Fair-Play

What Fair-Play does

Fair-Play is a 92-year-old, privately held U.S. manufacturer of sports scoring and display equipment, founded in 1934 in Iowa by Elmer Foster and now headquartered in Hazelwood, Missouri. The company designs, manufactures, and sells electronic scoreboards, LED video displays (indoor and outdoor), court-side digital scorer's tables, and supporting accessories (shot clocks, pitch timers, goal lights, control systems, hand switches, stat panels, and possession indicators) for 11 sports including basketball, football, baseball, softball, hockey, soccer, track and field, volleyball, tennis, wrestling, and lacrosse. Its technology stack centers on LED display hardware with multiple pixel pitch options (2.5mm to 16mm), proprietary control electronics (MP-60 through MP-80 series), and software platforms including the Fusion all-in-one control system, Fair-Play Pro multi-sport scoring software, and ViPlex Express for display messaging, with integrations to third-party timing systems such as FinishLynx and Hytek Meet Manager.

Fair-Play generates revenue primarily through hardware sales, with pricing set on a quote basis through a nationwide authorized dealer network supplemented by a direct sales team reachable via phone and email. The company segments its customers vertically into K-12 schools, colleges and universities (including NCAA Division I programs and 50+ D1 schools using its scorer's tables), professional sports venues (including 11+ NBA teams and minor league baseball parks such as the Tulsa Drillers), municipal parks and recreation departments, and authorized dealers/distributors. Internationally, the company extends its reach through distributor partners in Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Panama, the Philippines, and Indonesia, with international installations including Ateneo de Manila University.

The business model is asset-light in distribution, relying on dealers for local installation and service, while maintaining proprietary design, manufacturing, and software development in-house. The company is family/founder-controlled with no disclosed external investment, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity. Recent strategic emphasis has shifted toward higher-margin LED video display products (Eclipse Series indoor and outdoor lines launched in 2026) and software-based differentiation (Fusion platform), while maintaining its legacy scoreboard business. The customer base is highly fragmented across thousands of schools, colleges, and venues, with no single customer concentration disclosed and revenue figures kept private.

Name

Fair-Play

Legal name

FairPlay Corporation

Website

https://fair-play.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fair-Play is a 92-year-old, privately held U.S. manufacturer of electronic scoreboards, LED video displays, scorer's tables, and sports timing accessories, sold through a nationwide authorized dealer network to K-12 schools, colleges, professional sports venues, and parks and recreation departments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Scoreboards and LED Displays

NAICS

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (339920)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Physical Education & Athletics Equipment (Gym, Sports Gear, Scoreboards) (EDAEAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Basketball Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAB)

Keywords

• Sports scoreboard manufacturing
• LED video displays
• Athletic facility equipment
• Scorer's tables
• Sports timing systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Hazelwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Fair-Play generates revenue primarily through the sale of electronic scoreboards, LED video displays, scorer's tables, and accessories. Products are sold through authorized dealers nationwide with direct sales support available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Fair-Play manufactures and sells digital and electronic scoreboards, LED video displays, court-side scorer's tables, and proprietary scoring/display control software for athletic facilities. The company's products are sold primarily through a nationwide authorized dealer network and a direct sales team to schools, colleges, and professional sports venues across multiple sports.

