I don’t mind them, but I would think that since TV presence is probably the main benefit of such ads, why they don’t just use digital means to leave the boards blank (or shaded a particular color), and let the TV crew insert a digital ad like they do in baseball and football.

Posted by Forechecker from Nolensville, TN on 10/30/08 at 02:05 PM ET

Interesting, but wondering how well it will work, and how far the future might take it.

Yes, they are protected, but all electronics fail. Will a Kronwall hip-check ever decimate one of these? What reimbursement would the advertiser receive for lost ad appearance time?

How will they look on tv? Will we ever get that effect common on tv news reports where you can see the refresh line of a PC scrolling up the screen? Is there any chance that the brightness or change of the ads could distract not only the fans, but the players? I would hope the changes would only occur during stops in play. Yes, current rolling-banner types occur during play, but what if you go from a dark ad to a sudden flash of light? What if we allow animated ads there?

How far might this go? Could we ever see green-screen boards, where television broadcasters pay for the right to superimpose their own ads there, or the team or the League instills its own ones? So long as we never see players looking like UFC fighters or Nascar drivers, in all their advertisement-laden glory.

Posted by SENShobo from Waterloo, ON on 10/30/08 at 02:09 PM ET

You mean like the UFC fighters with “Condomdepot” on the butt?

I don’t like them, I think they’re annoying. But at the same time, if the teams can make more money which would lead to higher revenues without having to raise ticket prices, I’m all for it.

Posted by Kevin from Pittsburgh on 10/30/08 at 02:13 PM ET

I find them a bit distracting with the extra brightness.  I wonder how the players like dealing with them. I’d imagine the fans sitting behind the boards get their own personal space heater too.

I was also thinking the same as Forechecker, that any advertising could be added digitally for TV similar to MLB.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 10/30/08 at 02:18 PM ET

sens have one and it looks stupid when the lights are out for the pre-game stuff

Posted by bcrt on 10/30/08 at 02:27 PM ET

Caps have two of these boards.  One is already not working. 

Posted by Keith from Washington, DC on 10/30/08 at 02:44 PM ET

“Caps have two of these boards.  One is already not working.”

I was just thinking about that… ICG says they’re very durable—and they should know—but personally, I can’t get my head around them being all that functional after a few well-placed Milan Lucic body checks into their glass facing.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 10/30/08 at 02:48 PM ET

They don’t tum them off in the pre-game? I hate them even more now. The only time I like ads like that are in the English Premier League, where it doesn’t really detract from the action on the field. On ice? That’s awfully distracting in my opinion.

Posted by Wild Wing from Orange County, CA on 10/30/08 at 04:50 PM ET

If they said KuklasKorner.com, I would really like them!

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 10/30/08 at 06:59 PM ET

I’ve got bad news for you, Kevin; they’ll try to maximize ticket revenue no matter what they do with advertising, and with attendance rates around the league generally high, you’ll see price increases continue in most markets…

Posted by Forechecker from Nolensville, TN on 10/30/08 at 07:31 PM ET

Well, I’m glad the majority of the comments here are against these digital dasher boards.  I for one hate them…

And I hope I am not the only one who thinks these “glowing atrocities” are destroying the game we love so much!!?  My initial reaction is to take a sledgehammer to these eye soars, but I want to approach their removal with more love and respect for the game than these “glowing scars” obviously disregarded when they first made their appearance on the ice.

I understand the need for advertising and revenue generating tactics for both the sport and the players, but this? digital dasher boards?  Come on people!!!  We can do better, and I would take most of the suggestions offered in this blog over these digital dasher boards.

Digital dasher boards, to me, are not solutions for some apparent “problem” or need that necessitated their existence for this sport; they are a poorly conceived commodity that is doing a disservice to this sport…

I hope my sentiments find some resonance in the hockey community!
   
All hail Lord Stanley!  (unless someone decides to put flashing leds on it, in which case I’ll say “rest in peace grand ol’ hockey!”)

Posted by Justin from Denver CO on 11/03/08 at 10:09 PM ET

I am in the market for a 22-24” monitor for my computer. I will use it for web surfing, photo editing, and the occasional watching of videos via YouTube. Is it worth the investment to get a HD or HDTV monitor? What benefits does it offer that a regular LCD does not?
home theater price

Posted by home theater price on 12/14/09 at 07:05 AM ET

Digital Dasher Boards? Well, I imagine I have one at home, and I went to use it for watching “American Pie 7” movie…......

Nice info guys, thx

Posted by Space from Indonesia on 12/20/09 at 06:40 AM ET