Lubbock councilman pitches idea of moving Texas Tech's Double T scoreboard near airport

Steve Massengale, being a Monterey graduate in 1987 and a Texas Tech grad in 1993, can't remember Jones Stadium without the Double T scoreboard that went up in 1978. And now that the Double T scoreboard has been taken down, he doesn't want to see Lubbock without the iconic Tech landmark.

The Lubbock city councilman said Friday he wants to relocate the scoreboard to an area near Preston Smith International Airport along Regis Street.

"I'd love to see it incorporated some way as you were approaching or leaving the airport," Massengale said. "This is a new idea that's just come up in the last couple of weeks, but I think it's possible. We're currently looking at what we can do to beautify that corridor along Regis anyway, so I think we're exploring the possibilities with Texas Tech to see what we can do with it."

Workers from Trumble Crane and Rigging used a crane to take down the Double T scoreboard on Thursday night. They separated it from the base anchored in the current south end zone building, then removed it in one piece with no evident issues.

The scoreboard was removed to make way for Tech's planned $200 million south end zone and football facilities project to be completed before the 2024 season. The proposed four-level south end zone building is to be topped by a new Double T scoreboard designed to look like the original.

There's been no organized effort to keep the original on or near campus, Tech senior associate athletics director Robert Giovannetti said Friday.

"I just think it's iconic for the Texas Tech culture and for the Texas Tech athletic culture," Massengale said, "and I'd like to find a way for us to keep it. Personally, I'd love to see it at the airport for those people that are new to Lubbock. The airport is a large front door to our community and whether you're leaving or arriving, I just think it'd be a great way to greet people coming to our community."

Tech officials, from discussions with engineers, estimated the weight of the Double T scoreboard at between 28,500 and 32,000 pounds. It stood 60 feet above the end zone.

Asked about the logistics of moving something that size to the area he described, Massengale said, "Premature. We haven't even looked at it.

"This is just an idea at this point. We've done limited (study). The conversation came up as Tech discussed bringing it down, and I mentioned it as a possibility and everyone likes that. We've just got to determine if it can really be done."

That's the next step.

"I would think the city needs to develop a plan on what they want to do and who might be involved in that," Massengale said. "I would hope maybe TxDOT could participate. The city would obviously participate and see what we can come up with."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Double T Texas Tech scoreboard may welcome visitors to Lubbock airport