Ironton football fans have had plenty of reasons to cheer so far during the 2012 season as the final scores have looked good for the 3-0 Fighting Tigers.

And, although the team has only had one home game, those numbers will look better than ever on the school’s new scoreboard with LED cabinet at Bob Lutz Field at Tanks Memorial Stadium.

The school partnered with Side Effects, a Franklin-based sports marketing and fundraising company, to generate community sponsorships that paid for the scoreboard that was installed Aug. 30 and will be dedicated at halftime of the game against the Ashland Tomcats Friday.

“The Ohio School Facilities Commission does not allow for improvements to athletic facilities, therefore, we are working diligently to update our athletic complex to match our new buildings,” Ironton Superintendent Dean Nance said. “The new scoreboard is a very nice addition to our school/athletic complex. We are very thankful to the sponsors that made this possible.”

The project was paid for entirely through advertising so it was at no cost to the school or the taxpayers.

Side Effects began the partnership with Ironton High School in 2011 and quickly began contacting businesses about becoming an advertising sponsor on the school’s scoreboard.

Many businesses stepped right up to the plate including Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital.

“There is always a lot of excitement in the city of Ironton of football Friday nights and Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital is excited to be a part of it. OLBH is always happy to support area schools,” said marketing director Angela Wells-Coburn. “The new scoreboard on the football field will be fantastic. Side Effects was great to work with from the first phone call to the final proof of our advertisement.”

OLBH was joined in the sponsorship by Albert Insurance, Inc., Awards Plus Tees, Crabro Printing, Inc., Davis Family Dentistry, Don Hall Supercenter, Emerson Network Power, Giovanni’s Pizza – Coal Grove, Jag’s Buffalo Wild Wings and Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Ohio University Southern, Tri-State Regional Cancer Center and WesBanco, Inc.