MONDO | STADIA - Issue 31 - August | September

MULLETT ARENA

Henderson Engineering delivers its full scope of building systems design services for ASU’s new, multipurpose arena.

QINGCHUN FOOTBALL STADIUM

Qingdao’s new, 55,000-capacity venue is equipped with a powerful, state-of-the-art Coda Audio system by integrator, Tongbo.

FORTRESS SYDNEY

The largest esports complex in the southern hemisphere is kitted our with a new NEXO audio system.

FULL TIME

The Digital Line’s CEO, George R Vaughan, discusses whether AI-driven technology such as voice platforms are the future.

WELCOME

We’re delighted to have a genuinely iconic European venue as our cover story for ISSUE 31, with our focus on the home of Portuguese giants, S.L. Benfica - Estádio da Luz.

Officially opened 20 years ago, with a total capacity of 64,642, Estádio da Luz has hosted both UEFA European Championships and Champions League finals, highlighting its standing in world football. Despite its success, the growth and ambiton has continued, with both the audio and lighting systems receiving significant upgrades recently. We’ve taken a closer look at how d&b audiotechnik and Musco Lighting have further enhanced an already-spectacular stadium. Check out the full feature on page 12. We also feature Henderson Engineers project at Mullett Arena, in which they’ve delivered a full scope of building systems design services for ASU’s new, multipurpose venue.

Over in China, we’ve taken a deep dive into Tongbo’s integration of a new, stateof-the-art Coda Audio system at Qingchun Football Stadium. Staying with audio, there’s also a interesting project from NEXO, who has supplied a new system for Fortress Sydney - the largest esports complex in the southern hemisphere. Our Team Talk column in this issue is courtesy of Renkus-Heinz, with a focus on beam-steering technology - and why OmniBeam is a game-changer for stadiums and arenas.

We also have fascinating article from George R Vaughan, CEO of The Digital Line, who discusses A.I. driven tech and how voice platforms offer a solution for hospitality in a world of rising costs and staff shortages.

Sam Hughes Editorial Director

Editorial

Sam

Commercial

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

Group

RENKUS-HEINZ WHY YOUR NEXT STADIUM INSTALL SHOULD USE BEAM-STEERING ARRAYS

Beam steering has always been a great, if unconventional, solution for stadiums, but Renkus-Heinz’s OmniBeam is a game changer...

Images: Renkus-Heinz

When “beam steering” enters a conversation about audio systems, “houses of worship” immediately comes to mind for many integrators. Not stadiums, arenas or other large venues. And while beam-steering arrays are, in fact, an excellent solution for houses of worship, they’re also great for any application where a traditional line array is commonly deployed. Like stadiums, for instance. While traditional line arrays typically use horns with controlled dispersion patterns, they still often distribute a lot of acoustic energy to places where there’s no audience. Or worse, they don’t distribute sound to where people are sitting. And there’s nothing more off-putting at a sporting event (aside from your team losing) than not being able to hear announcements clearly. Beam-steering arrays solve all these problems.

A Little About How Beam Steering Works

Technically speaking, beam steering increases the direct energy (as opposed to reverberant energy) in a space by directing sound at the audience, improving speech intelligibility and

music reproduction.

The goal is consistent front-to-back audience coverage, meaning the people closer to the loudspeakers hear sound at approximately the same volume and intelligibility as those far away, even over distances exceeding 35 meters. Achieving consistent coverage involves pointing different beams at separate sections of the audience. Think of an acoustic beam like the beam of a flashlight. Flashlights have a defined cone of light brightest at the center that weakens or spreads at the edges. If you overlap flashlights correctly, you can maintain consistent light coverage over a larger area. You may have to dim the flashlights used at the front of the audience or use brighter flashlights for the very back to get a consistent light level regardless of where a person’s sitting. Acoustic beams work similarly. Beams are created by a group of drivers acting cohesively, so beam-steered arrays typically have eight to 32 drivers or more. Each driver requires separate amplification and digital signal processing to enable this cohesive steering. One reason is that frequencies behave differently over distance and decay at different

rates. Another reason is that drivers need to be acoustically aligned when spaced close together to prevent adverse sonic effects from occurring, meaning each driver must have different acoustic settings applied to maintain coverage consistency.

All of that probably sounds much more complicated (and expensive) than traditional line arrays, but it’s not. It’s just math, and computers are great at solving mathematical equations for you. Renkus-Heinz’s recently announced OmniBeam algorithm reduces the time and know-how required to get excellent acoustic results from your beam-steering array. No longer is alleged “rocket science” involved in simulating and commissioning steerable arrays. Now they’re as simple to deploy as point-and-shoot loudspeakers.

What Makes OmniBeam Different?

With OmniBeam, Renkus-Heinz is changing the perception that beam steering is knowledge and time intensive — for niche applications only. Their new algorithm is the culmination of decades of expertise in steerable technology, replacing their

previous “best-fit” algorithm to now deliver unmatched sound and coverage for 100% of venues with less time and knowledge required than ever before.

Renkus-Heinz has continued to innovate its beam-steering technology, seeking to ensure the best results for 100% of spaces while making beam-steering even easier to use. The all-new OmniBeam workflow is the fulfillment of the company’s mission to ensure exceptional, accessible, hassle-free sound for every venue.

The new OmniBeam algorithm is based on beam shaping rather than beam steering. The ideal beam shape is automatically created from parameters defined by the user within the new BeamWare interface. With the press of a button, OmniBeam generates ideal FIR coefficients for every unique venue, delivering faster, better and more consistent results than ever before with less time and knowledge needed. The result is custom-tailored coverage precisely dialed into the exact geometry of each space, providing the most consistent front-to-back audio experience possible. Equally important, OmniBeam allows integrators, regardless of their level of expertise, to achieve great results with minimal effort, every time.

