Txtstation partners with Daktronics

By Giselle Tsirulnik

February 20, 2009

Alltel has also partnered with Txtstation for college football

Txtstation Mobile Marketing is letting sports teams and stadium owners using Daktronics systems use real-time texting and text-to-screen tactics to engage their live audience.

Daktronics is a supplier of electronic scoreboards, computer-programmable displays, digital billboards, large screen video displays and control systems. The company has a lot of penetration with sports teams.

"Basically there are a lot of teams and arena owners that want to interact with the audience but the video boards are usually full of other obligations,"said Michael Falato, vice president of sales and business development at Txtstation, Austin, TX.

The Daktronics integrated display systems will support texting playing an important part in the overall fan experience and will help create a more entertaining atmosphere at venues.

Txtstation has partnered with the NFL's Carolina Panthers. The team engages fans with an Alltel-sponsored interactive text-messaging feature during 2009 home games.

The "Alltel Fan Poll" feature issues a call-to-action to fans with an opinion-based question consisting of two or three options.

Promoted via a broadcast-quality graphic on the video board and a PA announcement, the element encourages fans to take out their mobile phones, vote by sending a text message and view their results as they appear in real time.

The NHL's Phoenix Coyotes use real-time texting features to hockey fans at the Jobing.com Arena. The promotions range from live SMS polling, picture to screen and text to screen.

Txtstation averages anywhere from 3 to 15 percent response rate inside of stadiums and sports arenas.

Txtstation has also worked with CBS for the NFL Today Show on their interactive feature called "Crunch Time." Fans were able to interact with host of the show.

The company is also working CBS College Sports. Txtstation is asking the audience questions having to do with games. Viewers are able to text in their opinions.

"Fans are always eager to have their say,"Mr. Falato said. "Teams and arenas want to engage fans and mobile marketing lets them do so.

"Audiences can get special promotions to their phone teams and sponsors and can use the data to start a specialized text club, discounts for season tickets,"he said. "It benefits the team, the sponsor and the audience.