MONDO | STADIA - Issue 28 - February | March

SNAPDRAGON STADIUM

San Diego State University’s 35,000seat stadium equipped with a state-ofthe-art EAW audio system.

ARENA DU CO’MET

Populous completes Orléans’ 10,000seat arena, the final part of a major new sports and cultural complex.

LONDON STADIUM

Musco & Stadium FX deliver a new era of entertainment, featuring special effects and light show technology.

REYNOLDS CENTER

Quince Imaging, AV Stumpfl & Christie help the arena debut a spectacular projection mapping system.

The Adamson Fletcher Machine Remote software is a user friendly interface that includes dynamic object positioning and a complete set of mixing tools, including EQ, compression, auxiliary sends, and much more. To learn more about the Adamson Fletcher Machine visit our website at www.adamsonsystems.com

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Dedicated Page for Solo in Place

Custom Fader Page

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OBJECT TRAJECTORY

Embedded 2D/3D Trajectory Generator

Single / Loop Modes

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28

WELCOME

elcome to ISSUE 28 of MONDO | STADIA.

WOur cover story is Lower.com Field, the home of Columbus Crew, as we focus on the impressive work of Henderson Engineers, who delivered a never-before-seen approach to mechanical and lighting design in the MLS. In addition, Henderson provided acoustics, code consulting, electrical, life safety, and sustainability design services for the stadium. Definitely one to check out We’ve also taken a closer look at the new EAW system at Snapdragon Stadium, which has transformed the audio experience for fans.

Additionally, we’ve also covered the state-of-the-art Daplast seating at Opap Arena, the new home of AEK Athens FC. Furthermore, we’ve featured Arena Du CO’Met by Populous, the designated sports architect for the seating bowl and interiors of the 10,000-seat arena. Populous has delivered a first-class fan experience in a modern, sustainable sports and entertainment venue, which is the final part of a major new sports and cultural complex in Orléans, France. As well as that, we have a feature on the special effects and spectacular light show technology at West Ham United’s London Stadium, courtesy of Musco Lighting and Stadium FX.

We also showcase the incredible projection mapping project at the University of Tulsa’s Reynolds Center from Quince Imaging, AV Stumpfl, and Christie.

Of course, that’s not all – we have plenty more sporting venue projects, technology and company focuses throughout.

Sam Hughes Editorial Director

Editorial Director

Sam Hughes s.hughes@mondiale.co.uk

Commercial Director

Jamie Dixon j.dixon@mondiale.co.uk

Design & Production

Dan Seaton d.seaton@mondiale.co.uk

Dave Bell d.bell@mondiale.co.uk

Finance Director

Amanda Giles a.giles@mondiale.co.uk

Credit Control ar@mondiale.co.uk

VIDEO 040 Vivint Arena | Salt Lake City, USA 044 Toscano Family Ice Forum | Connecticut, USA

LIGHTING 048 London Stadium | London, England

PROJECTION MAPPING 054 Reynolds Center | Tulsa, USA

LASERS & SFX 058 Xcel Energy Center | Minnesota, USA

BROADCAST 060 Azerbaijan Premier League | Azerbaijan

EXTRA TIME 064 In Detail | Bendac

Asporting event is much more than just the game, a large amount of time goes into all the work that happens inside stadiums and arenas, prior to any match being played. Public and private owners want to optimize how the space is used to maximise their return. We need to look at how these venues are being utilised as multi-purpose facilities, with the ability to host multiple activities as needed.

As industry leaders, we specialise in venue evolution and ensure these facilities are designed and equipped to support a wide variety of requirements, now and into the future. HARMAN is your stadium and arena audio, video, lighting, and control partner, with our suite of iconic brands, including JBL Professional, Crown, Martin Professional, AMX, BSS and more. From stunning interior and exterior architectural lighting to rich, clear and powerful audio, to facility-wide guest suite video and control – all managed through a seamless connected experience, HARMAN specialises in creating the ultimate client experience.

So, who is HARMAN? Through some of the world’s most iconic and innovative professional brands, HARMAN designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and video switching and distribution products, enterprise automation solutions, and

connected services.

The primary goal for a sound system is to communicate with listeners and to elevate the listening experience. From the moment guests arrive until the time they leave; stadium managers need a dynamic and intelligible system that is powerful enough to ensure every part of the venue sounds amazing. JBL Professional loudspeakers deliver spectacular sound in and out of the bowl, throughout concourse areas and anywhere in between –we have the right products to address every scenario.

The complexity of so many different areas in a stadium or arena can be challenging to any audio system designer. The JBL Professional loudspeaker portfolio allows designers to offer dedicated solutions adapted to the demands of any area. Our portfolio offers solutions for different sizes of venues with dedicated products for any situation. With active and passive speakers that have been developed by HARMAN engineers with high standards of performance and quality control for many different applications, we can deliver outstanding solutions. Some of our most popular stadium and arena products include:

- SLP Sleek Low-Profile Speakers for use in concourse and guest suite spaces.

- AWC Compact & AW Series All-Weather Series for outdoor areas and small to medium sized stadiums.

- PD Series Precision Directivity Large-Format

point source speakers for medium to large stadiums.

- VLA Compact Series Line array for use in large stadium applications. Complemented by an inspiring line of Installation speakers and Crown amplification. As a house of brands, we offer solutions that complement and complete stadium and arena installations. Our legendary Crown amplifiers are available in any configuration to power music gigs to life safety applications. Our BSS audio processors ensure many of the world’s most complex stadium and arena designs sound their best. And, AKG microphones, Soundcraft mixers, and AMX video and control solutions complete the integrated solution. Another key component of how HARMAN supports its customers and partners is our market strategy that focuses on local support. As a manufacturer, we are always involved in the overall process, however we have many reasons to support our local clients.