Practical Benefits of OmniBeam for Stadiums Stadium sound is all about creating a great experience for every guest, so consistent coverage is essential. Beam-steering arrays

are known for delivering precise coverage, but getting that great coverage could take a while in times past. If a single array needed to cover multiple audience areas, system commissioners may have needed to configure multiple beams with lots of iterations. Even a single audience area may have required two or three beams. And using multiple beams often required trial and error adjustments until landing on a satisfactory configuration.

OmniBeam simplifies the process and gives you better, more consistent coverage from the first press of a button. Once you open the interface, select the appropriate loudspeaker and enter the audience area. Then, press the aptly-named “Snap to Audience Area” button. And voila — all the beam-steering calculations, frequency adjustments and FIR filter calculations are completed for you. Repeat the process for each audience area, and you’re done with configuration — you no longer need multiple beams to cover a single audience area.

In a large venue like a stadium, this means less moving around during commissioning from seat to seat, level to level, to ensure the acoustics are satisfactory. Fewer microphone placements are required, saving commissioning time because you do not have to reposition or walk around as much to check the coverage repeatedly.

Many adjustments can be made simply

by moving the on-screen aiming handles (because who doesn’t like to tinker?). If you want more energy somewhere, move the handle where you want, and the coverage follows. And that’s it. For more granular control of the beams, Renkus-Heinz still provides access to advanced controls should you need them.

While OmniBeam is very powerful in its own right, it does not replace the need for acoustic simulation of the stadium with EASE or other tools. Instead, it augments your simulations by making the beam steering within your project simulation intuitive and easy to configure. Provided your simulation data is accurate, your beam-steering coverage will realistically match what was predicted. And even if the acoustics aren’t meeting expectations, OmniBeam makes it easy to make quick adjustments that will yield great results for all the seating areas in the stadium.

Ballpark of the Palm Beaches Use Case

The 160-acre Ballpark of the Palm Beaches is the spring training home of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals baseball clubs. A true state-of-the-art facility, it includes a 6,500-seat main field, six wellappointed premium suites for up to 15 guests, and two party decks with food service and a full bar. The main stadium utilizes two dozen Renkus-Heinz IC Live beam-steering arrays to keep the audience engaged and informed.

The IC Live loudspeakers easily deliver the power and throw needed for the stadium, delivering a 105 dB SPL peak at 100 feet. However, mounting the loudspeakers was particularly challenging in this stadium due to its layout. Underneath the main stadium are several slender columns supporting the press box, which were used to mount some of the IC Live arrays. Additionally, ten custom speaker poles were installed, five on each side, in areas of the stadium without supporting columns. With no overhang or canopy on the speaker poles, installing a loudspeaker on an overhang and aiming it down was impossible. Instead, 24 IC Live arrays were effective because each unit is steerable with an adjustable aiming angle from -30° to +30° — enough to reach every section of the stands with even coverage.

Final Thoughts

Beam-steering arrays have been pigeonholed in the AV industry as only applicable for houses of worship, but nothing could be further from the truth. Any application that uses column loudspeakers, surface mount loudspeakers, point-source loudspeakers or even line arrays is likely a good fit for beamsteering arrays. To make the simulation and commissioning of the projects smoother, OmniBeam does all the heavy lifting for you, giving you better, more consistent coverage with the press of a button.

EVERY NOTE EVERY WORD EVeRYWHERE

At Renkus-Heinz, audio is our passion. From the crack of a bat to the last note of a symphony, our mission is to deliver every single sound with utmost clarity.

Guests seek a complete experience. Clients pay for a comprehensive solution. Integrators require components that consistently and reliably perform at the highest level.

So a true sound solution is affordable. It’s adaptable to both complex and simple environments. And it makes every note sparkle and helps every word hit home.

Renkus-Heinz: The Sound Solution

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EMPOWERING CONTENT EVERYWHERE

EMPOWERING CONTENT EVERYWHERE

012 Estádio da Luz | Lisbon, Portugal 022 Mullett Arena | Arizona, USA

ESTÁDIO DA LUZ

Lisbon, Portugal

Images: d&b audiotechnik, Musco Lighting, Miguel Mota Sousa

D&B AUDIOTECHNIK

Home to Lisbon’s Benfica football club, the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica – known as the Estadio da Luz (Stadium of Light) – is now providing an unparalleled stadium sound experience, thanks to the installation of the world’s first totally cardioid d&b audiotechnik sound system.

Unique for a football stadium, the new system was installed by Portuguese specialist NAN Audiovisuais, as part of a complete refurbishment aimed at achieving a more dynamic standard of utilization for the venue. The operators knew that a new sound system would be imperative – and according

to the vision of the club president, Rui Costa, this would be achieved using the best technologies, facilities, and resources available.

The exceptional standard set by this installation is thanks to the d&b XSL 8/12 cardioid line array, along with the new XSL SUB and A-Series augmented array. Together, these produce an even and powerful sound distribution, based around a series of small arrays just 1.7 meters in length. With each array providing more than 60 meters of vertical coverage from the uppermost seat to the very front row, this is one of the most discreet systems ever installed. The impressive

broadband frequency control achieved by the cardioid technology of the XSL system minimizes reverberation times, taking intelligibility to a new level, one never achieved before in the stadium.

In terms of technology and performance, the installation was expected to place the Estadio da Luz at the top of the list of worldwide reference venues of similar size. It was to ensure that the facility remained as attractive as possible to the public, corporate clients, and promoters, while always meeting the high standards laid down by UEFA and FIFA.

Benfica’s technical team of Paulo Martins, Mario Correia, Hugo Garcia, and Vasco Martins, worked closely with NAN Audiovisuais, and d&b’s Head of Global EAS, Stefan Goertz. Additional support with the creation and fine-tuning of d&b ArrayCalc and EASE files was provided by d&b’s stadia team, led by Senior Application Engineer, Dominika Obwarzanek.

