MONDO | STADIA - Issue 34 - February | March

AFC ASIAN CUP

BLUENERGY STADIUM

AMAZON - JUST WALK OUT TECH

FULL TIME - TERRAPLAS

450 Ayrton fixtures used to enhance the spectacular Opening Ceremony for AFC Asian Cup at Lusail Stadium.

Udinese to install 2,400 state-of-the-art solar panels, enabling its stadium to become partially energy self-sufficient.

George Vaughan discusses how stadiums are joining the Amazon Just Walk Out technology revolution.

With over 30 years’ experience, we focus on the how Terraplas will continue to maximise stadium revenue in the future.

ISSUE 34 - FEBRUARY | MARCH 2024

THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION FOR TECHNOLOGY IN SPORTING VENUES

Permanent installations present their own set of expectations and need a purpose-built product for those demands. The IS-Series brings the rider acceptance and performance of Adamson’s touring products to the world of integration.

The new ultra-compact IS7c point source takes the well-rounded IS-Series to 12 application-specific boxes.

For more info visit adamsonsystems.com

New! - IS7c Ultra-compact , light-weight, passive 2-way coaxial speaker Frequency Response: 80 Hz - 20 kHz | SPL: 130 dB

34 WELCOME

ack in November 2023, I had a pleasure of attending the official opening of the new LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. The spectacular venue was the perfect setting to an incredible game between LDLC ASVEL and Bayern Munich - and huge credit must go to everyone involved in the project. It was a privilege to be able to discuss everything that went into the project, as well as the long-term plan for LDLC Arena, with Alabama Media and representatives from the venue itself. Designed by Populous, with Jump Studios tasked with the premium hospitality spaces, players’ changing rooms, artists’ dressing rooms and offices, Alabama Media equipped LDLC Arena with breath-taking visual technology, along with a state-of-the-art broadcast setup. With Absen, GIS, Vizrt, Modulo Pi, Lightware, L-Acoustics, Uniguest, Daplast, and PixMob all involved, we hope you enjoy our deep-dive into a magnificent multifuncitonal venue.

Our Team Talk is from George Vaughan, who gives us some fascinating insight into Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology that’s starting a revolution in stadia.

We also focus on Ayrton’s involvement in the Opening Ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup at Lusail Stadium, as well as the cutting-edge photovoltaic system to be installed at Udinese’s Bluenergy Stadium, further driving sustainability.

Our Full Time focus is on turf protection giants, Terraplas. With over 30 years’ experience in developing and producing temporary flooring systems, the company is now heading into a new era, ready to maximise stadium’s revenue streams.

Enjoy ISSUE 34!

B

Sam Hughes Editorial Director

FEATURED PROJECT: SoFi STADIUM LOS ANGELES

34 INSIDE…

Cover Image: ©DamienLG

Editorial Director Sam Hughes s.hughes@mondiale.co.uk

Commercial Director Jamie Dixon j.dixon@mondiale.co.uk

Design & Production Dan Seaton d.seaton@mondiale.co.uk

Dave Bell d.bell@mondiale.co.uk

Finance Director Amanda Giles a.giles@mondiale.co.uk

Credit Control ar@mondiale.co.uk

Group Chairman Damian Walsh

MONDO | STADIA is published by Mondiale Media Limited, Strawberry Studios, Watson Square, Stockport, SK1 3AZ, UK Tel: +44 161 476 8340

Printed By Buxton Press

TEAM TALK

EXTRA TIME

006 George Vaughan | Amazon Just Walk Out

058 ESSMA Summit 2024 | Amsterdam 062 Renkus-Heinz | UBX Series 066 Tasker | CPR Cables for 2024

THE FULL PITCH

068 BSS | Soundweb OMNI Series

012 LDLC Arena | Lyon, France

070 Electro-Voice | V600:2 072 Full Time | Terraplas

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

VENUE FOCUS LIGHTING 034 AFC Asian Cup | Lusail, Qatar SUSTAINABILITY 040 Bluenergy Stadium | Friuli, Italy TURF 046 Rams Park | Istanbul, Turkey AUDIO 050 Guildford Spectrum | Guildford, England 3D DESIGN SOFTWARE 054 Chase Stadium | Fort Lauderdale, USA

