Watchfire Purchases Spectrum Scoreboards

Watchfire Signs, an Illinois-based manufacturer of on-premise LED signs, digital billboards, and video scoreboards, announces it has completed the purchase of the assets of Houston, Texas-based Spectrum Scoreboards.

Founded in 1971, Spectrum is a privately-owned manufacturer of sporting event scoreboards. The company is said to have pioneered the use of LED technology in fixed-digit scoreboards in 1993 and presently serves a wide variety of customers, including private and public schools, colleges, parks, and stadiums.

According to Watchfire, the acquisition gives the company a complete line of fixed-digital sports scoreboards and timing displays.

“Spectrum shares our commitment to high-quality domestic manufacturing and customer service and provides the ideal complement to Watchfire’s sports product line. Their fixed-digit scoreboards and our video displays are the combination the market needs, and this acquisition puts us in a position to serve schools and sporting facilities of any size,” states Kyle Dines, VP of sports, Indoor and Outdoor Advertising, Watchfire.

He continues, “We’ve long been impressed by Spectrum’s products, factory, and processes in Houston, and are excited to leverage their reputation as a market leader in the greater-Texas region, alongside Watchfire’s scale, to grow into a nationally recognized leader in sports. Together we will bring the sports market a single-source solution to all video display and scoring needs.”

Spectrum’s Houston location will remain fully operational, continuing all manufacturing, sales, and support functions.

“It really is the best possible fit,” says Jim Bishop, co-founder of Spectrum Scoreboards. “This has been a family-owned business since the beginning, so we worked really hard in this process to identify a company that was aligned with our business philosophy. Watchfire understands our commitment to building a domestically-manufactured product that delivers superior performance and then backing it up with unmatched customer service. I know that our employees and our customers are in the very best hands.”

Steve Harriott, CEO of Watchfire, further states, “Adding the capabilities of Spectrum, particularly their product set and the team that makes up their service organization, is the next logical step for us in the sports market. Spectrum produces the best fixed-digit option on the market today, and their approach to product development and support after the sale complements Watchfire’s existing high standards.”

This transaction represents the second add-on acquisition that Watchfire has completed since H.I.G. Capital acquired Watchfire in July 2022.