NAN Audiovisuais director, Luis Vidigal, says, “This was the

biggest challenge we have ever taken on, and we had only three months to deliver it in the run-up to Christmas. We are very grateful to our suppliers, including our partners at d&b audiotechnik, who have helped us to achieve what is possibly the fastest supply and the most advanced sound system installation for any stadium of this size on the planet.” He adds, “For this project we had a very simple task to achieve. As the Benfica club leaders put it, ‘We are the best team, so we must have the best sound.’ So that was our target!”

The result generates a unique experience for a stadium environment hosting more than 65,000 people. As Mario Correia, Benfica’s Director of Audiovisual System, says: “In 16 years of stadium history I never felt such a high level of emotion from the audience. The voice from the speakers and the music never produced anything like this before, getting the crowd so alive and such a part of the show!”

Experience Matters

Whether it’s an iconic venue like Wembley Stadium, training academy grounds, or a grassroots pitch, Musco’s sports lighting systems continue to be the solution of choice around the world. Our superior project management expertise, light control technology, system reliability and warranty, and special e ects capabilities create unforgettable experiences for players and fans alike.

MUSCO LIGHTING

As the home ground of two-time European champions and 38-time Portuguese Primera Liga champions Sport Lisboa e Benfica—more commonly known as Benfica—the 64,000-seat Estadio da Luz is among the largest venues in Europe and has hosted UEFA Euro and UEFA Champions League matches featuring other top clubs from around the world. Completed in 2003, Estadio da Luz—which translates in English to “Stadium of Light”—features a sleek architectural design including a distinctive polycarbonate roof that allows sunlight to stream through.

The stadium has undergone several renovation projects in recent years, and when club owners determined it was time for a new field-of-play lighting system to replace the original HID lights, they wanted a state-of-the-art LED system that would deliver exciting benefits on a number of fronts. Specifically, Benfica wanted a lighting system that would meet the highest broadcast standards for international play, offer eye-catching special effects technology, minimise glare from affecting players and spectators, and complement the stadium’s unique architecture.

To achieve all of its lighting goals and transform the overall

experience at the Stadium of Light—which has served as home to some of the best football players in the world— Benfica partnered with Musco for the development of a highly-customised LED system.

Utilising its patented Total Light Control—TLC for LED™ technology, Musco developed an LED retrofit system upgrade that achieved all of Benfica’s lighting goals at Estadio da Luz. The new system provides clear, uniform lighting across the stadium’s pitch that exceeds the recently published FIFA Standard A broadcast specifications, while its patented fixture visoring technology significantly reduces glare throughout the venue.

Musco custom built new structural mounts that were clamped to the existing gantry on the underside of the stadium’s roof,

providing exceptional reliability and trouble-free operation while also seamlessly aligning with the venue’s unique, award-winning architectural aesthetic. The system also includes Musco’s Show-Light® Pro Venue special effects controls package, along with colour-changing RGW luminaires strategically located throughout the stadium, for the creation of cutting-edge light shows with light-tomusic synchronisation.

With the new TLC for LED system in place, Benfica also benefits from Musco’s long-term parts and labour warranty, which guarantees light levels and eliminates maintenance on the new lights well into the future.

MULLETT ARENA

Arizona, USA

The scorching Sonoran Desert Region in North America is unsurprisingly not known as a hotbed for ice sports. However, the hockey program at Arizona State University (ASU) has been breaking that mold for years, progressing from an intramural club team to an NCAA Division 1 contender. The university rightfully ventured to build a state-of-the-art multipurpose facility to match its profile as a competitor at the highest level of American collegiate sports. An all-star design and construction team was assembled to realize that vision including Henderson Engineers, a national building systems design firm with offices in Phoenix, a stone’s throw away from ASU’s main campus in Tempe, Arizona.

Enter Mullett Arena, a 5,000-seat, 210,750 square-foot venue that opened in October 2022 to great fanfare. At the heart of the $134 million facility are two ice rinks, one of which caters to ASU hockey main events and public gatherings such as concerts and trade shows and is designed to meet both NCAA and professional hockey standards. The second ice sheet serves as a multifunctional community/training space for hosting practices, youth sports, figure skating, and other community-oriented programs. The Henderson-designed

heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at the facility is central to maintaining ideal temperature, humidity, and dew point to sustain excellent ice quality no matter the conditions outdoors.

“ASU was committed to having one of the best ice sheets within collegiate sports and beyond. Poor indoor conditions related to temperature, air distribution, humidity levels, and water quality have a direct impact on the quality of the ice sheet and its ability to perform under the heavy usage and fast-paced play of collegiate and professional Hockey. So, providing a high-quality HVAC system is one of the most important decisions you can make when building a hockey arena,” explained Kelly Hyde, Henderson’s sports practice director who served as project manager for Mullett Arena.

“We’ve worked on numerous ASU athletic projects throughout the years including their newly renovated Sun Devil football stadium, football student athletic facility, football indoor practice facility, men’ and women’s basketball practice facility, and their fitness complexes at both their Polytechnic Campus as well as their West Campus. This puts our team of experts in this field at an advantage because we understand what it takes to deliver to ASU’s high standards.”

Given the energy intensive process of maintaining ice rinks, Henderson looked to minimise environmental impact by equipping Mullett Arena with intuitive control systems that allow facility operators to adjust energy consumption based on power needs at a given time. This efficiency approach was in alignment with ASU’s sustainability requirements, which stipulate designing toward LEED Silver benchmarks at minimum.

Beyond top notch ice, the fan experience is front and center at the venue. A social deck, club lounge, premium club seats, two group suites, and 20 luxury suites are among the amenities spread across the building’s three floors. Such factors were undoubtedly under consideration when the Arizona Coyotes NHL team signed a lease to use Mullett Arena as their interim home base in mid-2022 after departing their former arena. The move has resonated with spectators, who have flocked to Coyotes events and helped sell out every

home game so far during the 2022-2023 NHL season. “Mullett Arena is a flagship project not just for hockey at ASU, but for ice sports throughout the Southwestern United States,” said Hyde. “It will not only attract high level athletes but new fans too, which was top of mind for us through every step of the design process. The Coyotes choosing to bring their talents to the venue is a major stamp of approval for the quality that was delivered by the entire design and construction team.”