IN THE FAST LANE - STADIUMS JOIN THE AMAZON JUST WALK OUT REVOLUTION George R Vaughan, CEO, The Digital Line Images: Amazon

ver the past two decades, the

The Retail Evolution

shopped. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

shopping landscape has undergone

The path that got us here provides a

dealt another blow to the high street,

a remarkable evolution, driven by

fascinating historical picture, from the general

necessitating a re-evaluation of strategies to

changing consumer behavior and

stores and marketplaces of the early 1800s,

entice customers back into physical spaces.

a host of new technological initiatives. This

to the rise of the departments stores in the

Today, venues and retail face similar

transformation, characterized by innovations

middle part of that 19th century, right through

challenges as they look to find ways to

aiming to streamline and enhance the overall

to the birth of mail order catalogues, that first

encourage fans and customers back through

customer experience, has significantly

found favour with customers as early as 1890.

their doors, promoting the “live experience” as

impacted the traditional retail model.

Anyone believing that self-services stores are a

a key argument on the battleground of digital

The journey from local markets and

relatively recent concept might be surprised to

vs physical. For football and rugby stadiums,

departments stores to the digital landscapes

discover that the model can trace its roots back

tackling the challenges of huge crowds,

of the 21st century reflect a dynamic change

to the early 1900s, emerging in parallel with

particularly around the half time sales window,

in the expectations of customers, mirroring

the birth of the first supermarkets.

is an ongoing concern when the upsurge in

a society wide shift in multiple sectors that

Post-World War II, the next big leap took

demand often results in large queues and

has now infiltrated everything from going out

place in the 60s and 70s, as shopping malls

dissatisfied fans.

for a meal to transportation and live sporting

became popular destinations for retail and

Adding to the challenge is the fact that during

events.

leisure, alongside the introduction of barcode

the pandemic, significant numbers of the

The pace of change is accelerating, with terms

technology, before the rise of the internet in

hospitality workforce moved to other sectors in

like “seamless transactions,” “frictionless

the 1990s brought about arguably the biggest

search of alternative work and even now, three

payments,” and “invisible technology”

change to shopping since the invention of

years on, many of them have not returned

becoming synonymous with the shopping

currency.

to the industry, leaving operators with a

experience. The demand for technology to

By the turn of the millennium, online and

employment hole they remain unable to fill.

operate in the background, independent of

e-commerce posed the greatest challenge to

our direct involvement, reflects the evolving

the physical retail model, with companies like

The New Kid on the Block

expectations of consumers.

Amazon and eBay reshaping the way people

Already recognised as a pioneer in retail

O

006

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

TEAM TALK

innovation, Amazon has extended its frictionless shopping experience beyond traditional stores and boasts over 120 Just Walk Out technology-enabled third-party stores across the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia, including airports, sports stadiums, universities, and hospitals.

Notable venues like Lumen Field, the Hard Rock Stadium, and Globe Life Field all showcase the success of Just Walk Out technology in sports arenas.

In fact, Just Walk Out technology is one of the best examples of engaging tech that never really tests the user. Customers just need to approach the entrance to the store, flash their debit or credit card on the reader and then once inside, make their selections before walking out at the other end. By using Generative AI to train their models and thanks to the seamless fusion of advanced camera technology, sensor fusion and AI, the concept of “grab and go” is now a full blown reality.

It’s a game-changer for venues where the biggest enemy to any stadium is queues at food and concession stands but it’s not just about improvements to operations, where a lack of staff is making customer service more challenging. They are starting to see a measurable uplift in sales as well.

