COLUMBUS, OH — The Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater within nine-acre Columbus Commons Park, has been using Shure UHF-R wireless microphone systems provided by locally-based pro audio company Live Technologies. Since it opened last year, the venue has hosted Michael McDonald, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Offspring, Josh Kelley, Tonic, and Peabo Bryson, among others. The outdoor park, an urban renewal project at the site of a former mall that had been demolished, opened with a temporary stage in 2011. The Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion opened a year later.
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The city of Columbus celebrated its 200th birthday with the unveiling of the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion—a state-of-the art outdoor amphitheater, located in the city’s vibrant nine-acre Columbus Commons park, that’s programmed from May through September with concerts, family events, movies, and performances. The venue, outfitted with Shure UHF-R Wireless Microphone Systems for uncompromised sound and ability to respond to unpredictable RF conditions, has hosted concerts featuring American singer and songwriter Michael McDonald, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Offspring, Josh Kelley, Tonic, and Peabo Bryson.
“The venue brings the entire central Ohio community to the heart of the city for live concerts and entertainment all summer long,” said Nick Sico, production manager at Columbus Commons. “Nothing beats the adrenaline and the exhilaration of watching an amazing live performance in a beautiful outdoor space. For that reason, top-of-the-line gear was a requirement. Between the quality and dependability, Shure UHF-R Wireless Systems, combined with SM and Beta microphones, have helped us bring the people of Columbus great entertainment.”
Before the facility’s public debut, Columbus’ Live Technologies, a national and regional supplier of pro audio, lighting, staging, and video, was presented with the challenge of ensuring the venue’s acoustics were equally as impressive as its aesthetics. With the wide variety of events—from rock shows to symphonies and theatrical performances—and outdoor environmental conditions, Live Technologies’ audio experts selected six channels of UHF-R for precise audio delivery. The stage is also outfitted with SM58, SM57, and SM81 microphones.
“After carefully reviewing the special needs of an outdoor amphitheater of this scale, it was decided that the Shure UHF-R—designed for high pressure situations and extreme conditions, while also flexible and intuitive for a variety of use cases—was the ideal tool for delivering the highest quality sound,” said Rusty Ranney, CEO of Live Technologies. “With 2,400 selectable frequencies across an ultra-wide 60MHz bandwidth, the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion is ready to respond to changing or unpredictable RF conditions without audio degradation or interference.”
Considered the “crowning glory” of the city, the amphitheater makes Columbus a bona fide draw for national acts and outdoor performances. The 40-foot by 60-foot stage with high-performance lighting and video equipment, paired with Shure audio technologies, has created an impressive home for community events and the arts to thrive in Columbus.