Henderson’s full scope of building systems design services included acoustical consulting, electrical, fire and life safety, mechanical, plumbing, security, and sustainability design and engineering. Other key players included Mortenson Development, Inc. as the design-builder, Mortenson as the general contractor, SCI as the architect, and Dibble Engineering as the civil engineer.

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QINGCHUN FOOTBALL STADIUM

Qingdao, China

Images: Coda Audio

Part of the Park Sports Complex in the Chengyang district of the Chinese city of Qingdao, the Qingchun Football Stadium was designed by the China Southwest Architecture Design and Research Institute, and built by China Construction Eighth Engineering Bureau.

With seating for 55,000 spectators, the stadium constitutes a major development for international football in China. With ambitions to stage the Asian Cup and World Cup tournaments in the future, the stadium needed to conform to the stringent standards of the game’s worldwide governing body, FIFA, as set out in its Stadium Technical Recommendations and Requirements.

The fully-roofed, two-tier construction provides for every requirement of players, officials, media representatives, VIPs and fans to international standards, while a multifunctional training hall, swimming pool, two further grass pitches and commercial spaces complement the development of the site. Leading production specialist and integrator, Tongbo,

was engaged to supply and install a comprehensive audio system for Qingchun Football Stadium, and chose a CODA Audio system to meet the demanding brief. The primary objective of the system is to ensure exceptional power and clarity, in order to ensure that everyone present inside the stadium can hear announcements at all times, often against the background of loud crowd noise. Headroom in such circumstances becomes a vital element of the PA system, as does the ability to precisely control its area of coverage to avoid the sound reflections created by many walls and glass surfaces.

The system at Qingdao deployed two of CODA Audio’s principal ranges to cater for the seated areas and playingsurface areas respectively. CODA’s HOPS12i high-output three-way point-source loudspeaker was used for the main seating areas. 20 groups of three HOPS12i (140° vertical x 90° horizontal were mounted under the catwalk to give even coverage of the entire area, while ViRAY compact line array loudspeakers took care of the playing area. Four groups

of eight ViRAY (two groups on each of the east and west sides) comfortably cover the pitch. A further six CODA Audio G512-PRO 12-inch compact, two-way versatile point source speakers can be deployed for the rostrum area or anywhere else in the stadium where mobile returns are required.

Discussing the new Coda Audio system at Qingchun Football Stadium, Lang Jun, Senior Engineer, said: “In the first event of this year, the sound clarity and coverage were excellent, providing a natural balance. The audio maintained high clarity whether at low sound pressure or high sound pressure, receiving praise from the owner and various parties.”

CODA Audio Director of Global Sales and Marketing, David Webster added: “We’re very proud to see CODA Audio providing the solution for such a high profile stadium in China. This is a major project in a venue that will stage leading international matches and serves to demonstrate how the audio quality, flexibility and adaptability of CODA systems can meet and exceed the very highest standards demanded.

“The Qingchun Football Stadium is also another fine example of Tongbo’s excellent work - their team has now been involved in the delivery of a wide variety of large scale prestigious installations and live performances using CODA, all of which have securely cemented our high reputation amongst their clients.”

FORTRESS SYDNEY

Sydney, Australia

With over 50 years of dedicated experience in the audio-visual landscape, The Avit Group deploys industry-leading technology in the design of comprehensive systems for hospitality and entertainment venues nationwide. The company’s reputation for compelling solutions is due in part, to their affinity for well-crafted hardware. Tasked with the installation of a premiere audio system for the exhilarative Fortress Sydney, The Avit Group chose state-of-the-art technology from French loudspeaker brand NEXO.

Located in Chippendale’s Central Park Mall, Fortress Sydney is a ground-breaking gamer’s haven. The expansive new site now holds the title of largest esports complex in the Southern Hemisphere, drawing crowds as a modern entertainment mecca. Housing a slew of colourful arcades, streaming booths, a themed tavern, sci-fi inspired bar, PC LAN lounge and a colossal custom-designed esports arena, Fortress Sydney has been designed from the ground up as the unparalleled capitol of the city’s gaming community. Sponsored by high-end PC gaming titan Alienware, Fortress is by nature, a hub for the tech-savvy. Packed with a myriad of elite gaming PCs, peripherals and addressable lighting, the

word ‘performance’ was on the lips of every supplier involved in the project. Faced with providing a loudspeaker solution befitting of such a technological pedigree, The Avit Group selected NEXO’s P15 point source system for the Alienware Arena.

The Avit Group’s Operations Manager, Adrian Davis, outlines Avit’s role in realising the venue’s grand vision: “For the Fortress esports project, we were given the brief to create a dynamic, immersive, and technologically advanced AV system, which sits somewhere between an entertainment venue and a broadcast studio. The vision was to set a new benchmark for esports venues not only in Australia but across the globe. It was essential to provide seamless and high-quality audio experiences that would engage audiences, whether they were on-site or connecting digitally. Our goal was to ensure that the AV infrastructure was flexible and robust enough to accommodate a variety of events and broadcasts without compromising on quality or user experience.”

After careful review of a variety of speaker options for the Arena, NEXO’s celebrated P+ system was deployed in a L+R hang configuration, made up of a P15 loudspeaker and L18

sub on each side. Adrian reveals that “NEXO’s reputation for delivering pristine sound quality, combined with the versatility of their P+ series, made it a clear choice.”

