Watchfire, a leading manufacturer of premium digital displays owned by an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, is delighted to announce the successful acquisition of Spectrum Scoreboards, based in Houston, Texas. This strategic move positions Watchfire as a comprehensive provider of fixed-digital sports scoreboards and timing displays.
Established in 1971, Spectrum stands as one of the largest privately-owned manufacturers of sporting event scoreboards. Pioneering LED technology in fixed-digit scoreboards since 1993, Spectrum serves a diverse clientele, including private and public schools, colleges, parks, and stadiums.
Kyle Dines, Vice President of Sports, Indoor and Outdoor Advertising at Watchfire, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “Spectrum shares our dedication to high-quality domestic manufacturing and customer service, making them an ideal complement to Watchfire’s sports product line. The combination of their fixed-digit scoreboards with our video displays addresses a crucial market need. This acquisition positions us to cater to schools and sporting facilities of any size, leveraging Spectrum’s market leadership in the greater Texas region alongside Watchfire’s national scale.”
He added, “Together, we aim to provide the sports market with a comprehensive, single-source solution for all video display and scoring needs.”
The Houston location of Spectrum will continue its full operations, including manufacturing, sales, and support functions.
Jim Bishop, Co-founder of Spectrum Scoreboards, highlighted the synergy between the two companies, saying, “This has been a family-owned business since the beginning, so we worked hard in this process to identify a company 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, emphasized the significance of the acquisition, stating, “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 marks the second add-on acquisition for Watchfire since H.I.G. Capital’s acquisition of the company in July 2022.
