LIBERTY — Fans might notice athletic events at Leopard Stadium sound different these days, thanks to some upgrades.

Liberty Local School District upgraded its stadium sound system earlier this month as a result of a collaborative effort from the Liberty Sports Hall of Fame, Liberty Gridiron Association and Liberty Band Boosters, as well as the school’s Little Leopards Football and Cheer Association. The groups, along with the school’s boys and girls soccer programs, generated $17,000 over the span of a month through various fundraising attempts, such as a pop-up popcorn store and a “take over” at K’Nafa Restaurant, a Middle Eastern eatery.

Todd Smith, the school’s athletic director, said the previous sound system was “definitely antiquated,” noting some of its much-dated features.

“It still had a cassette deck in it, and it had a CD player too, but it had a cassette deck. So that gives you kind of an idea on the date,” Smith said. “We had piecemailed some speakers into it; it just wasn’t a complete system. The away side, you could barely hear at all. Sometimes the home side would give feedback and squeaking and squealing.”

It wasn’t a good sound, Smith added.

The sound system was installed Sept. 5, thanks to CR Electric and Hubbard Music’s crews.

Smith said they genuinely appreciated the groups who pitched in, as well as the community members who helped the fundraisers come together as quickly as they did.

“It really shows what Liberty can do when it wants to,” Smith said.