Proving NEXO a worthy contender for the Alienware Arena, where gaming tournaments are rendered into a thrilling spectator sport, Adrian champions the capabilities of the P+ Series: “The obvious standout features of the NEXO P15 speakers and L18 subs are their impeccable sound quality, high output, and compact design. The P15’s asymmetric dispersion pattern provides excellent coverage to everyone in the arena, while the L18 subwoofers deliver powerful and accurate low frequencies, crucial for an immersive gaming and entertainment experience. The quality and SPL level of these speakers was very surprising. We were first presented this option on paper from the team at Group Technologies and it was only when auditioning that we realised that the

unbelievable specs were no lie – they exceeded everyone’s expectations at The Avit Group, especially our audio nerds. Both the speaker and subwoofer components are robust and reliable, ensuring that Fortress can operate smoothly during high-stakes esports events.”

With an extensive history utilising NEXO across a variety of installs, The Avit Group’s Managing Director, Brad Magri summarizes: “The reason we went with NEXO is that we have always been so pleased using the brand for years. I have a bit of a passion for the product range thanks to the quality of output, and high-end sound and aesthetic in such smallform cabinets.”

Leading the charge with a meticulous level of premium-tier technology throughout, Fortress Sydney’s uniquely esportsdriven capabilities have placed it firmly on the map for gamers across the country and beyond.

MANUFACTURER: NEXO | DESIGN & INSTALLATION: The Avit Group

2023 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS

Dublin, Ireland

Images: Absen, Getty Images

In a top-level sporting tournament, everything needs to be at the top of its game – players, coaches, match officials, fans – and technology. At the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, Catalyst Event Production Services had just seven minutes to set up the onpitch trophy presentation podium LED backdrop and footer –so turned to Absen, an LED brand they knew they could trust to perform.

The 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship saw Ireland take the ‘Grand Slam’ champions title once again. Absen, one of the world’s leading LED display brands, brought 8.3 million viewers onto the side-line to watch the Championship Trophy Presentation at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Spanning six weeks, the 2023 Six Nations Championship was the 24th annual international men’s rugby union competition, contested by England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. UK-based events production company, Catalyst Event Production Services was enlisted to deliver outstanding results for the trophy presentation ceremony, working alongside its client, live events agency, EVENT360

who specialise in the design and delivery of global sport events.

The deciding games, played on the same day, meant that Catalyst’s teams needed to be on site at both Stade de France, Paris and Aviva Stadium, Dublin, ready to install the trophy presentation screens at the winning game’s stadium – and it could have been at either venue. Once the final whistle had blown, there was just a brief window of seven minutes for the crew to assemble the screens - and it was at the Aviva Stadium, where Ireland won 29 – 16 to England. Due to the time constraints, the screen installation needed to be quick and simple, allowing the team to assemble efficiently and in time for over 51,700 stadium spectators and over 8 million broadcast viewers to watch the trophy presentation.

The ceremony set up consisted of a large curved front footer LED, as well as LED banners left and right behind the winning team, to clearly display the Guinness Six Nations branding and name of the winning team. Under these intense conditions, the Catalyst team not only

needed a familiar product, but one that was reliable, easy and fast to assemble, ensuring the presentation stage was set within the allotted time. Because of this, the Absen PL 3.9 PRO outdoor screen was specified. Catalyst was an early adopter of this unique product, purchasing the first batch in 2018. Catalyst is now the main UK rental house stocking PL3.9 Pro with over 75sqm.

A total of 28 LED panels were pre-assembled in three separate sections, attached and carried onto the pitch on a bespoke frame, 7.5 metres wide. The client’s design included a 7degree curve in the front footer, another function of this product.

The Absen PL3.9 Pro was one of the first of Absen’s PL series. This series has developed into a diverse product range with both indoor and outdoor products, with a thin, lightweight chassis design. Available in multiple pixel pitches ranging from 1.9mm to 4.8mm, it supports a range of applications including HDR (High Dynamic Range) display, capable of producing more realistic and colourful high-resolution images with a grayscale up to 16bit. The award-winning

PL series is a high-performance, broadcast grade, highdefinition display, with high-grade electronics and advanced mechanical design, recommended for all live events.

“Our teams were really up against the clock, faced with the challenge of needing to provide a high-quality and reliable product in one of two locations. The short installation time made a fairly standard installation massively challenging. Needing a durable, decent pitch and curved LED product, there was nothing else on the market that quite fits the bill like the Absen PL3.9. So much so, Catalyst now has the largest outdoor stock of this product, totally at over 280 panels.” commented Ronnie MacLennan, Catalyst Event Production Services Managing Director.

The video content for the panels was supplied directly by the client, boldly displaying the Guinness Six Nations branding, winning team’s showreels and the winning team ‘stings’. With the install and display working seamlessly, the trophy presentation ceremony was a resounding success.

“The Absen PL3.9 screens are perfectly designed for live events, particularly within a large stadium environment. The excellent pixel pitch, simple installation and product flexibility means customers can rely on Absen to deliver outstanding results time and time again.” explained Jessica Golding, European Brand and Marketing Director at Absen.

OGE ENERGY FIELD - USA SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME STADIUM

Oklahoma, USA

Images: Daktronics

The USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium turned to Daktronics to design, manufacture and install a new main outfield video display and two ribbon displays at the venue in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The installation was completed this spring as the displays are shining bright for the 2023 season.

“Welcoming various events each year while bringing 300+ teams to the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex annually, these three new boards are going to bring an upgraded experience for fans, athletes, coaches and umpires to enjoy,” said Managing Director of Operations, Jake Magness. “With the new Daktronics boards, we will be able to continue

focusing on growing the game in a positive way and showcasing the athletes while doing so. Both the new ribbon boards and the outfield videoboard will allow us to showcase the technology improvements of the game, our athletes and their statistics as well as highlight our partners with the many different varieties that the board allows. “When coming to the Softball Capital of the World®, you will be able to catch a glimpse of the new boards no matter where your seats are at! We are honored and thankful for the individuals who made it possible for this to happen here at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex.”

