers. (502) 241-6010

Testing your scoreboard before the start of the season is critical. No one wants to show up on game day to realize that there are issues with their scoreboard. Test it now so you can get a jump on any possible repairs or maintenance issues. Here are a few tips that can help you extend the life of your scoreboard and scoreboard accessories:

ALWAYS:

• Turn off the power to the scoreboard and controller after use. 
• Disconnect power adapters and cables if you leave the controller in a secured scorer’s position. (prevents lightning strike from damaging other devices)
• Store controllers and radio equipment in a dry place, especially in off-season.
• Protect controllers and radio equipment from becoming wet while in use. 
• Take care to protect cables and power adapters from becoming tangled and out of the way of traffic at the scorer’s stand.
• Always turn off the power or disconnect power cords to any electrical device before servicing. 

Aside from these scoreboard maintenance and safety tips, a lot of schools are also starting to take advantage of the advertising space provided on most scoreboards, maximizing the available real estate. There are a whole host of new and traditional scoreboards from Nevco that create prized advertising space. These advertising spaces can pay for the new equipment and create an increased professional feel to your facility. Check out the gallery of scoreboards from Nevco.  

Contact Toadvine Enterprises for more information about maintenance or safety issues, as well as questions about your scoreboard's ad space. 

Porter has announced its new line of winches that can accommodate your curtain and gymnasium dividers. Tired of the struggle of closing and opening curtains in your facility? These improved winches are the perfect solution. They are easy to use and designed to work with all of Porter's existing control systems. 

The 00709000 is a listed winch that comes with a full 5 year warranty. This winch will be able to span the current range of Porter backstops up to 40' attachment height. This winch has the ability to be raised or lowered manually with a battery-operated drill or socket for install or emergency situations. Porter's goal is to be able to continue to increase its winch line so it can grow the custom engineered product offerings and capabilities. Keep your eyes out for winches that will allow them to design bigger, more unique systems.

Gill Athletics has an entire web page of new products, and one specific product we wanted to highlight is the Ultrak 830 Heat Index. Coaches who are tracking the actual heat index on the field can measure, in real time, if the conditions are safe for the players. This is a great tool and should be a part of every coach's on-field toolbox. With record-setting temperatures this summer, coaches are taking their role seriously to keep players safe. This new tool from Gill Athletics should be a must for every athletic director. 

Additional features of the Ultrak 830 Heat Index:

• Accurately calculates temperature, humidity, heat index, and dew point

• 30 dual split recallable memory

• Measures to 10 hours with 1/100 second resolution

• Presettable countdown timer with auto repeat function

• Time, calendar, and alarm

• LED backlight

• Solar powered with back-up lithium battery

• Water resistant 

• Five-year warranty 

Let us at Toadvine Enterprises know if you'd like more information on either of these new products. 

They are the center of school spirit and pride. They give definition to who your school is and add personality and distinction to your program. The mascot is one of the most crucial decisions any school has to make. Here is our top list of the most uniques mascots in our region.

Kentucky: The Western Kentucky Hilltopper is always a great conversation starter. How can you make a mascot out of the top of a hill? You make a rounded pyramid and give it eyes and a mouth. Big Red, as he is affectionately referred, is always ranking high on the national scene as a favorite, and although he doesn't strike fear in his opponents, he holds a special place in our hearts.

Ohio: The Dayton Flyers is a very unique mascot. He has a moon boots, a flight suit, and flying goggles and leather helmet—but there is no plane. He ranks high for originality and his full teeth grimace can help the crowd get behind their team with intensity. Akron has Zippy the Kangaroo, and just like Big Red, he does not strike fear into his opponents... but he is unique and fun. Having a mascot that people enjoy can be a real advantage.

Tennessee: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders gets honorable mention. With a lightning bolt for a tail and bright white wings, their mascot certainly stands out in a crowd. "Lightening" as he is referred to, eludes to the schools aerospace programs and also points to the region's history of breeding walking horses. East Tennessee State has a Buccaneer as their mascot. Buccaneers are not all that uncommon as mascots. We found it interesting that most schools that have a buccaneer as a mascot are usually located on the water. "Bucky the Pirate" is his name and he has a parrot named Pepper. Say that 10 times fast. 

Indiana: Purdue has the Boilermakers as "Purdue Pete." What is a Boilermaker you ask? A Boilermaker is someone who makes boilers or a metalworker in heavy industry. And according to Wikipedia, (LINK) The nickname Boilermakers goes back to 1891 when the Purdue football team defeated nearby rival Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana 44–0. 

Mascots have become even more popular than some teams. They can have big impacts on a schools' tradition and branding. Many schools revamp their mascot's look every 10-15 years to keep them looking modern. Although some mascots need no improvements because they are simply timeless. Let us know what your favorite mascot is.

In the a new era where college programs are shuffling from conference to conference, why is the SEC conference so strong and stable? Money isn’t the only factor, but in a recent article from OTB, they shared that SEC dominance in football began in 2005-2006 when two schools ranked in the top 10 of revenue generating programs; Florida and Georgia. By 2010 that number grew to five out of the top 10; Florida, LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, and Alabama. OTB reported, “Nine SEC schools generated more money in ’10-11 than the ACC’s No. 1 revenue-producer, Florida State.” That is an impressive stat, however, it doesn’t all come down to revenue.

What about the wins? The Business Insider wrote a few days ago, “The SEC has won six BCS championships in a row. And a look at the USA Today preseason top 25 poll shows us that the coaches don’t think that is going to change anytime soon.”

