Working the Score Board

FRESNO, Calif. – Working on the score board in Valley Children’s Stadium can be seen as a thrilling opportunity to experience. However, the ladder on the way up causes more anxiety than excitement.

An Animal Science major decided to take a chance in working as a camera operator for athletics. Allison Jorge has been working in this department for four years and she described her time up on the score board as nerve-racking and scary.

“When you’re climbing the scoreboard, you usually have a tripod bag and a backpack, so it’s like a lot of weight on top of it,” Jorge said. “I feel like it takes a lot of stamina to get up there, especially if you’re not used to climbing up there all the time, it can be really scary.”

The ladder leading to the scoreboard is only stable on one leg when at an angle. The camera operators put themselves at risk anytime they go up, all while having the extra weight from the tripod and camera.

What most may overlook is how the weather can play a part in the difficulty climbing up.

“When you’re going up, it doesn’t seem that far up until like it keeps going. Also, I feel like the weather plays a part in it because when it’s hot, the bars are really hot,” said Dasani Morin.

Camera operators risk injury working the scoreboard every home game. In the future, workers hope to fix the one-legged angle ladder.