Professional products are dedicated solutions that require proper support throughout the entire sales process starting with the information connection with the owners to post-sale support delivered by our partners. Exceeding client satisfaction at every stage of this process is critical for any project that we support.

HARMAN teams across the world are dedicated to delivering technical sales and postsales support for every project through our

Images: HARMAN

The Audio, Video, Lighting, and Control Partner for Stadums and Arenas.

experienced distribution network. In-country distributors are the direct contact for any project and play a key role in providing support and backup. This gives us a local contact who can provide language, normative, salesoperation process, and more. Our dealers and distributor partners also bring high value to the entire process through technical knowledge and deep expertise.

Here are some recent examples of HARMAN collaboration in Stadium projects:

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM, UK

A complete stadium audio solution that included 156 JBL VLA-C2100 two-way fullrange loudspeakers, 54 JBL VLA-C125S subwoofers, 196 JBL AWC82 all-weather loudspeakers, 140 Crown DriveCore Install amplifiers, and more than 3,500 JBL Control Contractor speakers, installed across the facility. Audio is mixed on a Soundcraft Vi1000 digital mixing console and monitored via JBL LSR 305 powered studio monitors.

STADE SAINT-SYMPHORIEN, FRANCE

To deliver excellent clarity and balanced coverage in all areas of the stadium, Freevox

our Harman Pro distributor in France, selected a range of specialized JBL Professional loudspeakers. Produc-Son hung distributed clusters of JBL AWS526-LS and AWS566-LS all-weather speakers to provide the main sound reinforcement for the north, south, east, and west seating sections, supplemented by JBL ASB7128 subwoofers for additional lowfrequency extension.

The Freevox design also included separate JBL AWS566-LS speaker arrays to ensure highquality sound for players and official personnel on the playing field. To provide additional coverage for the corners of the stadium, Produc’son installed JBL PD595-LS and PD566-LS Precision Directivity loudspeakers. In addition to the main arena sound system, Produc’son outfitted the concourse and locker room areas with JBL Control 25AV-LS and 14CVA ceiling loudspeakers.

MUNSU FOOTBALL STADIUM, SOUTH KOREA

The installation team selected versatile and intuitive JBL Professional, Crown, BSS and Soundcraft audio solutions for clear output and even coverage across every seat in the stadium. The installation team implemented JBL VTX

A8 line array loudspeakers as the system’s primary solution, thanks to its innovative autolocking rigging mechanism and comprehensive mounting accessories for numerous placement options. Additionally, the IP55-rated JBL AWC129 and VLA-C2100 durable loudspeakers reinforce the sound and coverage for the first floor and upper levels, respectively. Crown DCi 4|1250N and DCi 4|1250DA amplifiers offer efficient power for the second and third floors while the DCi 2|600N and DCi 4|600N models do the same for the ground floor. For the central control area, Soundcraft Vi2000 audio mixers with Vi Stageboxes and a JBL 308P MKII monitor, powered by a Crown I-Tech 4×3500HD amplifier, offer intuitive controls and mixing tools for consistent, studio-quality sound. Finally, BSS BLU-100 and BLU-DAN signal processors ensure low-latency and responsive audio throughout the entire stadium.

LOWER.COM FIELD

Ohio, USA

Images: Henderson Engineers

Engineering has traditionally been associated with functionality, whereas architecture is steeped in aesthetics. The latest crop of state-of-the-art stadia is breaking that mould, equally demanding artistry from all design disciplines to deliver a first-class fan experience. Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, home to the Columbus Crew Major League Soccer (MLS) team, tasked Henderson Engineers, the lead building systems design

engineer on the $314 million project, with beauty as much as practicality. In response, Henderson delivered a neverbefore-seen approach to mechanical and lighting design in the MLS.

Atypical of most major stadiums, Lower.com Field is located within a floodplain. The grounds surrounding the venue are therefore devoid of ground-mounted mechanical equipment, which provide air conditioning, heating, and ventilation. This apparatus is also notably visibly absent from most of the structure’s underlying rooftops. Henderson achieved this all-around pristine look by hiding a majority of the systems under the 360-degree canopy that covers the venue’s 20,000 seats to protect patrons from the elements. Specifically, much of the equipment is situated on top of the press-level roof underneath the canopy.

Since heat tends to recirculate, heat rejection equipment can be overworked and deteriorate faster when placed below a shade structure in such a format. Henderson’s solution to this issue involved specifying a combination of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC condensing units beneath the canopy and pairing them with air handling units within the structure located 70 feet below. The VRF condensing units are uniquely capable of horizontal air discharge to help direct hot air out from beneath the canopy enclosure to avoid over-heating and over-working the equipment. VRF equipment is also inherently higher efficiency and automatically adjusts the level of cooling and heating it

provides depending on isolated conditions at individual zones within the stadium. This not only offers the added benefit of lower power consumption, but also allows for increased flexibility and controllability when compared to conventional split air handling units. Incorporating this set up left the top of the 360-degree canopy virtually untouched by equipment, providing a smooth, clean look throughout from both an aerial and ground-level view.

“It’s a trade secret of sorts, but early building renderings almost never include mechanical systems,” explained Ben Weigand, Mechanical Technical Manager at Henderson. “So, a completed project frequently looks different once systems are in place. What’s amazing about Lower.com Field is the renderings and the end result look pretty much the same. Mechanical systems are out of sight or very subtle throughout the entire facility, including indoors, and it took a lot of creativity to achieve that.”

Akin to the mechanical approach, the alignment of lighting systems is particularly unique. Sports lighting, often located under stadium canopies, typically runs parallel to the perimeter of the pitch. In the case of Lower.com Field, Henderson angled the fixtures back further away from the field with each consecutive row. This unconventional placement was selected to match the diagonal brace of the stadium, creating a sense of uniformity with the overall structure. In addition to providing a consistent aesthetic, the stadium’s sports lighting is further integrated into the game

day experience by its dynamic switching capabilities, which enable operators to flash the lights in a variety of patterns to build excitement before kickoff, at half-time, and when the home team scores.

