AUDIO Q&A: MERVYN NOCK, EVENT TECHNICAL MANAGER, WEMBLEY STADIUM

Was there a particular brief in terms of what you wanted for the new audio system?

The brief was very simple - ensure the person sitting on row one of level one had the same audio experience as the person sitting on row 48 of level five.

It had to be a system that any production team would be happy to use and that they could easily patch their touring system into. Essentially, we wanted to offer our clients a state-of-the-art system that they would never consider not using.

How does the system improve the fan experience and atmosphere on game days?

Pre-match entertainment has become an integral part of sporting events now. You cannot have that special ‘Neil Diamond’ or national anthem moment with a poor PA system. The level of intelligibility of the PA for things like team lists has also been hugely improved.

One big advantage with the new system is that the loudspeaker arrays can be rotated. During a sports event, the arrays are in their default position, on axis with the spectators seating position. For a concert, they can then be rotated between the stage and the spectator - giving them a better experience.

It’s a huge, complex project - were there any difficulties in particular?

The audio system was part of the stadium’s 2019/20 winter works upgrade, which also included a new floodlighting system and pitch install. Having three major projects taking place in the bowl at the same time had its challenges, but the programme was delivered safely and to very tight timescales.

The team had just three months to remove the old infrastructure and install the new systems. It had to be ready for the first event in February 2020. Coordination between contractors and the added risk of working at height were the biggest challenges, but the installers and project teams, including d&b, were fantastic at working together and resolving any issues we faced.

Has d&b delivered what you wanted from a new audio system?

Yes, and more. During a very busy 2022, with concerts and sporting events in close proximity, the system exceeded all of the performance criteria initially agreed.

What has the feedback been like from fans / visitors on matchdays and concerts?

Fans are noticeably more engaged during the prematch entertainment and team announcements due to the clarity of the system. The feedback from visiting concert companies and promoters has also been very positive.

What made Wembley choose d&b?

There were a number of factors. We spoke to a lot of touring sound companies and the d&b name consistently cropped up as a preferred system that had real quality.

The combined weight loading of the amplifiers and loudspeaker arrays was also crucial. They were within the parameters specified by the roof structural engineers and the amplifiers had the necessary connections and functionality to integrate to the stadium’s life safety system.