OCEANSIDE, CA – Sound Image, a Clair Global brand, has been chosen to integrate audio, video and data into the brand new Frontwave Arena, the first of its kind in Oceanside, San Diego County. The arena opened in Sept. 2024.
More details from Sound Image (www.sound-image.com) and Clair Global (www.clairglobal.com):
The 7,500 capacity, 170,000sq ft space is the home court to local sports organizations San Diego Clippers (basketball) and the San Diego Sockers (soccer) and features a high-end sound system that reaches every seat while steering clear of sight line interruption, ideal for sports production. The Gold Over America Tour (GOAT), led by the world’s most decorated gymnast, Simone Biles, brought athletic prowess to this court for the venue’s first sports tour event.
Sound Image Project Manager, Hans Haas, oversaw the design and implementation of the project. He comments: “This part of San Diego County has never had a venue like this, and it has already become a great activity hub for the community. No two integrations are ever alike, but with a venue so local to our San Diego office, there’s an added level of ‘hometown’ satisfaction here.”
The main PA system comprises JBL’s PD6322 three-way and PD6212 two-way PD Series loudspeakers, offering high output with exceptional pattern control. The sub package comprises 24 x JBL ASB6115’s, arranged in a dual facing laterally steered array. The venue’s unique subwoofer installation is configured with under balcony fills of JBL AC18/26 and JBL CBT70J-1 side fills, amplified by Crown DCI Series.
The space also boasts noise reduction, reverberation, echo and distortion absorption thanks to acoustic insulation considerations within the arena bowl.
Hans continues: “The audio quality of the system punches above its weight, and that impact is what the venue owners wanted to deliver; for people to come in and have a ‘rock & roll audio’ experience. Everything is flown above the grid but at the same time, gives excellent coverage with the package almost invisible to spectators.”
For audio mixing, a DiGiCo S21 console and DiGiCo DQ-Rack serves for control. Wireless microphones are Shure ULX-D, with RF Venue DFIN antennas.
Production intercom is via a ClearCom Arcadia 32 channel digital system with FreeSpeak II wireless beltpacks and HelixNet wired beltpacks.
Another key aspect of this arena’s technical design involved Sound Image working with the sports teams directly to meet all their audio and visual needs.
The LED video wall installation, including ribbon walls around the entirety of the arena, utilizes the Absen N5 and N4 Series. Novastar H9 and H2 processors drive the powerful LED walls, with 3 x MotionRocket 12G Pro sports graphics servers providing content. The scoring system is made by OES and driven by the ISC9000-PR desktop scoreboard controller. The control system and DSP is on the QSC Q-SYS networked audio, video and control platform, using a CORE 610 and CORE 8 FLEX. For user interface, QSC TSC101-G3 and TSC70-G3 touch panels are also installed around the venue.
Hans furthers: “Statistical data that needs to be streamed to other platforms and shared and embedded for NBA game requirements meant we had to ensure the scoring system we were installing was flexible enough and had the connectivity to support all the different teams and various uses that this venue facilitates.”
In addition, VITEC video streaming solutions send live and recorded video and digital signage to the venue’s EPOS system for automated menu updates on concession stands.
Hans concludes: “In this venue, all our AV systems are completely digital, and network based. It’s rapidly becoming the standard, but in such a network centric system, you must be involved with much more than just audio and video. You need in-depth network engineering ability; from intercom to assisted listening, video transport to audio, it’s all within the network, operating at low latency very efficiently.”