“Sports lighting usually flies under the radar, and it generally means that something is off when it’s noticed,” explained Brett Miles, Electrical Technical Manager at Henderson.

“It’s exciting that we were able to make it stand out by making it feel like a natural part of the canopy while also allowing the team to use it to amp up the crowd. It’s an approach that provides a gameday experience that standard sports lighting doesn’t offer.”

The sense of uniformity achieved by sports lighting flows into the architectural lighting design that Henderson provided within the stadium’s indoor spaces, particularly the club rooms. To pay homage to the Columbus Crew’s team colors, yellow lighting with black accents were incorporated throughout. A key standout detail located within the River Club is the Hendersondesigned glowing grid lighting pattern, a nod to the chessboard pattern found on the Columbus Crew logo that was in use from 2014 to 2021. The grid is in conversation with a black and yellow striped ceiling in the Tipico Sportsbook Club along the opposite sideline, also mirroring a vintage logo detail.

“Our goal was to incorporate storytelling into the interior detailing, and we used lighting to tell the history of the team,” said Brett.

“It was a playful way to create a brand connection while also elevating the fan experience with a striking visual. Henderson’s origin is in retail, including designing high-end luxury spaces. We’re able to take key learnings from those projects and apply them to what we do at sports venues. Whether it’s our mechanical team delivering the required air while incorporating air distribution elements or totally hiding them, or the understated creativity that our electrical team weaves into our lighting approach. That attention to detail is what differentiates Henderson’s design process from the average engineering firm.”

In addition to mechanical and lighting, Henderson provided acoustics, code consulting, electrical, life safety, and sustainability design services for the project. The firm also oversaw fire protection, plumbing, security, and telecom design. HNTB was the architect, Turner Construction and Smoot Construction were the general contractors, Osborn Engineering and HNTB Structural were the structural engineers, and Musco Lighting was the sports lighting vendor.

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SNAPDRAGON STADIUM

San Diego, USA

Images: Natalia Robert

San Diego State University recently completed its brand new $310 million, 35,000-seat college football venue, Snapdragon Stadium, and crystal-clear sound was of the utmost importance throughout the project. To achieve a new level of stadium design, complete with the latest technology, audio and video design firm WJHW called on Clair Global Integration to install a wide range of future-proofed products. Most notably, Snapdragon Stadium now features over 100 AC6 ADAPTive Column Loudspeakers from Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW®).

“EAW supported the design team during the various phases of the project including early demonstrations, proof of concept and modeling for the AC6 loudspeakers, and exporting data for consultants’ integration into the full system design,” said Mark Graham, Associate Principal, WJHW. “The brand also remained involved throughout the construction process with onsite pretesting, as well as being an integral member of the commissioning and testing

team during tuning and calibration of the installed system.” In selecting the PA system, Graham and the WJHW team found EAW’s AC6’s ADAPTive features to be flexible and customizable while delivering pristine sound to every seat. “The ADAPTive technology of the AC6 loudspeakers allowed us to select mounting locations that better integrated into the stadiums’ architectural and structural elements while maintaining the output levels and coverage patterns needed at the spectator seating,” adds Graham. “From every seat in the stadium, EAW has allowed us to create a truly wonderful listening experience. We are thrilled with how it turned out.”

In addition to the AC6 ADAPTive system, various other EAW speakers including the MK8196, CIS300, CIS400, LS832i, JF80z, MKD864, MK2366i, QX300 and QX500 were installed. According to Mark: “EAW’s product line encompasses the breadth of products needed for Snapdragon Stadium, from ceiling speakers and small, medium and large format

loudspeakers in a weather-rated enclosure, as well as passive small format column speakers, and of course, the new AC6 high-output ADAPTive column loudspeaker. Additionally, apart from the ceiling speakers, all of these loudspeakers are offered in custom colors, allowing us to match adjacent architectural finishes for a truly integrated aesthetic.”

In addition to WJHW, the crew at EAW worked very closely with Clair Global Integration while building and installing the PA system. “We would like to commend everyone at EAW for very clear communication and transparency,” added Ted Leamy, General Manager, Clair Global Integrations. “During times of supply chain uncertainty, these facts were key to delivering the stadium on time and on budget. In addition, I would also like to applaud EAW on its customer support and service. They have a clear process in place for dealing with customer inquiries and were always readily available to help us with any questions we had along the way.”

Each of the 102 AC6 at Snapdragon stadium house 36 closely spaced and individually processed transducers allowing designers to cover the entire stadium using 51 fewer loudspeakers than a competitive steerable column solution. Take Control

EAW’s AC6 is an ADAPTive column loudspeaker fit for portable and installed applications whenever high-performance music amplification is required. Each AC6 is comprised of six, six-inch woofers and 30 one-inch dome tweeters mounted to a CSA waveguide. ADAPTive technology allows vertical coverage to be perfectly customized to any venue across the entire 20KHz to 65Hz operating range, resulting in even coverage throughout the space. A modular design approach provides redundancy and full serviceability from the front of the unit, making AC6 the easiest-to-service column loudspeaker available. In addition to San Diego Aztec football, Snapdragon Stadium will also serve as home to the National Women’s Soccer League’s Wave and the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby.

