Trying to research the possibilities:
I found these OLED displays which use the I2c bus.
https://www.amazon.com/MakerFocus-Display-SSD1306-3-3V-5V-Arduino/dp/B079BN2J8V?th=1
This will spare a lot of GPIO pins but I will need a multiplexer cause each device has a fixed i2c address. The device is 38 mm long (1.5 inches ) and can display 8 digits. It would be possible to put 4 of them side by side and that will only be 6 inches which means I could use a 7.87 inch long ABS enclosure.
I also read that the MAX7219 would be a cpu hog in complicated sketches with one commenter recommeding I2c devices instead.