Surrounded by scenic views, Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Washington, is less than one hour from the border between the United States and Canada. With a population of nearly 16,000, the growing town is bustling with activities, but one thing is sure: everyone rallies around the Golden Eagles. Ferndale High School is filled with pride, as seen by the attendance at a Tuesday night boy’s basketball game on January 28th.
Discovering ScoreVision
After completing their newly constructed state-of-the-art facility in 2024, the original software they had operating on their LED wasn’t providing the experience they felt matched their modern gymnasium. The booster club searched for a way to repurpose the hardware and displays purchased by the district to upgrade their fan experience. One passionate booster club member, Brian Lynch, mentioned ScoreVision and the organization began investigating to determine if the product was the right fit for their school.
Brian first found ScoreVision through a quick Google Search as he was looking for software that wouldn’t require them to replace their new LED displays. He believed ScoreVision met the booster club’s desire for a 21st-century scoreboard that matched their facility's overall look and feel. He approached both the Booster Club and Eric Tripp, the athletic director at Ferndale, to begin purchasing ScoreVision. What he wasn’t expecting was the lasting impression that ScoreVision would extend far beyond the score and ultimately lead them to a better environment for the students and the entire community.
Why ScoreVision Fit Ferndale Best
During the research process, Ferndale looked at other competitors to decide which solution would fit them best. None of those solutions fit what they needed from their system, including integration with their existing shot clocks and a trustworthy cloud-based platform for setting up their seasons, teams, and games. They were also looking for something a bit more interactive and engaging.
While the primary goal of the scoreboards was to meet their needs, the software also introduced an academic component that is now being implemented. At first, Ferndale began offering these skills through its existing video class. Still, Ben Goodwin, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director of Ferndale, believed in a vision to expand student involvement by gearing up a scoreboard media class for students as soon as next fall.
Through this course, the students will drive the experience by creating graphics and videos and discussing how to incorporate ScoreVision into the Golden Eagle game day experience. Ferndale staff passionately believe that getting students involved has led to a deeper connection with the community and better engagement. That passion has ultimately led to their position on students taking ownership of the experience and learning ways to carry it into their career or continue their education.
Ferndale says, “It’s worth it.”
While these goals and achievements are excellent, Ferndale is well aware that time and resources are essential to their success. Developing these programs requires a financial investment and additional staff, but is it worth it?
For Ferndale, the answer has been yes. Joe Lupo mentions, “What ScoreVision provides the booster club is twofold. It allows us to sell advertising, and all the proceeds return to the kids. Secondly, it allows the kids and community to see what can happen with good-quality technology when we use it correctly.” Advertising continues to lead to Ferndale's expansion. Scoreboard Media and Ferndale have joined forces to continue progressing in curating sponsors and managing the media aspect.
Beyond advertising and student engagement, Ferndale also feels its customer support experience is second to none. With Brian’s experience working in an arena, he claims he hasn’t experienced anything like ScoreVision’s support before, and it has been one of the proven qualities that has made their decision worth it.
“My experience with ScoreVision customer support has been amazing. I often refer to them as second to none. I work in an arena where technical support is part of what we do, and I’ve never experienced technical support better than what’s at ScoreVision. I love that when I call in, they say, ‘Hey, Brian. What can we do for you tonight?’ They know who is calling, and I know them.”
—Brian Lynch, Scoreboard Media Director
But even with these amazing testimonies, Ferndale's generosity is a true testament to the community’s transformation. Just last year, the school opened its doors to host a rival school in its gymnasium, and Ferndale supported them with a production that left them in awe. “We offered to provide the same game-day experience for them as we do for ourselves. From coaches to players to fans and their comments, they were blown away. We’ve done that for four of their games,” says Eric Tripp.
While our visit to Ferndale was short, we learned a lot about this powerhouse program. We expect great things to continue as they approach their first anniversary with ScoreVision. While many consider ScoreVision just software, Ferndale’s story highlights that it’s more than the score; for all of us, it’s about community. Learn how ScoreVision can help transform your school by requesting a demo with one of our team members.