MANUFACTURER: EAW |

DESIGNER: WJHW |

INSTALLER: Clair Global Integration

High

PRUDENTIAL CENTER

New Jersey, USA

Images: Adamson Systems Engineering

Adamson Systems Engineering’s reputation for excellence in touring applications is driving the inclusion of the Canadian audio firm’s technology in large-scale, high profile fixed install projects across the United States. When it comes to large venues, they don’t get much higher profile than New Jersey’s Prudential Center, and the choice of Adamson’s class-leading E-Series and IS-Series loudspeakers for Prudential’s main audio system represents a dramatic expansion of Adamson’s footprint in the North American installation market.

“Adamson’s brand equity is very strong on the production/touring front, but when it comes to permanent installations, they still were relatively newer to the game,” said Stephen Morris,

President of C.V. Lloyde Audiovisual, the company tasked with the installation of the Adamson system by Virginia-based, Anthony James Partners (AJP), the design firm for the project.

Based on Prudential Center and other recent projects, Adamson loudspeakers have been deployed in, however, Stephen added: “I fully expect and already know that’s changing, and that Adamson products are being designed in as key elements for future large venue projects because of their performance and success stories like Prudential.”

In total, AJP specified eight main arrays of 10 E12s, each topped by a pair of E219 subs wrapped around the venue, roughly following the perimeter of the dasher boards that surround the rink during NHL games. Adamson IS10ps were also deployed as delay elements for the upper seating areas; 8 per side lengthways in the arena and four at either end. For downfills, a pair of IS10s and one E119 subwoofer per side are also mounted at each end of the arena, with the entire rig powered by Lab.gruppen D Series amplifiers with Lake Processing.

Opened in 2007, Prudential Center is one of the busiest multipurpose indoor arenas in the US. Beyond being the home base of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and Seton Hall University’s men’s basketball program, the Seton Hall Pirates, it’s a major concert venue that’s featured superstars including Bon Jovi, Big & Rich, and countless others over time.

“The number one challenge on this project was having uninterrupted time on the floor. You either have a game in there during basketball/hockey seasons, which overlap. Or there’s a concert or special event booked. We had less than a week to hang the main arrays and another week’s worth of days to put the delays in after that,” said Stephen. “You can’t just man up and work extra hours - there really aren’t any

‘extra hours’ at Prudential.”

Stephen credits everyone working on the project – including Star-Lo Communications and their lead on the project, Mike Jenks, C.V. Lloyde’s local AV install partner, for their assistance with the physical install – for making that time count and getting the job done quickly and effectively.

“The folks at Prudential were also wonderful to work with in helping with the logistical challenge of removing the old system and installing the new Adamson system,” said Jack Covert, AJP’s Director of Audio & Design Engineering. As for the choice of Adamson, he explained further: “Knowing Prudential is used to having big touring acts and audio come through there, and that the people who frequent the arena are aware of that, we wanted to make sure that the house system was right up there with any audio a touring company brings in for concerts. That led to Adamson being top of the list.”

“It’s an NHL arena,” Stephen noted. “And the NHL expects a strong, musical product, excellent articulation and intelligibility, and SPL that can reach up to 105 dB to get over crowd noise. Adamson’s E-Series platform does that. The uniformity of coverage is very impressive.”

The results have spoken for themselves since the project finished in late September 2022, Jack said, noting now brightly social media has lit up with fans’ comments about how good the venue sounds. But the Adamson system has also drawn effusive praise from Prudential’s management and ownership.

“I personally heard the GM use the word awesome,” Stephen concluded. “The owners are convinced they have the bestsounding arena in the NHL. Now, they could be biased, but having heard a sizable number of rooms myself, I concur; it is the best-sounding NHL room.”

MANUFACTURER: Adamson Systems Engineering | DESIGNER: Anthony James Partners | INSTALLER: C.V. Lloyde Audiovisual | INSTALL PARTNER: Star-Lo Communications

DIVE IN

ADAMSON FLETCHER MACHINE

The Adamson Fletcher Machine is an audio rendering processor offering incredibly simple operation with highly efficient spatialization tools, with hardware models offering 32, 64, or 128 inputs and outputs. To learn more about the Adamson Fletcher Machine visit our website at www.adamsonsystems.com

OPAP ARENA

Athens, Greece

In September 2022, the AEK FC Greek football team and its fans marked a historic moment - after 19 years without a home ground, the club’s new state-of-the-art stadium was finally opened to great fanfare and celebration. The club, which was founded by Greek refugees from Istanbul, hosted an impressive inauguration ceremony that reflected its rich history and showcased the enthusiasm of its loyal supporters.

The AEK Arena stadium meets the highest standards for FIFA/UEFA Elite stadiums, earning a Category 4 ranking. It boasts its own club museum,

Images: Daplast

as well as a Hellenic Refugees museum, with the project also including a regeneration programme for the surrounding park and urban areas.

Daplast, a leading manufacturer of stadium seating and temporary modular grandstands, was instrumental in the stadium’s design and planning. The company’s technical department studied the original grandstand technical drawings and collaborated with partners to propose the very best solution for AEK FC’s new home. The team actually travelled to Athens to visit the construction site, measuring the grandstands and ensuring that every detail was accounted for. From there, Daplast proposed various designs and colour distributions.

Daplast’s CR4 stadium seat model, which features PP and fiberglass supports, was the chosen solution. The highbackrest seat, which has been successfully installed in several La Liga stadiums, is homologated by the FIBA and designed according to FIFA recommendations for UEFA stadiums. The fiberglass supports are 100 percent rustproof and resistant to humidity and salinity, providing significant savings on maintenance costs. They come in two versions: floormounted in the lower grandstand and riser-mounted in the upper grandstand, according to each grandstand’s crosssection dimensions.

For the important installation phase, Daplast worked with Greece-based partners, Tsaoussoglou S.A. However, one of Daplast’s experienced installers was on hand at the venue to train and guide those in charge of the installation. In the end, more than 29,000 CR4 seats were installed in the grandstands, predominantly in the club’s custom-made shade of yellow.

