The Valparaiso University Department of Athletics and Director of Athletics Dr. Charles Small have announced upgrades to the Athletics-Recreation Center arena, which have been completed this summer and will enhance the fan and student-athlete experience alike during the 2023-2024 men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball seasons.

A new four-sided center hung video board display from Daktronics has been installed in the arena. This will provide wider viewing angles and closer viewing distances to enhance the fan experience at home events. New scoreboards and shot clocks have been installed through Daktronics as well. The video board and clocks all integrate together with new technology and high-quality screens.

Summer upgrades to the arena also include new lighting in the arena. The department replaced 84 metal fixtures with new, state-of-the-art LED fixtures. A new lighting-control system will be implemented to add to the gameday experience by allowing dimming, scene selection and scheduling of fixtures. Fans will notice a significantly brighter arena and lighting that pops. Valpo anticipates saving 14,270K watt hours per year, a total savings of $21,405 per year due to the energy savings.

Upgrades to the arena began during the 2022-2023 season when 12 85-inch QLED display screens were added to the arena. The move to digital signage helped the department engage students and fans. Eight screens were mounted on the corners of the arena and four on the wall near the concession area. The arena, track and mezzanine area has been painted. Paired with the new lighting, the paint adds to the energy in the arena. A total of 125 gallons of paint were used during the upgrades.

In total, Valpo Athletics invested $490,000 in the arena upgrades.

Throughout the 2022-2023 fiscal year, over 35 projects were completed to enhance Valpo Athletics facilities and over $1.2 million was invested. In addition to the aforementioned arena project, team rooms were added for volleyball and soccer, a new scoreboard debuted at softball and new lockers were installed in the golf room. In addition, as part of a campus beautification project, new walkways were installed at Brown Field including walkway lights and the parking lot around the ARC and Brown Field was repaved.