patrons also get an audio- enhanced experience so they can actually hear and feel the hoof beats of the horses, which raises the excitement level and some heartbeats.”

At the Reno Hilton SuperBook, Curtis Fitch, Sr., a retired civil engineer and former construction company owner, can follow races from Churchill Downs, Harris County, Silverado, Paradise and Philadelphia’s Penn National, just to name a few.

“I’m impressed with the big screen displays. They are reliable and the clarity of the picture is great,” Fitch says. “I can look at the hooves on the horses to see if they will run well. When they kick the dirt, I can tell if they are limping.”

Gene McElhannon, a retired vocational instructor, stresses, “For us retirees, our eyes are not as strong, so with the big screens here we can visualize better. What I like about the large screens is that they are good on your eyes. In some places, you need binoculars just to see the screen.”

“What makes the SuperBook so great is the awesome technology,” says Sullivan. “We are the beneficiaries of the hard work of our audiovisual staff, which supports us with exceptional sound and video enhancements, not only here in the SuperBook with our Video Wall, but throughout the property with our amphitheater, conference rooms and other venues.”

After a comprehensive evaluation process, the Reno Hilton decided to upgrade to Sony LCD projectors from existing three-gun CRT systems. This fourth-generation upgrade offers fundamental changes in technology.

“In this application, we’re distributing composite video, so we needed an LCD projector with the highest picture quality on screen,” Picerno says. “Hands down, we viewed the Sony VPL-FX50 projector as the best—the best contrast ratio, depth of field, and flesh tones. Also, the networking features have turned out to be a huge bonus for us.”

With the VPL-FX50’s three-panel LCD and single lens system, the projector is able to display 750 lines of TV resolution (RGB: 1024 x 768 pixels) with a maximum brightness of 3500 ANSI lumens. (Sony recently introduced the VPL-FX51 SuperSmart™ projector, the company’s next generation system, which raises the brightness level to 5,200 ANSI lumens. (ANSI lumens is a measuring method developed by the American National Standards Institute.)

Composite video is sufficient for the broadcasts received through the Hilton’s existing 14 three-meter C- and KU-Band satellite dishes, as well as its 10 DSS satellite receivers. However, Picerno says that the projector’s wide range of video inputs also offers protection against future obsolescence.

If a customer wants a specific race or game displayed, a staff member simply goes to a desktop computer, clicks on the race book manager software and looks at the programming available. At the PC, a staff member can switch the program as well as the router control points, allowing him or her to route the satellite signal to an individual or group of projectors displaying the desired race or game on the Video Wall.

Picerno cites two additional factors that made the VPL-FX50 projector especially appropriate for the Video Wall. The availability of Sony’s VPL-LZM31 shortthrow lenses allows for a simple swap-out in the existing projector mounts. This setup means there is ample room for routine maintenance by the A / V staff in the compact service corridor of the engine room where the units reside. Also, the ability to adjust the individual RGB LCD panels to fine-tune the color balance was crucial to create uniformity across the entire array.

“We’re always getting compliments around town for the quality of our video images,” says Picerno. “Our whole audiovideo operation, including the race and sports book experience, is intended to create an overall immersive experience for our guests.”

Looking at it from all angles, the Video Wall at the Reno Hilton is seen as a winner from everyone’s point of view.