Daplast seats are tested according to international standards EN 12727:01 for spectator seating on resistance and durability. Daplast is operating under the ISO 9001 quality assurance system and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System for manufacturing stadium seats.

With 14 seat models on the market, the Córdoba-based company have equipped many stadiums and arenas across the globe, including Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou, Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Sharjah Stadium and Hong Kong Jockey Club to name a few. With installations in countries such as England, Mexico, Macau, Vietnam, New Zealand, Russia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, and Argentina, Daplast is dedicated to providing the highest quality products and services to its clients.

MANUFACTURER: Daplast | INSTALLER: Tsaoussoglou S.A

Orléans, France

Images: Didier Depoorter, Populous

ARENA DU CO’MET P

opulous has completed its work on Arena Du CO’Met, the final part of a major new sports and cultural complex that has been created in the French city of Orléans, located on the banks of the Loire, 75 miles southwest of Paris. The 10,000-seat arena was opened to the public on January 7 2023, followed by an inaugural men’s handball tournament featuring the French national team before it departed to take part in the World Men’s Handball Championship, held in Poland and Sweden from 11 to 29 January 2023. Working alongside the project architect Ferrier Marchetti Studio, Chaix & Morel and Associates as lead designer of the centre’s conference and exhibition facilities, and Bouygues Construction as the contractor,

Populous is the designated sports architect for the seating bowl and interiors of the 10,000-seat arena, working to deliver a first-class fan experience in a modern and sustainable sports and entertainment venue for Orleans and the wider region.

The arena has been designed to host the majority of indoor sports, concerts and large-scale shows, with a 3,000 sq metre platform and modular stands for up to 10,000 seats. With the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics fast approaching, it has also been approved for international competitions in volleyball, handball, badminton, boxing, gymnastics, judo, athletics and

basketball, with Orléans Loiret Basket the arena’s resident club.

A ring of 28 boxes, housing between nine and 30 seats, is surmounted by a 360-degree LED banner screen, providing 260 linear metres for advertising, as well as an impressive LED cube, to replay action and enhance the event experience. A large range of premium seats, including courtside seats, are available, as well as a VIP area of over 1,000 sq metres, partitionable into several lounges.

The project is the latest completion by Populous France, based out of Paris. Other current projects include La Meinau

Stadium in Strasbourg, and the 16,000-capacity Olympique Lyonnais Groupe indoor venue in Lyon.

Francois Clement, Senior Principal at Populous and the General Manager of Populous France, said: “This project represents an important step forward in the continued development of Orleans’ cultural and business offering and will attract visitors from across France.

“As we continue to expand our business operations in the country, Populous is proud to have delivered an arena that will not only play a central role in the sporting events programme for the region but stands ready to serve as a world-class performance venue for athletes training for a variety of sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics.”

The Centre Orléans Métropole (CO’Met) is first multifunction

facility in France to combine an Arena, Conference Hall, and Exhibition Centre in one location, in addition to the existing and neighbouring Zénith d’Orléans, a 5,000-seat indoor sporting arena and concert hall. It will enable Orleans to host, in a same location and at the same time, national and international sports, cultural and economic events Instead of a single, multi-purpose building, Orléans Métropole opted for a modular and complementary set, comprising the ‘The Loiret’ exhibition centre, which can be expanded from 16,000 sq metres to 33,000 sq metres and divided into four halls, the convention centre – including a 1,000-seat auditorium with optimised acoustics – and the arena.

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VIVINT ARENA

Salt Lake City, USA

Images: Absen

Absen, and long-standing partner, Revel Media Group, have partnered with Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena, to install expansive new LED displays incorporating 70 million pixels, ahead of the 2022/2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) Regular season.

Home to the NBA’s Utah Jazz, the Vivint Arena needed a new interior display upgrade to start off the season with as much resolution as the title contenders themselves. The Installation encompassed upper and lower ribbons affixed to the seating gallery, the centre-hung display including sideline and baseline boards, trapezoid corners, and the underbelly displays, as well as auxiliary boards serving courtside. Revel Media Group, specialising in Digital Signage, LED installation, and a Cloud Based Content creation and Delivery System, specified Absen’s

N4 Plus series LED throughout the broad installation. Delivering the project within the tight deadline and in a costeffective manner, Revel Media Group’s Co-Founder, Brian Fitzpatrick, called the final project, which brings 70 million pixels to the Vivint Arena “truly one of a kind and will be the first in any American Stadium”.

Absen’s Director of Sales Engineering, US Western Region, Kobe Xiao commented: “Absen is delighted to be involved with such a dramatic and historic sporting installation, where Absen products add so much to the game experience with more pixels than any other stadium has yet seen in the US.”

Central to the viewing experience in the stadium is the vast centre-hung display system with its two approx. 40 ft x 24 ft sideline video displays and two end zone displays measuring 25.5 ft x 20 ft. the screen experience is maximised with four additional trapezoid-shaped corner displays and viewing further extended via the four underbelly display boards each measuring approx. 17 ft x 10 ft. The upper and lower ribbons also create a wow factor for the audience, featuring 1733 panels, over 820ft long, the equivalent of three football fields around the entire arena.

Providing an excellent viewing experience for the fans in attendance, Absen’s N4 Plus LED display is used to share

content ranging from live gameplay and instant replay to sponsorship messages and game statistics. Fans are afforded the excellent visual performance of a seamless 4mm pitch display on every visual surface from the ribbon displays to the four 825 sq foot corner displays.

Visual excellence also extends to the smaller courtside and entryway displays, where the light and thin design of Absen’s noise-free N4Plus modules creates a sleek finish with a depth of just 54mm. The smart modules are also capable of individually storing a host of important data including calibration detail, which is read automatically when any module is replaced. This smart nature adds to the ease and speed of maintenance, which can be approached by front or rear.

