MIDDLESBROUGH, UK – Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium has been equipped with a new sound system from Electro-Voice and Dynacord. The stadium first opened as a modern, purpose-built 35,000-seat venue in 1995.
More details from Electro-Voice (www.electrovoice.com) and Dynacord (www.dynacord.com):
Hosting men’s and women’s soccer games as well as concerts, the stadium needed a new sound system that could deliver a pristine audio experience for all fans.
“Our PA system was in need of a full upgrade,” recalls Helena Bowman, Head of Business Operations and Community at Middlesborough FC. “The quality of the previous system was poor due to its age, and the sound system is an integral part of the match day experience, therefore it needs to be the best quality we can get.”
The club called in UK Audio Engineering to design and install a system that would replace the ageing PA. “They were really, really keen to improve the match day experience,” notes Jordan Alderton, director of UK Audio Engineering. “We presented an Electro-Voice and Dynacord solution and gave the board a demo of what we would do. They could see that we were well integrated with the manufacturer so that gave them a lot of confidence and they trusted the design that we presented.”
With the design approved, the integrator faced a tight timescale to install the solution. “The Riverside hosts concerts throughout the summer, so we couldn’t do the installation in the usual quiet period for football clubs,” says Alderton. “We were able to get the back of house infrastructure done in July, then we needed to build, program and test the racks in our facility in Nottingham before we were able to go in for the final installation during the international break in October. It was an intense two weeks, but we were able to get everything done.”
The pro sound system covering the stadium bowl comprises 68 EVH arrayable horn-loaded loudspeakers, which have been flown in pairs from the stadium roof to cover the stands. These are driven by five IPX10:8 amplifiers and controlled via a pair of MXE5 Matrix Mix Engines. To complete the life safety part of the installation, a Praesensa public address and voice alarm system was also installed.
Despite the tight timescale, it was a relatively straightforward installation. However, the support from the Electro-Voice and Dynacord teams again proved to be outstanding. “We’ve had a lot of experience with Electro-Voice and Dynacord and we have found that the range of products and the support you get from the team is just fantastic,” states Alderton. “When you do hit challenges on these projects, the speed that they come back to you with a new design and solutions is where we want it to be and what you want to be working with.”
Most importantly, the football club is very happy with the result. “We now have a system which provides clear sound across the stadium,” states Bowman. “It also offers enhanced control, allowing us to quickly and easily adjust levels as needed. Additionally, the system can feed individual zones of the stadium with customized paging. Music and announcements delivered through the system are sharp, clear, and rich.
“We are extremely happy with the end results, and the service UK Audio Engineering provided throughout the whole process,” Bowman concludes. “They were professional, accessible and hardworking and the end outcome has provided us with a real improvement in our match day operations and fan experience.”