Football is clearly a strong suit for the SEC conference, but what about the other sports that can fly under the radar? Rant Sports reported, “In the six years since the SEC captured its first BCS National Title, the conference has won 33 national titles. As a matter of fact, the SEC has won titles in every sport offered by the NCAA – except volleyball.” Thirty-three is an awfully large number of national championships.

Why are they so dominant? They have recruited some amazing talent in every sport and have some tremendous coaches. That is certainly a huge factor. How do they do they acquire such tremendous coaches? That is where the conversation comes full circle and we talk about money again. A key to the SEC’s success is their ability to leverage TV and viewership. The SEC was able to generate $1,066,935,731 in a annual revenue. That is number one in college sports conferences. We know championships are won and not bought, but we know Calipari didn’t go to Kentucky because he liked the food better than Memphis. The key to any program, at any level, is to develop new ways to generate more revenue to hire the best coaches who can recruit the best talent and retain them.

Your facilities need to be improving, your programs need to be improving, and you can not stay where you are or you will be left with more of the same.

Iroquois Amphitheater is a beautiful venue for wide variety of events. Some of their upcoming events speak to the diversity of the talent and entertainment they offer our city. They have U of L dance theater coming up for multiple performances followed by rock and roll bands like Umphrey’s Magee and Edward Sharp and The Magnetic Zeros. They have events for the whole family like movie nights. The price is right for the upcoming movie night on September 8 featuring The Zookeeper starring Kevin James. The cost is free, and what a great way to spend the evening with the whole family.

Toadvine Enterprises was contracted for the seating project for the Iroquois Amphitheater and there are 2,366 seats in all. The exterior seats are a comfortable way to enjoy this beautiful outdoor venue and all the variety of entertainment they offer.

The Iroquois Amphitheater origins were a result of the Works Progress Administration and was originally built in the spring of 1938. Their website recalls, “After the 2000 performance season, Metro Parks began an ambitious project to modernize the facility while preserving the Amphitheater’s historic features and unique character.” Toadvine Enterprises was proud to participate in the renovation process of this wonderful facility. Since the renovation, they have grown in the scope of their entertainment offerings and have reestablished themselves as one of the favorite local entertainment venues in Louisville.

If you have not visited Iroquois Amphitheater, it should be added to your short list of places to visit in Louisville. You will not be disappointed. Here are a few things they have coming up through September. Check their website for dates and times.

• Gilbert & Sullivan’s “HMS Pinafore”
• U of L Dance Theater
• Movie Night: “The Zookeeper”
• Umphrey’s McGee
• Derby City Brass Band
• Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
• The Dark Side of the Wall

image courtesty of Iroquois Amphitheater 

Look at the high school sports programs that attract the best talent around the country. What do 99% of them have in common? Answer: a great sports facility. There is much more to a great sports facility than just attracting great talent. An overlooked benefit is your program’s ability to keep the most talented athletes in your community. Parents of the most talented middle school athletes often move to districts where their children have the best opportunities for coaching, development, and potentially college recruiting.

When the “top ten” lists come out every preseason for your state, you can guarantee that the programs on those lists have premium facilities. The other factor that may pull some of the top athletes away is not another school, but a “club league” that draws more exposure than even the top-performing high schools. An article from AthleticBusiness.com says, “Popular club sports such as basketball, swimming, volleyball, hockey, and soccer that target players of slightly above-average ability all the way up to elite status may provide stronger competition.” If the competition is higher than that of the state's high schools, that tells you where the college recruiters will look first.

Beyond just adding to your facility with the latest and best products, what can be done to help retain talent? Dialoguing with your community well, and often, about where your program is headed and what the plans are for the near future is a great way of keeping the parents of the younger and older athletes engaged in the programs of their local high school. When the athletic director is a natural leader, and knows how to network, a newsletter is a great way to get people to buy into the dream and the vision. Once you have a base of followers, turn those followers into marketers. Have contests to see who can generate the most Facebook likes for your high school’s sport social page or who can sign up the most subscribers for the newsletter. This does not have to be an overwhelming “to-do” where you send out vision statements every month. Make it simple, and tell people where you are and where you are headed. You may be surprised how far this will get you.

MaxPreps just came out with Kentucky’s top 10 most consistent high school football programs. There are no surprises of who made the list, but who has the programs that will shine in 2012? Impressively, Trinity is ranked #12 preseason for the country. Congratulations to them on that accomplishment.

The top 10 according to MaxPreps.com:

(not all the same divisions)

1. Trinity (Louisville)
2. St. Xavier (Louisville)
3. Highlands (Fort Thomas)
4. Male (Louisville)
5. Bowling Green
6. DuPont Manual (Louisville)
7. Lexington Catholic
8. Covington Catholic (Park Hills)
9. Scott County (Georgetown)
10. Bell County (Pineville)

Our congratulations to these awesome high school athletic programs on making MaxPrep’s top 10 list of most consistent high school football programs in the state. Coming into the 2012 fall season we are excited to see what teams will rise to the top and if there will be any Cinderellas in the mix. What is consistent, across the board, for these top-performing programs is great facilities and equipment. Terrence Mann of Field of Dreams said it best, “If you build they will come.” People will come, and so will the players. The best facilities are strong selling points for attracting the best talent.

As we are entering August, start dreaming about your program and how you can eventually find your name among those on the top 10 lists MaxPrep is putting out. Call us and schedule a time we can show you all the new and exciting products we are carrying.