Absen’s experience and commitment to advancing the capabilities of LED technology in line with the fast-paced needs of global sport, has granted the company a winning position in the market. Successfully providing high-quality LED display services for the world’s top sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championships, the NBA and the Formula 1 World Championships, Absen continues to work closely with its partners in sports to achieve more firsts alongside them.

MANUFACTURER: Absen | SPECIFIER / INSTALLER: Revel Media Group

ENGINEERED TO AMAZE

MARKET-LEADING OUTPUT WITH EXACT COVERAGE

The MTS series consists of four base models. These include two standard three-way configurations with 60° x 40° or 40° x 30° coverage, and two cardioid configurations that provide the same coverage patterns with enhanced low-frequency directional control. The 60° x 40° models can deliver extremely high SPL: 151 dB peak (music) down to 55 Hz at -10 dB and 154 dB peak (speech); the 40° x 30° models are capable of 152 dB peak (music) down to 50 Hz at -10 dB and 155 dB peak (speech).

THE NEW STANDARD IN POINT-SOURCE SOUND

Each MTS standard model is equipped with four 15” woofers and dual coaxial mid/high frequency compression drivers. The four slot-loaded, high-efficiency low-frequency drivers are symmetrically coupled to the same full-range waveguide as the compression drivers to create a true pointsource with substantial bass response, eliminating the need for additional subwoofers in many applications. Stunning acoustic performance for indoor and outdoor installations of all sizes.

UNIQUE CARDIOID MODELS

The MTS series offers another key differentiator from the current competition. Equipped with two additional woofers, cardioid models deliver full-bandwidth directivity control that reduces sound spill outside the pattern, enhancing dynamics, improving sound quality and clarifying speech intelligibility.

TOSCANO FAMILY ICE FORUM

Connecticut, USA

Images: Daktronics

University of Connecticut (UCONN) hockey opened the Toscano Family Ice Forum in Storrs, Connecticut, with an integrated video and scoring system from Daktronics. The centerhung video display system, ribbon displays, scoreboards and entrance display were installed prior to the puck dropping for the first game on January 13.

Hanging above centre ice is a nine-display configuration to inform and engage fans at every event. Each of the four main video displays measures roughly 10 feet high by 18 feet wide with corner wedge displays between them measuring 10 feet high by 3 feet wide. A ring display is mounted below the main displays and measures 1.5 feet high by 61.5 feet in circumference. All nine displays feature 5.9-millimeter pixel layouts for excellent image clarity and contrast.

“We’re proud to continue our strong working relationship with the University of Connecticut,” said Peter Dunkle, Sales Representative at Daktronics.

“They know that we’ll get the job done on time, on budget and without causing any extra worries in the process. The

displays look great and we’re here to support them for the entire lifetime of their products.”

The four main video displays are each capable of variable content zoning allowing each to show one large image or to be divided into multiple zones. These zones can show any combination of live video, instant replays, statistics and game information, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.

Three ribbon displays were also installed at the venue to provide additional opportunities to highlight sponsors throughout events or share additional graphics and information to supplement the game-day environment. At the north end, a ribbon display measures 3 feet high by 49 feet wide and along each side of the rink, ribbon displays measure 2.5 feet high by 113 feet wide. All three displays feature the same 5.9-millimeter pixel spacing as the centerhung system.

Fixed-digit scoreboards were installed at each end of the arena to provide a constant update of critical game information such as scoring, time and game period as well as

shots on goal and penalty details.

Welcoming fans into the arena, a large LED video wall was installed in the main entrance stairway to connect with and energize fans as they arrive for UCONN hockey games. This display measures approximately 12 feet high by 8 feet wide and features a tight 2.5-millimeter pixel spacing for crisp, clear imagery visible at mere feet away from the display face.

To integrate the video and scoring equipment, Daktronics installed a complete Show Control solution. This industryleading control system provides a combination of display control software, world-class video processing, data integration and playback hardware that forms a powerful yet user-friendly production solution.

EXPERIENCE

LONDON STADIUM

London, England

Images: Musco Lighting

At major sports venues around the globe, athletes and fans alike are being ushered into a new era of stadium entertainment featuring state-of-theart special effects and light show technology. Among the most impressive recent examples of this is London Stadium, home ground of West Ham United FC, where the club has earned rave reviews for its spectacular pre-match light shows.

When stadium management moved ahead with the installation of a new LED field-of-play lighting system custom designed by Musco, they also wanted to enhance the overall stadium experience with cutting-edge special effects. Equally important for West Ham, however, was to also preserve the traditional, historical “feel” of matchday that its fans—among the most passionate in all of European football—love and expect.

Familiar with recent special effects installations completed by Musco in partnership with Stadium FX—which included

Aviva Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the San Siro, Wembley Stadium, and the Etihad—West Ham decided to include state-of-the-art special effects controls and infrastructure in its project.

“There’s a lot that goes into ensuring a successful project of this caliber,” said Sam MacLaren, Co-Founder and Technical Director at Stadium FX. “In addition to the technology itself it takes a proven ability to integrate top notch technical skills and programming capabilities with an exceptional eye for creative design, aesthetics, and customisation possibilities.”

The system includes custom-built mounts and infrastructure for moving spotlights and colored RGBW fixtures throughout the seating bowl, as well as capabilities for custom-designed light shows provided by Stadium FX on a match-by-match basis.

In November of 2022, the club had additional temporary coloured fixtures installed to accent London Stadium’s roof structure as part of plans to celebrate the English Premier

League’s Rainbow Laces campaign promoting equality and diversity. As part of the celebration, West Ham staged dazzling, colour-changing light shows that gained significant attention on social media.

