Gnats Plan Stadium Upgrades

Posted Thursday, January 11, 2007

The Sand Gnats released plans for upgrades to Historic Grayson Stadium for the 2007 season at a press conference on Jan. 16. Highlighting the renovations is a new scoreboard. The scoreboard, which will feature a video board measuring nearly 300 square feet, is to be constructed and installed by Texas Star Sports. It will replace the current scoreboard which was installed for the 1984 season.

Another big announcement at the press conference was that the Sand Gnats will be featured on the cover of the ATT&T Real Yellow Pages Companion Directory for the entire 2007 calendar year. ATT&T representative Carolyn Ward joined Sand Gnats owner John Simmons for the unveiling.

Other improvements Sand Gnats fans can expect to see for the 2007 season will be a brand new sound system, new field lights and the demolition of the left field bleachers. The bleachers have been condemned by the city, and have not seated fans in years.

The scoreboard will measure 45 feet high and 63 feet wide. In addition to the video board, the scoreboard will feature an analog clock along with digital readings of temperature and pitch speed. The brick outlined scoreboard includes six advertising panels. Balls, strikes and the line score will be located on the scoreboard at field level.

The Sand Gnats open the season on April 5 at home with a 7:05 Thirsty Thursday game against the Asheville Tourists. Tickets and a complete schedule are available at www.sandgnats.com.