Central City Upgrades to Modern Watchfire Display, Quadrupling Size and Impact

Central City High School in Central City, NE, has a long history of investing in athletic facilities and technology that enhance the student and community experience. When the school’s existing outdoor videoboard began reaching the end of its lifespan after more than a decade of use, leadership knew it was time for an upgrade, not just to replace aging equipment, but to move forward with a modern, football video scoreboard from Watchfire.

“Our old system was 10 years going on 11, and we knew the shelf life wasn’t going to last much longer,” said Jeff Jensen, superintendent of Central City High School. “Once you have a videoboard, you can’t go without having one, so the time was now.”

Central City partnered with Banks Wraps & Signs LLC, a trusted local sign company, to deliver the new solution. Banks Wraps & Signs LLC introduced the school to Watchfire and helped guide the project from bid to installation. “They’ve always provided amazing service,” Jensen said. “We trust them to deliver, and in every way, Watchfire and Banks delivered.”

“I trust the Watchfire product and the people behind it,” said Kegnide Banks, owner of Banks Wraps & Signs LLC. “Their responsiveness and support really stand out, and I’ve built a strong relationship with their team. That’s why Watchfire is the display solution I recommend to my customers.”

The new Watchfire digital display, installed at the south end of the football field, is a full-size outdoor videoboard (10mm, 16’ x 26’). During football and track seasons, it functions as a scoreboard with video playback, while also displaying advertising, giving the school’s 16 primary sponsors maximum exposure during events.

“The visibility is far greater than the previous videoboard, Jensen said. “Our vendors are getting a lot more bang for their buck because the board is so much larger and clearer. The comments have all been positive. We basically quadrupled the size of the old board, and it fits with what our community expects from us. It’s about staying one step ahead, and this has been a really nice continuation of that trend.”

Thanks to Watchfire’s Ignite Sports software, the display has also improved functionality for the football and track teams. During football practices, coaches use the videoboard to demonstrate field position for game planning, making practices more efficient and effective. For track events, the larger display allows athlete names and times to be shown clearly as competitors cross the finish line, something the school’s previous, smaller board could not accommodate.

By upgrading to a Watchfire digital display, Central City High School has strengthened its commitment to innovation, visibility, and staying one step ahead, both on and off the field.