How Visit Hagerstown Built Community Excitement

The Project

In May 2024, the town of Hagerstown, Maryland, witnessed a momentous occasion: the opening of its first minor league baseball team, the Flying Boxcars, at the new Multi-Use Sports and Events Facility. This state-of-the-art stadium, known as Meritus Park, is strategically located in the heart of the city, aiming to revitalize the community and provide a central hub for events and gatherings. The stadium is designed to host over 60 baseball games annually, along with concerts, community events, and other sporting activities, making it a cornerstone of local engagement.

The project was a significant undertaking, involving multiple stakeholders, including the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA), Turner Construction Company, Visit Hagerstown, and Magic Lantern Productions. The MSA allocated nearly $80 million to the project, supplemented by an additional $10 million from Governor Hogan and the General Assembly, bringing the vision of Meritus Park to life.

The Challenge

Building a multi-use sports facility of this scale within a two-and-a-half-year timeline was a daunting task. The project required meticulous coordination among various teams for a timely completion while maintaining high-quality standards. Additionally, the stakeholders wanted to keep the community engaged and excited throughout the construction process, offering transparency and building anticipation for the stadium’s grand opening. With such a large investment and public interest, it was crucial to provide real-time updates and visual documentation of the progress.

TrueLook Solution

To meet the challenge of keeping the community informed and engaged, Magic Lantern Productions partnered with TrueLook to install a fixed 4K IR construction camera in the outfield of the jobsite. This camera was instrumental in providing live streaming and time-lapse videos of the stadium’s construction, allowing locals and key stakeholders to witness the transformation of their town in real time.

Key Features of the TrueLook Cameras:

Remote Monitoring: The stakeholder team could monitor the site remotely, helping keep the project on track and quickly identifying any potential issues.

Live Streaming: The TrueLook Camera offered high-definition live streaming, accessible via the Visit Hagerstown website, which allowed residents to get excited about the construction progress from the comfort of their homes.

Time-Lapse Video: The camera captured thousands of images throughout the construction, which were compiled into dynamic time-lapse videos. These videos were regularly posted online, showcasing the stadium’s development and keeping the community engaged.

The Results

The integration of the TrueLook Camera into the project proved to be a tremendous success. The live stream became an unexpected hit, attracting over 29,000 unique viewers who collectively visited the camera page 120,000 times. This level of engagement far exceeded expectations and highlighted the community’s strong interest in the project.

The time-lapse videos created a buzz around the stadium’s construction, generating excitement and anticipation for the grand opening. By the time the Flying Boxcars took the field for their first home game, the community was already deeply connected to Meritus Park, having followed its construction journey closely.

Today, the live stream continues to capture the vibrancy of the stadium, now fully operational and buzzing with activity. Whether it’s a summer evening game or a community event, locals and visitors alike can enjoy Hagerstown’s newest pride and joy.