The main video display in left field measures approximately 26.5 feet high by 36 feet wide while each of the two ribbon displays mounted to the seating fascia measure roughly 3.5 feet high by 100 feet wide. All three displays feature 10-millimeter pixel spacing to deliver excellent image clarity and contrast to images and graphics shown at events.

“For the largest stage of collegiate softball, the technology we’ve installed will bring all of the video and excitement fans expect to see on game day and then some,” said Perry Grave, Daktronics Sales Representative. “We’re honored to work with such a great venue

on this video display and ribbon board project to ensure fans have a fully immersive experience at every game.”

The video display is capable of variable content zoning allowing it to show one large image or multiple zones of content. This could be any combination of live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics and game information, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.

The ribbon displays can show supplemental game information and supporting graphics while also allowing the opportunity to highlight sponsors throughout events.

The venue will also receive a content package that will be produced and delivered by Daktronics Creative Services, an award-winning in-house creative team.

Daktronics has grown with the sports industry from the company’s beginnings in 1968. Today, the company has LED video display installations at hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States.

Klaksvik, Faroe Islands

Images: Riedel

VIÐ DJÚPUMÝRAR A

world-first delivery of live UEFA Champions League football coverage took place this month in the Faroe Islands - thanks to a unique broadcast via internet from space.

Fans of the beautiful game across the world were able to tune into live coverage of the Champions League qualifier from the remote North Atlantic islands between local side KÍ Klaksvík and Hungarian giants Ferencvaros, thanks to an extraordinary match broadcast by low-Earth-orbit (LEO) connectivity from satellite internet provider, OneWeb.

The game was hosted at the Við Djúpumýrar stadium in Klaksvík, the second largest town on the Faroe Islands. This remote location has traditionally made connectivity requirements for sports

broadcasting challenging, but for this match-day coverage, OneWeb worked with delivery partner Network Innovations, as well as Open Broadcast Systems to stream the match live via its LEO constellation, allowing for real-time viewing so fans didn’t miss a moment.

Despite finishing 0-0, supporters from across the world were able to watch the action as it happened across multiple TV and streaming platforms, including local TV station TV2 and global video-on-demand channel, Paramount+.

OneWeb connected its High North satellites to its recently launched flat panel user terminal, the Kymeta Hawk u8, which can be easily mounted on a building or vehicle to deliver high throughput and low latency communications, with download speeds of 75mbps and consistent stream speed of 10mbps using a 15mbps upload.

Positioned on top of one of the Við Djúpumýrar stadium stands, the terminal was a simple plug-and-play solution, providing a suitable alternative to traditional satellite vehicles - of which the Faroe Islands have none - and mitigating the limitations of backpack-style broadcast solutions, for high quality sports transmissions. The Kymeta terminal works seamlessly alongside the OneWeb LEO satellites to deliver a reliable stream at comparable bitrates.

Charlie Clark, Director of Government at OneWeb, said: “This successful broadcast in a remote location like the Faroe Islands paves the way forward for low-Earth-orbit connectivity and opens up more of the world to global communications, for not only entertainment and sport but

also government and enterprise requirements too. To bring coverage and connectivity to remote locations like this is the future and we look forward to supporting more games like this for UEFA.”

Douglas Yeaman, Technical Sales Manager, at Network Innovations added: “It was a pleasure to facilitate the live stream of this game, and we look forward to future opportunities in helping broadcasters, among other users, overcome the challenges of remote, unforgiving environments. As OneWeb’s trusted partner in delivering high-speed, low-latency connectivity, Network Innovations is thrilled to see this solution operate as an alternative to conventional satellite vehicles. It’s an exciting milestone not just in the world of satellite, but the world of sports.”

OneWeb now has over 600 satellites in LEO, providing coverage across North America and Europe. And in June 2021, OneWeb also announced it had achieved its ‘Five to 50’ mission designed to deliver next-generation space-based connectivity to Alaska, Canada, the United Kingdom, Northern Europe, Greenland and the wider Arctic region.

Customers connect to OneWeb’s LEO constellation using a family of user terminals which ensure fixed, on the pause and on-the-move communications, even at high speeds.

By the end of 2023, OneWeb will provide customers with Communications On The Move and the ability to integrate Digital Age technologies into its network, including Cloud computing and the Internet of Things, making remote production and enhanced broadcasting ever more accessible.

COMPANIES: OneWeb, Network Innovations, Open Broadcast Systems

KAPPTURE

The Ultimate Choice for Unbeatable Security and Versatility: Introducing Kappture’s Revolutionary K2 Product

In today’s fast-paced and technologically-advanced world, security and versatility are two paramount factors that businesses seek when investing in Point-of-Sale (POS) devices. Addressing these essential needs headon, Kappture proudly unveils its groundbreaking K2 product, setting a new standard in the market with unrivalled security, innovative modular design, and multiple stand options to suit every operational environment.

Unrivalled Security for Complete Peace of Mind

When it comes to security, the Kappture K2 stands head and shoulders above the competition. Employing Kappture’s proprietary hardened operating system across all devices, this cutting-edge solution offers unparalleled protection against potential threats. By completely locking down the devices with no external communication, the attack surface is vastly reduced, ensuring sensitive data and customer information are shielded from malicious attackers.

Versatility at its Finest; Screens to Suit Every Need

With the Kappture K2, businesses have the freedom to choose from numerous screen sizes (11”, 15”, and 21”), catering to diverse requirements and operational setups. Whether it’s a compact kiosk or a spacious self-checkout station, the K2’s flexible screen options provide an ideal fit for every business scenario.

Interchangeable Compute Modules; Cost-Effective and FutureReady

One of the standout features of the K2 is the ability to interchange compute modules, resulting in significant cost savings for businesses. Unlike traditional devices where compute modules are integrated into the screen, the K2’s modular design allows for easy replacement of damaged screens without the need to swap out the entire unit. This forward-thinking approach not only saves money but also ensures businesses stay future-ready with seamless technology upgrades.

