Daktronics is an American company based in

Brookings, South Dakota Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is South Dakota's fourth largest city, with a population of 23,377 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State Un ...

that designs, manufactures, sells, and services video displays, scoreboards, digital billboards, dynamic message signs, sound systems, and related products. Founded in 1968 by two South Dakota State University professors, it grew from a provider of electronic voting systems for state legislatures to suppliers of electronic displays.

History

Daktronics was founded in 1968 by

Al Kurtenbach Aelred J. (Al) Kurtenbach (born January 3, 1934) is an American electrical engineer. He was also briefly member of the South Dakota State Senate in 2004. Kurtenbach is the founder of Daktronics, Inc., based in Brookings, South Dakota. He attended ...

and Duane Sander, professors of electrical engineering at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. The name is a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words In 1980, Daktronics developed scoreboards which were used at 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York In 1984, new manufacturing facility was built. In 1987, unique mobile scoring system for PGA tour developed. * 1992: Daktronics displays used at the

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...

* 1994: Daktronics, Inc. became a publicly traded company, offering shares under the symbol DAKT on the NASDAQ National Market system. * 1996: 80 Daktronics scoreboards and displays used at the

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

* 1997: Daktronics upgrades the “Zipper” sign in Times Square * 1997: The first Prostar large screen video displays were installed * 1999: Indianapolis Motor Speedway installed the first of 18 large Prostar displays * 2000: Daktronics displays in the spotlight at the 2000 Summer Olympics * 2000: Daktronics acquires Keyframe services * 2000: Daktronics establishes an office in Canada * 2001: Daktronics installs its first LED video display in Times Square for TDK Financial Services Firm * 2003: Daktronics establishes an office in Germany * 2004: Largest video board in North America installed at Jacobs Field (now known as Progressive Field) in Cleveland, Ohio by Daktronics * 2004: Daktronics establishes offices in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom In 2005, Daktronics installs multimillion-dollar system in Kuwait stock exchange In the same year, Daktronics acquires Sportsound system designer and manufacturer In the following year, Daktronics acquires Vortek family of products from New York-based rigging company Hoffend and Sons * 2008: Daktronics installs world’s largest high definition LED video display for the Kansas City Royals * 2012: Daktronics establishes an office in Brazil * 2013: Daktronics acquires OPEN Out of Home in Belgium. * 2014: Daktronics installs world's largest HD display for the

Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The team pla ...

at EverBank Field (now TIAA Bank Field). * 2015: Sales surpass $600 million

Products

* LED Video Displays * LED Message Displays * Scoreboards & Timing Systems * Digital Billboards * LED Street Furniture * Digit & Price Displays * ITS Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) * Audio Systems * Automated Rigging & Hoists * Tote/Odd Boards * Space Availability Displays * Software & Controllers

Facilities

Daktronics is headquartered in Brookings, South Dakota, with other facilities in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Redwood Falls, Minnesota; Shanghai, China; and Belgium.

Services

In 2000, Daktronics acquired Keyframe Inc., a video production and consulting company. Today, Daktronics Creative Services designs digital content in HD video, 3D animation and motion graphics, specializing in media networks and large-scale LED displays. The company is also involved in sports marketing.

Notable

Daktronics has been supplying scoreboards and video displays for the

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a vari ...

for several years. However, due to official sponsorships with other timing providers such as IBM,

Omega SA Omega SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaker based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848, the company formerly operated as ''La Generale Watch Co.'' until incorporating the name ''Omega'' in 1903, becoming ...

and Swiss Timing, displays are Daktronics-manufactured but utilize timing and front-facing branding for the former companies. Daktronics has been an influence in

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...

rule changes in the 2000s. The company manufactured the first backboard light strips to comply with buzzer beater

instant replay Instant replay or action replay is a video reproduction of something that recently occurred which was both shot and broadcast live. The video, having already been shown live, is replayed in order for viewers to see again and analyze what had j ...

rulings, and in 2004, developed a see-through shot clock to improve spectator visibility.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Companies listed on the Nasdaq Display technology companies American companies established in 1968 Electronics companies established in 1968 Manufacturing companies based in South Dakota Brookings, South Dakota 1968 establishments in South Dakota 1994 initial public offerings