Stadium Boards & Digital Displays
Under Title II of the ADA, which applies to state and local government entities (including many public university and municipal stadiums), the core requirement for billboards, game boards, and scoreboards is Effective Communication.
The law dictates that spectators with disabilities must be able to receive the same information as those without disabilities.
Core Requirements
1. Visual & Digital Content Guidelines:
While the ADA does not specify the exact font size for billboards, it does mandate that digital signage and visual displays be accessible:
- Contrast and Readability: High contrast is required (e.g., light text on a dark background or vice versa). A contrast ratio of at least 70% is often cited as the professional benchmark for legibility.
- Font Choice: Use simple fonts, avoid italics, script, or highly decorative fonts that are difficult to read from a distance.
- Avoid Flashing: To protect fans with photosensitive epilepsy, content should not flash or flicker more than three times per second.
- Information Parity: Any "essential" information shown on the game board—such as the score, time remaining, or player stats—must be made accessible to people with visual impairments through alternative means (like audio play-by-play).
2. Communication for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:
This is the most strictly enforced area for stadium boards. If a stadium uses a public address (PA) system to announce plays, penalties, or emergency info, that same information must be provided visually.
- Captioning (CC): Modern stadiums are generally required to provide Captioned Content. This is often done via:
- Dedicated "ribbon boards" (the long, thin LED displays around the stadium bowl).
- A designated corner of the main scoreboard.
- Handheld devices or mobile apps provided by the venue.
Emergency Information: In the event of an emergency, instructions announced over the PA system must be displayed in text on the game boards/billboards immediately to ensure those who are deaf can evacuate safely.
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3. Physical Placement & Sightlines:
The ADA Standards for Accessible Design focus on ensuring that billboards or game boards don't interfere with the experience of fans in wheelchair-accessible seating:
- Sightlines: Accessible seating must have a "comparable line of sight" to the game boards as the public. If a scoreboard is blocked by a structural pillar for the ADA section but visible to everyone else, it is a violation.
- Protruding Objects: If a game board or informational kiosk is mounted on a wall in a concourse, it cannot protrude more than 4 inches into the walkway if its bottom edge is between 27 and 80 inches above the floor (to prevent it from being a hazard for people with vision impairments).
4. Tactile Requirements (Non-Digital):
For permanent informational "game boards" (like a hall of fame display or a static stadium map):
- Braille and Raised Characters: Must be included if the sign identifies a permanent room or space.
- Finish: Must have a non-glare finish to prevent reflections from stadium lighting.