Is the Dallas Cowboys Stadium Scoreboard Too Low for Punts?

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    Engineering
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the height of the scoreboard at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium and whether it is too low to avoid being struck by punts during games. Participants explore the engineering considerations, average hang times of punts, and the potential for the scoreboard to interfere with gameplay.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the scoreboard's height of 90 feet and calculates that the average hang time for an NFL punt is 4.6 seconds, leading to a theoretical height of 85.2 feet for the ball based on a parabolic trajectory.
  • Another participant agrees with the initial analysis but emphasizes the need to consider the worst-case scenario for punt height, suggesting that the apex of the kick must align with the scoreboard's position.
  • A third participant notes that while the average punt height may be 85 feet, data on the distribution of hang times is necessary to assess the likelihood of punts hitting the scoreboard.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the design, questioning whether a costly scoreboard would be built low enough to be regularly struck by punts.
  • A later reply cites an incident where the scoreboard was hit during the first game played at the stadium, indicating that the concern may be valid.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the likelihood of punts hitting the scoreboard, with some suggesting it is unlikely while others reference an actual incident where it occurred. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the adequacy of the scoreboard's height.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for data on hang time distributions and the importance of considering extreme cases in their analyses. There is an acknowledgment of the limitations in the initial calculations, particularly regarding the assumptions made about trajectory and average values.

Golddredger
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Yesterday I took a tour of the new Dallas Cowboy stadium and it is an engineering marvel. Above the field is a mammoth 4 sided scoreboard/screen, the bottom of which is 90 feet off the playing field. (Its length extends from 20 yard line to 20 yard line)

There is debate as to whether that is too low and may be hit by punts. I’ve read that the average hang time for an NFL punt is 4.6 seconds. To calculate the height I used the following reasoning, does this seem sound?

Discounting aerodynamics, a punted football will follow a parabolic arc, with exactly half it’s time traveling upwards, and the other half downward. That’s 2.3 seconds going up and 2.3 seconds going down.

Using the formula y= (0.5)(32.2 ft/s sq)(time squared). I calculate the average height based on average hang time is 85.2 feet. A hang time of 4.73 seconds and above translates to 90 feet and higher height.

Does this seem correct? I am ignoring velocity/trajectory in the x direction, and only working in the vertical (y) based on time of flight.
 
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Yes your analysis is correct (assuming g is 32.2 ft/s, I'm not american so I don't know what it is in empirical and I'm too lazy to check). Although to actually hit the jumbotron the apex of the kick would have to coincide with right underneath it. Also you shouldn't consider the average punt. You're interested in the pathological case (the worst possible scenario) so basically given the heighest known kick done from the perfect position.
 
It is 32.2 ft/s^2 (I'm American and I had to look that up :smile:)

If the height of an average punt is 85 feet, I think the chances are pretty good that punts will clear 90 feet regularly. You'd need some data on the distribution of hang times to be able to tell for sure, though. I can't imagine that they would actually build a scoreboard which probably costs several million dollars low enough that punts would hit it on a regular basis.
 

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