“West Ham was dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind stadium experiences and providing fans with unforgettable memories,” said Chris Limpach, General Manager of Musco Europe. “We continue to be impressed by their work and are proud that we get to be a part of helping to enhance these games and events in a way that makes everyone happy.”

“We’ve really enjoyed working with Musco and Stadium FX to bring our matchday activations to life at London Stadium,” said Jayne Quinton, West Ham United Matchday Producer. “With 62,500 supporters packing out the stadium at home fixtures, our prematch shows are an integral part of the matchday experience for West Ham United supporters of all ages, with our recent activations around the Rainbow Laces campaign receiving widespread praise.”

BRANDS: Musco Lighting, Stadium FX

Football & Rugby

THURS 9TH MARCH

DONALD W. REYNOLDS CENTER

Tulsa, USA

Images: Quince Imaging

For over 25 years, the Virginia based Quince Imaging team has regularly taken live event experiences to the next innovation level through the ingenious use of the latest high-quality video and imaging technology.

As an early adopter of projection mapping technology in particular, Quince Imaging pioneered the use of real-time

rendering and projection technology in many of the US’s professional sports leagues.

In early December 2022, they helped the University of Tulsa to debut one of college athletics’ most cutting-edge projection mapping system setups ever.

The powerful combination of four Christie Digital D4K40 laser projectors, AV Stumpfl PIXERA media servers, BlackTrax tracking, CUE Audio integration, and Quince’s original 3D content created an extremely impressive live-event experience.

As part of the system setup, the QI team also honoured the 50 year legacy of the legendary “Pong” by developing a custom paddle ball game that helped fans feel closer to their team by allowing them to interact with projections on the basketball court.

It was the first time that Quince Imaging used AV Stumpfl’s PIXERA real-time media server system for one of their projects.

Quince Imaging Account Manager Dan Ribaudo, expressed great satisfaction with the overall performance of the versatile system: “There was very little time between the first project meeting and the actual commissioning, but the flexibility of the PIXERA platform made it possible for our team to realise the final installation very quickly.”

The ability to cross connect multiple show control technologies proved another decisive advantage. “We built a PIXERA control webpage, which made operating the setup very easy, even for minimally trained production staff.”

AV Stumpfl’s Global Marketing Advisors, Hans Christian Stuck, added: “It’s a great feeling for the whole PIXERA team to see that our media server platform is becoming a household name in the US.

“When legendary projection mapping pioneers like Quince Imaging use your system, you just know that you’re on the right track.“

SYSTEM INTEGRATION, CREATIVE CONCEPT & VIDEO CONTENT: Quince Imaging | MEDIA SERVER: AV Stumpfl | TRACKING TECHNOLOGY: CAST Group of Companies Inc., Blacktrax | 3D ANIMATIONS: The Experiential Co. | AUDIO INTEGRATION: CUE Audio

XCEL ENERGY CENTER L

ocated in downtown Minneapolis, Xcel Energy Center is home to the NHL club, Minnesota Wild. Since the beginning of the 2021-2022 NHL season, the Wild have infused a special kind of energy into their gameday experience to help their fans inspire the team to victory.

Images: X-Laser

Specifically, the rafters at Xcel Energy Center hold four Skywriter HPX MF-20 laser systems by X-Laser, the leading U.S.-based manufacturer of high-powered laser light show projectors. Each system boasts 20 watts of full-colour laser power, which is unleashed during the team’s pregame program and each intermission.

“The Wild reached out to us when they wanted to purchase a laser system instead of renting one for each season,” explained Tony Mahmood, Manager at Minneapolis-based Legacy Production Group. “We worked with X-Laser to provide the Wild the laser package and our team programmed the custom laser show.”

The laser show is projected onto the ice playing surface and

is complemented by video projections, traditional lighting effects and pulsating music. The main show runs for several minutes just before pregame player introductions and different shows play during each of the two 20-minute intermissions between game periods.

“We update the show content every few months, so that the gameday presentation remains fresh and dynamic to keep the fans engaged and energised,” Tony added. “Those updates occur at the beginning of each regular season, each January around the midpoint of the season, and for each round of the playoffs in which the Wild participate.

“We program the show using a grandMA2 console and run everything using a combination of traditional laser software and X-Laser’s Mercury laser control system via sACN. Working with the X-Laser team has been really good and the Wild love having exclusive usage of their own set of lasers in their home arena.”

The X-Laser team assisted Legacy Production Group with designing the system and planning the installation, as well

as on-site training and verification once it was time to rig the laser units into the rafters. Due to the vast area inside the Xcel Energy Center, the team had one notable challenge to overcome.

“We couldn’t daisy chain our remote stop signals among the projectors like we normally would in a more linear array, so we had to create a solution to ensure the remote stop signal routing remained in compliance,” said Andrew Berry, X-Laser’s CTO. “We ended up making a custom patch panel that integrates with our EtherStop system and the Wild’s show control network.”

“Overall, the entire install and project has been fairly easy, and honestly, even making the custom network switch wasn’t a big deal,” Tony added. “With the way our system works and how straightforward the rigging was thanks to all that space up in the catwalks, now it’s simply a laser installation that the team loves, the fans love and it looks badass.”

AZERBAIJAN PREMIER LEAGUE

Azerbaijan

Images: BroaMan

The need to streamline a system for instant VAR (Video Assistant Referee) incident review from Azerbaijan’s Premier League football stadia has resulted in German-based system integrators Broadcast Solutions establishing a bi-directional audio and visual data flow between a central hub and remote venue locations in the country. As a result AFFA (Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan) has now officially become FIFA VAR certified.

To accomplish this they requisitioned a customised version of BroaMan’s popular Mux22 multiplexer, extending the capacity of a device, enabling it to transport all signals down a single duplex fibre cable, within the existing fibre infrastructure.

