Tech Focus: Venue Sounds, Part 2 - The Pandemic Didn't Slow Sonic Progress New sports venues boast systems designed to attract music tours By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - 7:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The pandemic changed a lot of things about sports but didn't slow the pace of new construction or refurbishment of stadiums and arenas. For example, just since COVID-19 brought sports to a screeching halt, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas opened their gates, at a combined cost of $6.9 billion with another $10 billion or so expected to be spent on sports venues by the end of the decade. And that's on the heels of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee in 2018 and Chase Center in San Francisco in 2019.
Alongside the construction, venue sound systems continued to progress, in terms of both sales and technical development. The sound system has become a foundational component of facility design, particularly as music touring returns and venues seek to be on every touring show's destination list.
People look at the sound-system specs of venues now in a way they didn't even a decade ago, notes Dan Palmer, business development manager, sports facilities, USA and Canada, L-Acoustics.
Here's a sampling of some of the latest venues and their newly installed sonic apparatus.
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
Audio, video, acoustics, and broadcast systems at Climate Pledge Arena, home to the NHL Seattle Kraken and WNBA Seattle Storm, received a complete makeover last year. Included is a new JBL line-array PA system from Idibri, a Salas O'Brien company.
Bryant-Denny Stadium, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
At University of Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium, ESPN analyst Chris Fowler observed during the live broadcast of the Louisiana State University football game on Nov. 6, 2021, I think they can hear this music in the blimp. Commented ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit, They did not put in cheap speakers when they redid [the stadium]. The sound system features Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers and subwoofers.
T-Mobile Park, Seattle
Fan experience was key for the audio upgrade at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Major considerations for integrator Diversified, which installed a d&b audiotechnik xS-Series PA system there in 2020, were speaker placement for coverage, throw distance, and building structure, with new fiber run throughout.
Crusader Stadium, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, TX
After doubling the size of the video display for the scoreboard Crusader Stadium at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX, Daktronics deployed Fulcrum Acoustic's new digitally steerable AHS modules to fit in the limited remaining space. Even when stacked, Fulcrum's AHS products easily fit within the space provided, says Daktronics Applications Engineer David Sturzenbecher.
CHI Health Center, Omaha
A new Meyer Sound Leopard line array, integrated and installed by Alpha Video, is the keystone of a complete audio upgrade for the 18,300-seat arena at Omaha's CHI Health Center. The system's 88 Leopard loudspeakers are configured in six hangs: four arrays of 16 each at the corners for near and far throw, two of 12 each for the end arrays with a shorter throw. For low end impact, 12 900 LFC low-frequency control elements are deployed in four cardioid arrays, with two LF arrays of three each flown over the end Leopard arrays and two on the sides between the corner arrays.
Phoenix Suns Arena
Phoenix Suns Arena - formerly America West Arena, US Airways Center, and Talking Stick Resort Arena - has been the home of NBA's Phoenix Suns since day one. What changed in 2021 is how the venue sounds: a new L-Acoustics Kara II system designed by AV consultants at WJHW and installed by Pro Sound & Video. The system is part of the $230 million Project 201: PHX Reimagined, designed to convert the nearly 30-year-old arena into a state-of-the-art sports/entertainment venue for Phoenix Suns and WNBA Phoenix Mercury fans.
Click here for Tech Focus: Venue Sound, Part 1 - Designs Apply Lessons From Music Tours' Systems
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
13/05/2026
New Adobe Premiere Color Grading Mode Accelerated on NVIDIA GPUs
Joel Pennington May 13, 2026
0 Comments
New NVIDIA RTX-accelerated features streamlin...
13/05/2026
Grass Valley announced that dB Broadcast has delivered new IP-based outside broadcast (OB) trucks for Cloudbass, featuring Grass Valley LDX 100 Series cameras a...
13/05/2026
Ikegami will exhibit the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast production cameras, control units, viewfinders and monitors on stand 5D3-1 at Broadcast...
13/05/2026
FISE, working with the founding members of the XR Sports Alliance (XRSA), Accedo, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and HBS, have collaborated to develop an immersive...
13/05/2026
Canon Unveils New EOS R6 V Full-Frame EOS Camera and RF20-50mm F4 L IS USM PZ Bu...
13/05/2026
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Honors Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton at Comme...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/05/2026
Creative software developer Foundry today announced the latest developments on Nuke Stage. A purpose-built application for end-to-end virtual production and in-...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
13/05/2026
Agentic AI is changing the way users get work done. Following the success of OpenClaw, the community is embracing new open source agentic frameworks. The latest...
13/05/2026
Reinforcement-learning agents - AI systems that learn by trial and error - can c...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
Tech Focus: Venue Sounds, Part 2 - The Pandemic Didn't Slow Sonic Progress New sports venues boast systems designed to attract music tours By Dan Daley, Audio Editor 
