Snead State Elevates Sports Events With Chief Velocity Outdoor Pedestal System

The Challenge

Snead State, a community college in Northeastern Alabama that educates roughly 2,700 students, recently found itself thrown a curveball in its sporting arenas. While the main campus is equipped with digital screens that offer wayfinding as well as event and marketing information, the adjacent baseball and softball fields were disconnected from the college's digital communication network. This created a significant problem: the college found itself unable to effectively sell ads to sponsors or inform guests — many of whom may only be visiting for the game — about other important campus events, services, and programs. “The lack of structure meant that we had no proper locations to mount displays. We were left with the antiquated option of hanging a banner,” said Andrew Higgins, the college’s IT Director. We knew the logistics of installation would be a significant hurdle. The biggest challenge would be running power and data wires from a nearby building to the chosen spot, requiring the navigation of several slabs of concrete and several walkways."

The Solution

To remedy the situation quickly and effectively, the college chose to install the Chief Velocity Outdoor Pedestal System. The system is a modular outdoor digital signage pedestal mount with options for single, double or triple displays. Ideal for menu boards and wayfinding signage, the system supports Samsung and LG 55-inch outdoor displays and can easily accommodate future expansion. The system features a modular design, with easy set up. To make sure the signage had maximum impact and visibility, Higgins and his team placed it in the most strategic location possible: directly between the baseball and softball fields, making it the first thing visitors saw upon arrival. Selecting the Velocity was an ostensibly easy decision.

To address the wiring challenge, Snead State hired a contractor to route the wire under concrete slabs. This option allowed the college to avoid the expense and disruption of having to demolish and then reinstall perfectly serviceable concrete. Once the infrastructure was in place, the team found that installation of the system itself was remarkably easy.

Higgins and his team were able to assemble the entire unit by themselves with no outside help, with Higgins stating: "I was extremely nervous as it’s something neither I nor anyone on my team had ever done before. We were all worried about our ability to put it together. But we literally opened the manual and four hours later it was done — this is completely to the credit of Chief!"

The Velocity product design proved highly beneficial for the IT team. It integrated seamlessly with their existing BrightSign content management system, providing ample space and mounting hardware in the lower pedestal for media players and components. The unit was built for maximum serviceability; its components can be accessed and swapped out in minutes by simply removing a few screws, resulting in what Higgins refers to as "absolutely zero maintenance" aside from rare service needs.

The Impact

The new display, mounted on the Chief Velocity Outdoor Pedestal System, transformed the athletic area into a dynamic communication point and revenue generator, exceeding its initial purpose. The display now broadcasts sponsored advertisements, general campus information, sports marketing for the basketball team, or events like the Scholar's Bowl.

"We use it for our sponsors to give them a platform to display ads,” said Higgins. “But on top of that, we also use it to market a wide variety of announcements on campus. We're able to get information in front of folks that are likely only coming to baseball and softball games, and now we can alert them to everything else we have going on at Snead State.”

Given the frequency of severe storms and tornadoes in the Northeastern Alabama region, the display also serves a vital public safety function. It is tied into the campus weather alert system to provide a visual reference that complements audible warnings, allowing guests to see immediately what type of alert has been issued. Even during small exhibition games, the sign immediately became a focus point, demonstrating high engagement. Higgins observed people, "Huddling up around it — just looking and taking in what's going on around campus."

The location also attracts community members using the nearby walking path, who are observed stopping to engage with the content, confirming the display has become a central information point for the entire community.

The installation of the Chief Velocity Outdoor Pedestal System allowed Snead State to solve a long-standing communication problem with a solution that was professional, highly functional, and remarkably easy for their team to implement and maintain. By closing the information gap and providing a vital public safety tool, the college has turned a curveball of a problem into a home run — a connected hub for the entire community.

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