The History of the Kiss Cam

Article Date: Thursday, February 7, 2019

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, it seemed like this month would be a great time to shed some light on one of the most frequently seen event experiences across the country, The Kiss Cam!

Our modern-day Kiss Cam didn’t really gain popularity until the 1980’s, when Mitsubishi Electronics unveiled Diamond Vision – the first in venue color video display. Measuring in at 20 by 28 feet, Diamond Vision debuted at Dodger Stadium at the 1980 MLB All-Star Game. With a price tag of 3.5 million, the display allowed for game highlights, snippets of out-of-town games, and crowd shots.

Other venues soon followed suit, with the New York Mets unveiling their $4 million-dollar video board in the fall of 1981. By 1986, 14 of Major League Baseball’s 26 parks had color screens. Arenas were next to jump on board. Technological advances like wireless cameras and cheaper, stronger lenses made the video boards (often referred to as JumboTrons) a must-have item for your facility.

Although it’s tough to pinpoint the “first kiss cam” moment, by the mid 80’s it was a common occurrence in most facilities. The use of computer graphics and sound effects helped to propel the experience to greater acclaim. Many venues now secure sponsorship to brand their Kiss Cam to help generate additional revenue. Feel free to take a look at some great, and maybe not so great Kiss Cam videos! 

- Kevin Kozak, Director of Ticketing