Broadcast Solutions won a competitive tender for the planning, designing and implementation of the VAR system, and have since worked reliably with AFFA (Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan).

The VAR system comprised a two-part project, with a mobile VAR system incorporated in a 3.5t transporter, as well as three VOR (Video Operation Rooms) integrated into the offices of Baku’s Olympic Stadium—this serves as a central

VAR hub for all games in the Azerbaijan football league. The mobile solution is used in cases where venues lack a fibre line connection to the VAR hub or distances are too wide. The mobile VAR solution offers three workplaces with an additional flightcase monitor placed at the sideline for the referees to review questionable incidents.

While the 10 stadia across the country that make up the league are already connected with dedicated fibre lines three are available at any one time—since the VOR Room needs to handle three simultaneously. BroaMan’s Mux22 played a central role in the overall solution, with three fixed units in the Baku VAR centre and the other three in mobile racks for the stadiums situated around Baku.

The three VORs now offer sufficient space for three video assistant referees to work. They, in turn, have access to a separate Central Apparatus Room (CAR), giving them the possibility to cover three matches simultaneously. Each VAR system (both mobile and fixed) is equipped to handle up to eight video signals per match.

Broadcast Solutions’ Project Manager, Gunnar Jungerts, explained how BroaMan had worked with the integrators to produce a customised solution: “The theoretical maximum

possible distance of 80 km in a fibre network is dependent on the quality of fibre links and eventually patch points in between. In the given fibre infrastructure we could realise a de facto maximum distance of 56 km. However in the extended range Mux22 works perfectly well, and it is possible to monitor this in the user interface.”

“With the assistance of the BroaMan devices, Broadcast Solutions have fulfilled the brief from AFFA and implemented a workable solution. As a result, the Azerbaijan Football Association now has the ability to share video and audio content, facilitating the processing of data from remote stadia for review and adjudication perfectly,” stated Mrs. Farida Lutfaliyeva, VAR Project Leader.

Locations of the 10 current Azerbaijan Premier League teams - and their stadia - are Gabala City Stadium (Gabala), Ganja City Stadium (Kapaz), Bakcell Arena (Neftçi), Azersun Arena (Qarabağ), Baku Bank Respublika Arena (Sabah), Bayil Arena (Sabail, Baku), Shamakhi City Stadium (Shamakhi), Kapital Bank Arena (Sumqayit), Tovuz City Stadium (Turan-Tovuz) and Zira Olympic Sport Complex Stadium (Zira, Baku).

DYNAMIC MUSIC DISTRIBUTION

DYNAMIC MUSIC DISTRIBUTION

High-quality music distribution in multi-zone / source applications

DYNAMIC MUSIC DISTRIBUTION

High-quality music distribution in multi-zone / source applications

High-quality music distribution in multi-zone / source applications

BENDAC

Bendac to deliver the complete LED Perimeter Advertising System for stadiums

Bendac, a leading provider of LED solutions for the sports industry, has announced its latest offering to help clubs and venues manage their cash flow and maximise their investment in technology. Working with top UK finance brokers and lenders, Bendac is providing clubs with digital technology bundles that include the ultimate LED Perimeter Advertising System and other digital assets throughout the stadium.

The solution can be operated as a Lease or Hire Purchase, with the cost broken down into manageable monthly payments over periods of 36, 48, and 60 months.

Bendac’s LED solutions are designed to provide clubs with the most impactful and reliable digital advertising systems available. The company is so confident in the reliability of its products that it is offering buybacks to clubs, allowing them to invest safely in the knowledge that their investment will last the full term. This also means that clubs will have the available capital to invest in new technology once the initial agreement is complete.

This is a first in the sports industry, with Bendac helping clubs to manage their cash flow for the duration of the LED solutions’ life. Ben Da Costa explained that Bendac’s main goal is to help clubs and venues harness the power of digital technology to achieve their objectives: “We’re taking our game to the next level in terms of perimeter solutions, with a focus on offering a unique leased model for football clubs

“Instead of traditional outright purchases or shared media rights, our solution allows clubs to maintain 100% of the revenue from the perimeter, while having a monthly cost for the lease. It’s an exciting launch that sets us apart in the industry.

“We understand the challenges that sports clubs face when looking to invest in their stadiums and arenas – and that’s why we’ve created these comprehensive bundles that include everything a club needs to get started with a cutting-edge LED perimeter advertising system and digital assets.”

COMING SOON: BOCC Studio

In addition to this, Bendac is also launching BOCC Studio - its very own creative content design agency to assist the sports industry in creating eye-catching graphics that maximise their investment in large format digital screens.

The agency will offer an array of services, from concept development through to execution and delivery. Working closely with their clients, the experienced team will help to develop campaigns that are built around the client’s needs, creating dynamic content with an emphasis on engaging audiences through show-stopping content, all designed specifically for LED displays.

BOCC Studio, which will be launching in the coming months, will have content packs available for all customers of Bendac screens to benefit from as part of an added content bundle. If you’re a sports club looking to upgrade your venue’s technology, Bendac has the expertise and technology to help you achieve your goals. With its innovative solutions and commitment to customer satisfaction, Bendac is the ideal partner for anyone looking to embrace the future of digital technology.

bendac.tech

FULL TURNKEY LED DISPLAY SOLUTIONS

From conceptual design and planning, through to installation and commissioning, our expert teams work in unison to create turnkey solutions that push the boundaries of LED Display technology.

+44 1225 700 005

info@bendac.tech www.bendacgroup.tech

More than a match.

A great lineup of sound reinforcement technology. A customized look. The renowned d&b Workflow. All this and world-class support from start to finish. d&b Stadium solutions are designed so that everyone wins. (We like to play fair.)

Discover more: dbaudio.com/sports-venues

The art of creative engineering.