L-Acoustics Soars with the Arizona Cardinals posted: 20/11/2016
Integrated by Pro Sound & Video, a new K2 sound system for the NFL team's nest delivers a winning combination for world-class sports entertainment: Capable of accommodating over 72,000 enthusiastic football fans
The design of University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, is singular in an already innovative universe of sports venues. Opened in August of 2006 with a retractable roof and the nation's first fully-retractable natural grass-playing surface, the facility's entire playing field is able to roll outside of the building via an opening on one side of the stadium.
In keeping with the organization's long-standing commitment to elevating the fan experience, the Arizona Cardinals unveiled a new sound system in University of Phoenix Stadium for the start of the 2016 NFL season. Designed and specified by the Arizona Cardinals, the system consists primarily of flown L-Acoustics K2 arrays permanently installed in July by AV systems integrator Pro Sound & Video.
We are committed to providing a world-class stadium atmosphere in every possible way, said Cardinals President Michael Bidwill. Because the audio-visual experience is a huge part of that, we understood how significant an initiative and investment this was for our team. The upgrade has not only been incredibly well-received by our fans but also keeps University of Phoenix Stadium at the forefront in a very competitive landscape of sports and entertainment venues.
University of Phoenix Stadium is also unique in another way: nearly all of its AV requirements can be met by its own in-house AV/IT systems staff. And who better to understand the nuances of a major venue like an NFL stadium than those who work inside it every day?
Over the past 10 years, the music playback needs of the stadium had also expanded, requiring better low- and high-end reproduction, according to Jamie Gillespie, systems audio engineer for the Arizona Cardinals. At the same time, both the stadium and the Cardinals are always looking ahead, needing a lighter system to take into account the venue's structural ratings for their massive truss system, which will be used for a center video cluster for NCAA Final Four games scheduled for 2017.
L-Acoustics' K2 was the solution to all of these issues. The K2 box weighs only 123 pounds, but it's in the same class and has the power and throw of boxes that weigh twice as much, he says. In fact, Gillespie adds, the K2's power and high intelligibility meant that he could dispense with the delay rings that had been necessary in the previous system's design to ensure sound reached the upper levels of the stadium.
Using L-Acoustics' Soundvision 3D modeling software, the Cardinals were able to design a simpler yet more powerful system consisting of a total of 10 array hangs: eight arrays comprising 13 K2 enclosures each topped by four K1-SB subwoofers, and two end-zone hangs of nine K2 enclosures each, for a total of 122 K2 and 32 K1-SB. Installed by AV integrator Pro Sound & Video, the system is rounded out with a dozen ARCS Wide enclosures used to fill the upper seats at the north end of the stadium and end zone, and eight X8 coaxial speakers to fill in a shadow area for seats used for special events under the main scoreboard. A field fill system, using four hangs of four L-Acoustics Kara enclosures each, is hung behind four of the main arrays and used to cover the playing field for the Cardinals cheerleaders' presentations and other on-field activities. A total of 81 LA8 amplified controllers power and process the entire system.
The design approach was to cover from the lower bowl's front row to the top of the stadium's back row from a single point without the need for delay speakers, and the K2 arrays perfectly accomplished that, notes Pro Sound & Video Executive Vice President David Shoemaker, who led the installation project. The full bandwidth of the K2 enclosures also provided an incredible amount of usable LF, which, combined with the K1-SBs, eliminated the need for ground-based subs. This setup has provided the facility with an unmatched performance in stadium sound.
A closer view of several L-Acoustics K2/K1-SB arrays
For outside live events, as well as indoor events and conventions, the Arizona Cardinals have an additional two-dozen Kara enclosures on hand, which served as the sound system for an appearance by Blake Shelton at a private event earlier this year.
Despite the fact that this project represented one of the largest fixed installation projects in L-Acoustics' history, the full system was on-site within four weeks of the official order. The timeline to perform the installation by the first game was aggressive, Shoemaker recalls. Our immediate concern was whether L-Acoustics was able to deliver 122 K2 cabinets with just a few weeks until our deadline, which was the Copa America Games. We were absolutely thrilled when L-Acoustics was able to ship the entire order at once, giving us plenty of time to put in a temporary system for this world-class soccer event as well as ample time to prep the permanent rig for flying.
With the permanent loudspeaker system in place well in advance of the Cardinals' preseason opener, Gillespie notes that everyone has been overjoyed with the results. The Cardinals have always been willing to invest in its AV systems, and this is another example , he says. That's why University of Phoenix Stadium has hosted such a wide variety of events. And that's why L-Acoustics was the best choice. It's all about the fan experience, and the stadium audio system is a huge part of that.