Product overview

Fair-Play is a 92-year-old sports scoring and display technology company offering a comprehensive portfolio of scoreboard products, LED video displays, scorer tables, and software solutions for athletic facilities. The product line centers on digital scoreboards for 11 sports (baseball/softball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, track & field, volleyball, tennis, wrestling, lacrosse, multi-purpose) paired with indoor and outdoor LED video display systems including the Eclipse Series sub-brand. Supporting hardware includes shot clocks, pitch timers, field timers, goal lights, control systems, hand switches, horns, stat panels, possession indicators, clocks, and pitch speed indicators. Software offerings include the proprietary Fusion platform for unified scoreboard control and display management, Multi-Sport Fair-Play Pro Software for event scoring and video management, and ViPlex Express Software for display messaging. The ecosystem is designed for multi-sport venue use with integration capabilities to third-party timing systems like FinishLynx and Hytek Meet Manager.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scoreboards Digital and electronic scoreboards for 11 sports (baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, track and field, volleyball, tennis, wrestling, lacrosse, multi-purpose) providing game information, timing, and scoring display for schools, colleges, and professional venues.
• LED Video Displays High-resolution color LED video display systems for indoor and outdoor sporting venues, available in pixel pitch sizes of 2.5mm, 3.9mm, 6mm, 10mm, and 16mm. Capable of rendering up to 281 trillion colors and displaying scores, graphics, video content, and sponsor advertisements. Stadium display boards can be built up to 36 feet in length.
• Scorer's Tables (Court-Side Tables)
• Eclipse Series Indoor LED Displays Ultra-slim indoor LED scoreboard displays for high school and college gymnasiums with 1.5-inch depth and aluminum die-cast cabinet construction. Package includes LED display cabinets, frame, base cladding/end caps, NovaStar Controller, and spare parts. Models include ECLIPSE2515-3.9, ECLIPSE3520-3.9, ECLIPSE4022-3.9, and ECLIPSE4525-3.9.
• Eclipse Series Outdoor LED Displays High-brightness outdoor LED video displays for stadiums and athletic facilities engineered for direct sunlight, variable weather conditions, and high-traffic venues. Features weather-resistant design, custom sizes, and digital sponsor ad rotation capabilities.
• Fusion Software Platform All-in-one software solution for scoreboard control, scoring functions, and display management across sports facilities. Manages scoring, timing, ads, instant replay, and game-day production from a single platform. Integrates with MP-80 control system and is available for Windows and Mac.
• Multi-Sport Fair-Play Pro Software Versatile software solution for live event scoring and video management across multiple sports. Integrates into control systems allowing quick switching between customized scoreboard layouts, video playback, and game scoring. Enables live video transmission directly to displays.
• Shot Clocks LED shot clock timers for basketball including ST-1405-4, ST-1408-4, ST-1425-4, ST-1428-4, and ST-1425-3S-4 models, providing precise timing and bright LED visibility for schools, arenas, and athletic facilities.
• Pitch Timers Electronic pitch timers for baseball and softball including PT-032015-08-2, PT-042418-2, PT-053024-2, PT-042015-06-2, PT-052418-06-2, and PT-063024-06-2 models.
• Field Timers Field timers for football and other sports including T-830-DISPLAY-2, T-818-DISPLAY-2, T-0660-DISPLAY, T-0636-DISPLAY-2, and T-0448-06-DISPLAY-2 models.
• Control Systems Scoreboard control systems including MP-60, MP-70, MP-73, MP-80, HCW-MP-1 wireless control, and SP-70 control units used to operate scoreboards and displays.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200,000 venues equipped with Fair-Play products
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ViPlex Express SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationFair-Play uses ViPlex Express Software to control indoor and outdoor LED displays. The software provides simple controls for importing media, creating messages, adding effects, and scheduling content. It enables live video transmission directly to displays.
• NovaStarcoreTechnology or IntegrationNovaStar controllers are included in Eclipse Series LED display packages (TB60 for ECLIPSE2515-3.9, VX400Pro for larger models). NovaStar is a leading LED display control system provider.
• GitHub (FairPlayCorp)coreTechnology or IntegrationFair-Play distributes its Fusion software platform through GitHub, offering free trials for both Windows and Mac operating systems for scoreboard control and display management.
• FinishLynxcoreTechnology or IntegrationFair-Play offers an interface for FinishLynx track timing devices, enabling integration between Fair-Play scoreboards and FinishLynx electronic timing systems for track and field events.
• Hytek Meet ManagercoreTechnology or IntegrationFair-Play provides an interface for Hytek Meet Manager track timing device integration, allowing seamless connection between Fair-Play track scoreboards and Hytek's meet management software.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trans-Lux: Long-standing manufacturer of LED displays and scoreboards for sports venues and digital signage — directly comparable category competitor with a similarly broad sports vertical footprint.
• Canadian Scoreboards: Canadian manufacturer of electronic scoreboards and timing systems for sport venues — comparable product line to Fair-Play and a regional competitor in Canada, where Fair-Play also distributes.
• Daktronics: The dominant publicly traded manufacturer of LED scoreboards, video displays, and scoring/timing systems for sports venues globally, including arenas used by NBA, NCAA, and NFL facilities — directly comparable across Fair-Play's entire product range.
• Nevco Scoreboard: Direct competitor focused on indoor and outdoor scoreboards, scoreboards for K-12 and college athletics, and integrated video displays — competes with Fair-Play across nearly identical customer segments.
• OES (Obsidian Entertainment Services) / Formetco: U.S. manufacturer of LED video displays and scoring equipment for stadiums, arenas, and schools; competes head-to-head with Fair-Play in outdoor LED and college venue installations.
• Columbia (Columbia Electronic Displays): Manufacturer of LED scoreboards and timing systems for schools and colleges; small/mid-market competitor with overlapping channel and customer base to Fair-Play.
• ANC (a Learfield company): Turnkey provider of LED video displays, scoreboards, and content production systems for college and pro venues including NCAA and NBA arenas — directly competes with Fair-Play's scorer's table and LED display business.

Broad incumbents

• Leyard / Planar: Large global LED and LCD display manufacturer with dedicated sports and large-venue product lines — represents the kind of well-capitalized broad incumbent that competes for marquee stadium contracts.
• Absen: Global Chinese LED display manufacturer with massive scale across sports, rental, and commercial signage — competes with Fair-Play's LED display business and exerts pricing pressure on the broader LED panel market.

Others

• Hy-Tek/Hytek (via OEM interface market): Dominant meet-management software vendor for USA Swimming, USA Track & Field, and high school sports whose integration interface Fair-Play already supports — adjacent ecosystem participant whose own hardware or partner relationships shape timing/scoring interoperability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Fair_Play_SB
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fairplayscoreboardsofficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/FairPlayCorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fair-play-scoreboards
• Instagraminstagram.com/fairplay1934
• TikToktiktok.com/@fairplay1934

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fair-Play