Canterbury sports fans attending Jade Stadium from March 1 will have the benefit of a giant video replay screen under a 10-year sponsorship arrangement announced today with Orion New Zealand Limited.

The screen is almost twice as big as screens previously used at the ground. It is 11metres long and 6.4m high and weighs more than 900kg.

It will be sited atop the DB Draught Stand at the south end of the ground on a specially designed steel structure.

The chief executive of Jade Stadium, Bryn McGoldrick said: "The size and positioning of the Orion VRS means virtually all our patrons will enjoy great views of the screen."

Included in the sponsorship are production equipment, cameras and mixing units which means there will be local content as well as the television production.

Orion managing director Chris Laurie said: "Last year Jade Stadium was host to over 350,000 people, the majority Cantabrians, so we see this as an opportunity to show our support to the wider community.

"Jade Stadium Limited is committed to attracting a greater number and variety of events, so we're satisfied that our community across the board will benefit from Orion's involvement.

"Orion has been an electric company in Canterbury for almost as long as rugby and cricket have been played at Jade Stadium and we are very pleased to be associated with it," he said.

McGoldrick said with all the funding going into the ground it was not possible to pay for the screen on its own and he was thankful for the sponsorship support.

"At one stage we were considering a second-hand screen from the Sydney Olympics.

"But we decided to go for a screen that was mobile so it could be rented out to other facilities allowing us more score to purchase bigger and better.

"The result we believe will be fantastic, and will greatly enhance our patrons' experience at Jade Stadium," he said.

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