SIDNEY, Neb. — Sidney High School will debut its first-ever football video board Friday night when the Red Raiders host Minden at Weymouth Field, a project school officials say will transform the game day atmosphere.

The $275,000 Daktronics board, located at the south endzone, was funded entirely through the Sidney Raider Athletic Booster Club and private donors, with no school district dollars used. Booster Club President Sarah Kaiser called the project the club’s first big major accomplishment since it launched three years ago.

“If you're going to do it, you might as well go big,” Kaiser said. “The sponsors paid 100% for this board. We were able to get it through private funding. We've had so many community volunteers that have helped on this board to make it come fruition.”

The board’s features include a new speaker system, crowd-interactive games, build-up music for kickoffs, player videos, mic’d-up referees and home-field advantage graphics. Matt McKay, the district’s IT director and video board coordinator, said the board was designed to bring a professional feel to Friday nights.

"This atmosphere is going to be different," McKay said. "I think we're going to bring something to the community they're not used to having. You can stream it or you can come feel it. There's a difference being in a stadium than watching it. You can feel how the game is. The atmosphere is going to be electric and I'm excited for everybody to get to feel that here."

The large video board marks a major upgrade for Raider athletics and community events. Other stadium improvements include easier access to the stands, freshly painted bleachers and hand railings on the stadium concourses. The old scoreboard on the north end of the stadium will still be used during athletic events.

Activities Director Austin Lewis said the addition matches trends across Nebraska.

“Having something like this on a high school field is going to make the atmosphere awesome,” Lewis said. “I think it's going to be a hit. I think the crowd is going to really love it.”

Kaiser added that beyond football, the board could support graduation, track and field, community movie nights and broadcasting students who now gain hands-on experience.

Kickoff against Minden is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday. Fans unable to attend can hear the game on Cheyenne County Country.