Eastlink Centre Boosts Entertainment Value with Video Centerhung from Watchfire

Eastlink Centre is a combined hockey/basketball arena and trade and convention facility located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Constructed in 1991 for the Canada Winter Games, Eastlink Centre is home to the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL and the Charlottetown Power of the ECBL and hosts concerts and other live events throughout the year.

The facility has been undergoing a $2 million renovation including new arena glass, renovated dressing rooms and showers, and upgraded sound and lighting systems. As part of these upgrades, officials decided to replace an aging fixed-digit scoreboard with the island’s first centerhung digital scoreboard.

The new four-sided centerhung display from Watchfire provides fans in the 3,645-seat arena a 360-degree view of scores, live game and replay videos, crowd engagement videos, animations, and advertisements.

“The resolution on the scoreboard is so good, it’s like watching a huge television,” said John Abbott, interim general manager of Eastlink Centre.

Fans in the arena are thrilled with the new addition and love to see themselves on the centerhung, according to Abbott. “We’re still learning all the things we can do with the display, and Watchfire reps have been on-site several times to teach us all the capabilities. This display really helps us punch above our weight at Eastlink Centre.”

According to Abbott, the new centerhung is opening up new opportunities for events at the venue, including the ability to host fan viewing events when the Islanders are on the road and streaming other important events. “It’s a blank canvas and we’re excited about the possibilities,” said Abbott.

The Gemini Group of Companies of Charlottetown submitted the winning bid to design and install the scoreboard and specified Watchfire to manufacture the display after becoming familiar with the company through its experience as a YESCO dealer.

“Watchfire was a natural fit for the project, and we were very happy with the experience and attention the Watchfire team brought to the installation process and beyond,” said Mark Fisher, president of Gemini Group of Companies.

The new centerhung also makes maintenance and repair much easier. Watchfire mounted the new scoreboard using a hoist system, so venue operators can easily lower and raise the display for routine maintenance or repair.