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Description area
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History
Daktronics, Inc. was founded on December 9, 1968, with an initial investment of $200,000 by South Dakota State University electrical engineering professors Dr. Aelred Kurtenbach and Dr. Duane Sander. The company was established to provide employment opportunities for SDSU graduates, reducing the need for outmigration in search of permanent work. Originally focused on biomedical instrumentation, Daktronics pivoted in 1970 after securing a contract to build an electronic voting system for the Utah Legislature—technology later adopted by over 40 state legislatures and the United Nations.
This early success led to the development of Daktronics’ first scoreboard product in 1971: the three-sided “Matside” wrestling scoreboard. The innovation evolved into the company’s “All Sport” line, now used widely across the United States and internationally. Leveraging solid-state circuitry, Daktronics expanded into time-temperature and animated message displays for banks, schools, civic centers, and commercial venues. These systems ultimately merged into custom scoring and information systems for arenas and stadiums.
Daktronics pioneered several technological advancements, including the “Glow Cube” reflective light system and the “Starburst” incandescent color technology capable of displaying up to 16.7 million colors. The company also integrated LED display systems to enhance visual performance.
By 2006, Daktronics employed 1,400 full-time and 700 part-time staff, posted $329 million in revenue, and netted $21 million in earnings. It had grown into a global leader in electronic scoreboards, display systems, marketing services, and digital signage for sports, commercial, and transportation applications. High-profile projects included installations for multiple Olympic Games (1980–2002), Times Square, and major retail clients such as Walgreens and CVS.
Daktronics went public in 1994 and by 2006 was one of only four South Dakota-based public companies with over $300 million in annual sales. That year, the company expanded operations by opening a 100,000-square-foot plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. More than half of its workforce were SDSU students or alumni, underscoring the company's continued connection to its academic origins.
Founder Al Kurtenbach reflected, “We established our culture in those early days. We became very customer-oriented… We have a lot of great war stories about what our people do to make sure things work well for our customer when the big moment comes.