Houston Rockets: Setting the Standard for NBA Arena Displays
Pushing boundaries in fan experience
The Houston Rockets’ flair for innovation meant they needed the best in video production solutions
Since Toyota Center opened its doors in 2003, the NBA’s Houston Rockets have been recognized as leaders in game-day presentation. Under the late Doug Swan — an Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA) Hall-of-Famer and pioneer in scoreboard operations — the Rockets built a reputation for attention to detail and relentless innovation.
That tradition continues today. Their production team has earned league-wide recognition for raising the bar time and time again. Because of this, the Rockets remain at the forefront of NBA entertainment, blending technology and creativity to deliver unforgettable experiences for fans at home and in the arena.
Getting up to speed in a competitive league
The Rockets’ outdated gear was slowing down their processes, and their graphics were underpowered
The Rockets’ aging control room gear was straining under the demands of modern production. Legacy systems made content workflows cumbersome, offered little flexibility, and introduced reliability concerns during the most high-pressure moments of a game.
To keep Toyota Center the premier destination for Rockets basketball, the in-venue experience had to feel bigger, sharper, and more engaging than ever before.
They faced a two-fold challenge:
Modernization: Revamping displays, content management systems, and the PCR to support complex workflows and a full calendar of NBA games, concerts, and live events.
Engagement: Delivering next-level integration of live stats, graphics, and storytelling to stand out in a fiercely competitive NBA landscape.
“The in-arena show has to be larger than life. Every graphic, every replay, every stat has to pull fans deeper into the action.”
Doug SwanDirector, Scoreboard Operations at Toyota Center
Boosted PCR capability and custom graphics
A sleek, high-octane production engine and cutting-edge creative to match a full-throttle production team.
Working alongside local integrator CTI, Ross helped the Rockets completely revamp their control room — not just replacing outdated systems, but addressing operational bottlenecks and preparing Toyota Center for the future of live entertainment. The result was a phased upgrade that paired new LED displays with a fully modernized PCR, anchored by Ross technology.
Product lineup includes:
XPression CG + Tessera: Powering massive LED displays with seamless, data-rich visuals that immerse Rockets fans in the action.
PIERO: Adding tracked crowd-prompts, shot charts and heat maps with XPression integration keyed under the action on the court.
Acuity Production Switcher: High-capacity performance designed for the pace and precision of NBA live production.
DashBoard: One interface for total control, giving operators a single customizable digital workspace to easily run complex productions.
Hyperconverged Solutions (Ultrix FR5 & FR12, Ultritouch, Ultricore, Ultriscape): A flexible routing backbone with integrated, customizable control and multiviewing capabilities.
Rocket Surgery: Ross’ creative services that design custom graphics and animations to maximize production value.
By working closely with the Rockets’ production staff, CTI’s integration expertise and Ross’s end-to-end solutions delivered a control room that is more scalable, more reliable, and ready for the next generation of NBA game-day production.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE
Everything You Need to Connect With Your Audience Every day, Ross powers live productions for billions of viewers. With the industry’s widest range of high-impact, high-efficiency solutions and services, Ross helps all manner of organizations create and share compelling content, from leading broadcasters to houses of worship, stadiums, corporations, education and governments. With approximately 1300 team members around the world and manufacturing facilities in Ontario and Austria and the most reliable service in the industry, we are here to turn your ideas, plans and strategies into reality.
Please sign in or register for FREE
If you are a registered user on AVIXA Xchange, please sign in