Flexible Peripherals for Seamless Integration

To further enhance its versatility, the K2 boasts an array of flexible

peripherals, including NFC, Scanner, MSR (Magnetic Stripe Reader), and Biometric options. This wide range of peripherals allows businesses to tailor the K2 to their specific needs, enabling efficient and smooth operations with enhanced customer experiences.

A Multifunctional Platform for All Your Business Needs

The K2 truly shines as a single multifunctional platform, offering various usage options that cater to the unique demands of different businesses. From traditional POS and KMS (Kitchen Management System) functions to customer status screens, kiosks, and self-checkout solutions, the K2 does it all with a single panel. This streamlined approach simplifies business operations, reducing clutter and maximising efficiency.

Multiple Stand Types for Any Setting

Recognising that each business has its own spatial requirements, Kappture provides multiple stand types to accommodate diverse operational environments. The flat folding dual hinge stand proves invaluable in limited spaces, as it condenses down flat behind bars, freeing up precious room. On the other hand, the single hinge

stand excels in cable management, ensuring a clean and organized countertop or back area.

Eco-Friendly Low Power Consumption

In today’s climate-conscious world, reducing power consumption is a priority. Kappture’s K2 addresses this concern admirably with its low power consumption design. By minimizing energy usage without compromising performance, the K2 contributes to a greener future while lowering operational costs for businesses.

In conclusion, the Kappture K2 sets a new industry benchmark with its unbeatable security, unmatched versatility, and eco-friendly attributes. By combining superior security features, a modular and adaptable design, along with various stand options, the K2 empowers businesses to thrive in an ever-changing landscape. As businesses navigate the evolving technological landscape, the Kappture K2 stands as the ultimate choice for a secure, future-proof, and all-encompassing hospitality technology solution.

www.kappture.co.uk

HOSPITALITYTECHNOLOGY

CLEAR-COM

IP-based and remote production intercom solutions, a well as new feature announcements for the Arcadia Central Station at IBC2023.

At IBC this year, Clear-Com® will showcase the latest advances in IP-based intercom for a wide variety of applications at stand 10.D29, hall 10. They will highlight innovative features of their flagship Eclipse® HX Digital Matrix Intercom System, including Dynam-EC™ real-time production software, industry-leading role-based workflows, and the new 2X10 Touch™ desktop touchscreen panel. The award-winning IP-based Arcadia® Central Station will be available for demonstration, including the HXII-DPL Powerline device, an IP interface that delivers power and digital audio from Arcadia to HelixNet® Digital Network systems, as well as highly anticipated new features to be revealed at the show. Today’s broadcast applications require an unprecedented level of efficiency and flexibility, with solutions for remote production, on-rem, and virtual production workflows. At IBC, Clear-Com will demonstrate a broad range of solutions to meet these needs. Dynam-EC is a powerful and intuitive software tool that allows operators to quickly switch all audio input and outputs, audio mapping, IFBs and partylines at the touch of a button. New features introduced in EHX 13.1, including the implementation of role-based workflows and support for NMOS 4 and 5, facilitate many of the needs of broadcast applications for large-scale events such as the World Cup or other global sporting events.

A popular choice for flypacks and OB vans, Arcadia Central Station brings together HelixNet®, FreeSpeak®, Clear-Com Encore®, other 2W/4W endpoints, and third-party Dante devices in a single, integrated system. Arcadia offers licensed-based scalability that allows it to meet numerous production needs, with support for over 100 beltpacks and up to 128 IP ports, with additional upgrades available in the future.

The new HXII-DPL Powerline Device connects to any existing Arcadia

system via its own network port to provide Powerline connectivity via 3-pin XLR anywhere on the network, opening a world of digital audio connectivity to HelixNet users.

“We continue to see an accelerated adoption of hybrid and remote workflows as well as advancements in IP infrastructure,” said Chris Willis, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Clear-Com. “We look forward to connecting with the broadcast industry in the region, to share our solutions and learn more from those who are implementing these new ways of working and communicating.”

GEORGE R VAUGHAN CEO, THE DIGITAL LINE

Is Voice the New Player In Hospitality?

Having worked in the venue and hospitality industry for over two decades, we talked to George R Vaughan, current CEO of technology consultancy, The Digital Line, about his views on the opportunities afforded by true A.I. driven tech and how in many ways, voice platforms offer a credible solution in a world of rising costs and staff shortages.

The world after Covid

It is an unquestionable fact that the pandemic had a very disruptive effect on the global economy and no industry was arguably impacted more than the hospitality sector. Even now, two years since the last lockdown, many venues and stadiums remain in recovery mode, with a lack of staff still top on their list of concerns.

Conversely, not a week goes by without some new stadium announcement making headlines in the industry press, with the promise of the latest and greatest to lure fans to another live spectacle. But how different can each new venue be in what it delivers and how do you turn customers into fans? Furthermore, what needs to be implemented to

ensure those fans will then regularly choose a season ticket over a Sky “sofa subscription”. I’ve said it many times before, customers and fans are very different beasts and converting one into the other is no easy task. Many might argue we are creatures of habit but those habits can still be tweaked and just a small shift can result in significant change.

It might sound like an obvious thing to say but selling an experience requires an honest interpretation of what the concept of an experience is to start with. It needs to be something special. Something different. Something unique. As the industry knows, competition is no longer limited to other stadiums or venues. In less than a decade, streaming has permanently altered the way we consume popular forms of entertainment such as movies, music and gaming, while travel, eating out and even hotels have been re-invented by the likes of Uber, Deliveroo and Airbnb.

