WELCOME

from MONDO | STADIA - Issue 31 - August | September

GEORGE R VAUGHAN CEO, THE DIGITAL LINE

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