Shoemaker agrees, The L-Acoustics K2 system has proved to be a significant upgrade to the stadium. The voicing
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...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/05/2026
Zero in on one that says yes (and no)
Andy Marken May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image courtesy of Deposit Photos
For content creators the most difficu...
29/05/2026
With InfoComm 2026 just weeks away, NDI is giving attendees plenty of reasons to...
29/05/2026
Reaffirming a partnership that has defined Canadian sports broadcasting since 19...
29/05/2026
Mobile/tablet is No. 2 device for watching TV, suggesting that the sports-production industry needs to take another look at the format
Ring Digital's Sprin...
29/05/2026
Berliner Ensemble, one of Berlin's five major theater companies, has expande...
29/05/2026
Solid State Logic will showcase its new compact, fly-away TCA Tour audio product...
29/05/2026
Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, passed away last month on April 12 ...
29/05/2026
Paramount+ will be the English-language U.S. home for Barclays Women's Super...
29/05/2026
Further strengthening its virtualisation strategy to fully support broadcasters ...
29/05/2026
Swiss broadcaster Canal Alpha has deployed Harmonic's award-winning, software-based XOS Advanced Media Processor to modernize playout operations across cant...
29/05/2026
PTZOptics will showcase a new generation of intelligent video workflows at InfoComm 2026, June 17-19, Las Vegas. Visitors to booth N8227 will see how PTZOptics ...
29/05/2026
Arizona's Family has launched the Arizona's Family Sports (AZFS) streaming app, a new direct-to-consumer destination for live, local sports. The app is ...
29/05/2026
Starting in 2027, DAZN will be the exclusive home of The Canadian Football Leagu...
29/05/2026
Comcast Business has detailed the advanced network infrastructure it has deploye...
29/05/2026
In two-day event, leaders from academia and industry explored solutions to chall...
29/05/2026
The Basketball Tournament (TBT), now entering their 13th year of competition, ha...
29/05/2026
Roku has launched FOX One as a Premium Subscription on The Roku Channel in the U.S. Roku customers can now subscribe to FOX One using their Roku account for liv...
29/05/2026
In its sixth year, the broadcaster's coverage has become a global brand and ...
29/05/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent ratings news and is derived from press re...
29/05/2026
The days are getting longer, the temperatures are rising, and playlists are filling up for the season. With summer around the corner, Spotify's global edito...
29/05/2026
New retro-inspired MPC announced
There are few devices that have gained the status held by Akai Pro's MPC range, and in recent years, the company have s...
29/05/2026
Save up to 30 on acclaimed titles
Following a successful launch at Superbooth 2026, Bjooks have revealed that they will be continuing the Kickstarter campa...
29/05/2026
Binaural monitoring application improved
Genelec have just released an update that brings some powerful new features to their HRTF-based binaural headphone ...
29/05/2026
6 June 2026 at SAE Institute, London, UK
IMSTA FESTA 2026 is almost upon us, with some of the biggest names in pro-audio set to descend upon SAE Institute i...
29/05/2026
Gerald (Jerry) Pierce, a pioneering technologist who helped shape the digital transformation of the motion picture industry, died April 12, 2026, at his home in...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Comparing 5 AI Video Enhancers for Restoring Old Video Quality
Kate Luvis May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Digitizing VHS, MiniDV, and other legacy formats doe...
29/05/2026
Studio Hamburg Builds New Post Pipeline with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 29, 2026
0 Comments
Workflow replaces a patchwork of legacy tools...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
29/05/2026
At the Intersection of Music and Dance, an Epic Collaboration Boston Conservatory musicians and dancers found creative parallels in their recent performance o...
29/05/2026
Back to All News
Latino Film Institute Fellows Screen Their Short Films at the Egyptian Theatre
The Inclusion Fellowship and Spark Animation Grant uplifts 15 ...
29/05/2026
GLOOKAST LAUNCHES CINNAFILM TACHYON PLUGIN FOR MEDIA PRODUCER AND MEDIA SERVICES
This release first appeared here.
Visit our Tachyon product page or contact...
29/05/2026
May 29 2026, 09:00 (PDT) Dolby and rednote Bring More Immersive Storytelling to...
29/05/2026
Something fundamental has shifted in how people consume media. Audiences aren't abandoning television or radio content; they're just expanding how, wher...
29/05/2026
Youtube exclusive special drops today
Watch now
UKTV today announces another e...
29/05/2026
Back to All News
The Official Trailer of Physical 100 Italy, on Netflix From Se...
L-Acoustics Soars with the Arizona Cardinals posted: 20/11/2016 