I often site the banking sector as a good example for how things have changed. Since the invention of currency, payment for goods and services has had a clear identity but in the last two decades we have arguably seen the greatest number of successive

developments, with the evolution from cash-to-cardto-contactless and now mobile. Throughout this rapid transformation things “moved without moving” but have dramatically shifted the landscape.

New generations generate new ideas

The hospitality industry cannot afford to be complacent. Whilst audiences have returned, there is an increasing suggestion that some Millennials and a large percentage of Gen Z are not as enthusiastic about live sporting events as the generations that preceded them.

One recent 2023 survey in the US claimed that nearly seven in ten 18–26-year-old sports fans (68%) consume most of their sporting content through social media, whilst 21% would rather check the highlights of a sporting event to keep up to date, instead of watching a full match.

Another survey from Morning Consult claimed that Gen Z consumers in the U.S. are watching less live sports and a third don’t watch any live sports at all. Fandoms also appear to be impacted with 38% of Gen Z apparently exacerbated by the multitude of other accessible entertainment options alongside the

fragmented nature of sports media rights, accessibility to games and ticket affordability.

If anything, today’s consumer has too much choice and when faced with such an abundance of options, tends to not only be more selective, but also look to diversify the experiences they commit to. This leaves event organisers having to be more creative than ever and I don’t believe this trend is restricted to Gen Z.

As a Gen Xer myself, I’ve seen my habits shift in the last few years. It takes a very special movie to get me into the cinema these days when I know I can watch most recent releases on one of numerous streaming platforms from the comfort of my living room and even as a diehard football fan, my calendar is not forgiving enough to allow me the luxury of writing off one day a week to see my favourite team play live. And don’t get me started on the hurdles of travelling, crowds, anti-social behaviour and ticket prices.

One of the problems seems to be that the link between home and venue isn’t being exploited to its full potential, although I do believe there are platforms on the market that can address this gap. Equally, if the staff aren’t there to help with operations, technology can provide a credible solution whilst

still delivering a premium experience and keeping customers engaged.

Disparate systems continue to litter the technology landscape and though many suppliers claim to have cracked the problem, challenges persist. A.I. remains the buzz term of the moment but many existing solutions made for the hospitality environment are built on legacy platforms that are still learning to accommodate this new technology in a meaningful way. This is not dissimilar to the transformation that has happened in banking, with the new kids on the block like Starling, Revolut and Monzo disrupting the sector with applications that were built from the ground up to be truly digital, leaving traditional high street establishments to play “catch up” as they modify their existing systems.

Speak and you will find

Love them or hate them, Amazon appear to be primed (excuse the pun) to help venues achieve something different. The innovative work they have been doing with their Just Walk Out technology (if you haven’t tried it yet, I’d recommend paying a visit to one of their stores) has the potential to

revolutionise the shopping experience in stadiums and venues, whilst I believe their Alexa platform deserves serious consideration for hospitality, particularly when it comes to service and staffing challenges. Having initiated the launch of voice hospitality using the audico system at Ascot Racecourse during my time there as Head of Technology, it soon became apparent that this platform had plenty more to offer if people were prepared explore it further.

I’ve already seen the benefits of voice technology working in the health sector, particularly with those in senior living and the overall trend is only going one way. According to consumer research from Ampere Analysis, 52% of internet households now own a voice assistant in the UK while Statista’s latest research indicates that globally, there will be 8.4 billion voiceoperated devices in use by 2024. Speaking is one of the most natural things we do.

audico was built from the ground up as a true A.I. platform, quickly grabbing the attention of global acquirer Elavon, with whom they now share a defined partnership, allowing the system to incorporate full, PCI compliant payments. Its latest incarnation will

see audico provide a fully functioning voice/touch POS via Alexa display devices through to KMS and stock systems in collaboration with Kappture POS and even offer NFC throughput to Apple/Google wallet with pass partner, ProntoCX. It has the potential to turn the premium hospitality space on its head by bridging the gap between at home and in-stadium experience – providing rich data without the need for an app.

Voice keeps it simple however, even in a busy, noisy environment where speaking might not be a practical option, audico’s touch capabilities mean that whatever you can ask for you can also “tap” for, thanks to Alexa’s intuitive touch screen displays. And this is where building something from the ground up really starts to show its advantages. The platform started with voice and then integrated all the other more common components in afterwards. It was a case of building the intelligence first rather than trying to layer it on later. Using this approach means what you have now is a single system that can incorporate full voice or touch functionality and offers outof-the-box concierge, payments, facilities management, POS/KMS integration, merchandise, room controls, NFC & loyalty integrations, ticketing deployment as well as a connected @home service all for a single, per device licence fee that’s less than the price of a monthly coffee subscription. Hosted by AWS you are also assured the kind of security and robust platform that provides peace-of-mind even during the busiest periods.

It’s good to listen Society went through a fundamental switch. Customer’s expectations changed. Whilst most people will agree that there is nothing quite like the live experience, two years of being away from

the spectacle of in-person events did shift people’s collective mind set and many of the answers we are now looking for could come from the audience of tomorrow.

For some years now I have worked closely with the University of Surrey, recognised world-wide as a leading centre for tourism and hospitality and their students, who are some of the best representatives of Gen Z, continue to amaze me with their insight, vision and capacity to embrace a challenge. In my experience, when trying to understand this group too many businesses still spend time talking about them rather than to them. This emerging generation also possesses one character component that I see missing in a lot of industries today. Courage. More than money, vision, staff or application, the greatest hurdle I regularly encounter is fear. It’s easy to say no, to keep the status quo. It’s much harder to say yes and back a brave decision.

There’s no denying that for some, moving to a voice application might seem like a step outside their comfort zone but it certainly shouldn’t be viewed as alien. People are already using voice regularly at home as well as in other industries. Successful tech is often tech that feels familiar. Giving people a solution in one environment that they already use in their everyday lives keeps it simple but also smart and that can’t be anything if not a good thing.

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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.)

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The art of creative engineering.