Lumen Field installed its first Just Walk Out technology store, District Market, on the stadium’s upper concourse. During the 2022 season, the store saw a 60% increase in customer throughput, and the total transactions per game doubled compared

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

007

TEAM TALK

to the traditional concession stand that

with foodservice and retail partner, Delaware

If I buy my preferred beer at a stadium where

previously stood in the same location. By the

North. Here customers could quickly purchase

that brand happens to be a sponsor and then

end of the season in early 2023, the team saw

anything from a cheeseburger to packaged

visit a Just Walk Out store where they sell

transactions per game in that location increase

beer or confectionary without the need to

the same product, why couldn’t I receive a

85% and total sales per game increase 112%.

queue.

loyalty discount as a fan if I purchase that

Following the success of the launch, Lumen

“As businesses embrace the benefits of Just

same product in a retail environment. It

Field has added eight more Just Walk Out

Walk Out technology, our team continues

takes the stadium/sponsor model out of the

technology stores in the arena (including the

to innovate to enable retailers to offer an

venue and into people’s shopping baskets

new RFID store), making Lumen Field the

expanded array of products, bring checkout-

and would bring proven value to the business

venue with the most Just Walk Out technology

free stores to new locations and new shoppers,

relationship.

locations anywhere in the world.

and increase throughput and sales” adds

Amazon’s direction of travel appears to be

“Lumen Field has rapidly become the go-to

Jenkins.

gaining momentum and there is likely to be

destination for Seahawks fans to experience

And the innovation doesn’t stop there.

greater adoption from venues outside of the US

the latest in checkout-free technology,” said

Last month, Amazon announced its latest

over the coming months as stadiums realise

Jon Jenkins, VP of AWS Technology. “From

development in the Just Walk Out technology

the advantages the solution can bring.

concession shopping and now clothing and

experience with the introduction of “Badge

Ultimately, for any new technology driven

accessories, Lumen Field is the leading

Pay”, a solution that has been created

initiative, operator engagement is key

location for innovative shopping experiences.”

for the healthcare industry as a means to

alongside a defined plan for deployment

At Globe Life Field in Arlington, home to the

provide hospital staff with access to food and

because it doesn’t matter how good the system

Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team,

beverages 24/7, without the need to carry a

is, if the practical elements like restocking

they are seeing similar benefits with an RFID-

payment card or mobile phone around with

of products and placement of items aren’t

enabled version of Just Walk Out technology

them.

thought through, even the smartest AI

that allows fans to purchase merchandise

008

application will fall over.

in the same seamless way. With this new

Endless Possibilities

Speaking as a first-hand user and a fan of

iteration of the system, all the items on sale

Although not a part of their current strategy,

the technology, done right, Just Walk Out

are fitted with a unique RFID tag that is read

it got me thinking about how this technology

technology is the pinnacle of frictionless

as visitors pass through the exit gate and then

could be easily applied to season ticket holders

shopping and the way forward for a society

they are automatically charged.

at football and rugby stadiums, providing

that is already used to immediacy in most

The venue was already operating two Just

fans with additional benefits as part of their

aspects of life. If you can condemn the concept

Walk Out technology-enabled Express Grill

relationship with the club.

of queuing to history, just think about all that

outlets, offering a variety of food and beverage

Additionally, it could be linked to loyalty

reclaimed time the British public could assign

choices to fans, as part of their relationship

solutions and even offer cross vertical offers.

to much more productive pursuits!

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

Introducing the world’s most portable all-in-one television studio!

ATEM Television Studio 4K8 is a professional live production switcher built into a broadcast control panel so it can be used for high end work while being extremely portable. You get a powerful switcher with 8 x 12G-SDI standards converted inputs, 10 x 12G-SDI aux outputs, 4 chroma keyers, 2 downstream keyers, SuperSource, 2 media players and lots of transitions!

Powerful SuperSource Processing!

Easy to Use and Fast to Learn!

Built In Fairlight Audio Mixer

There’s never been a switcher that’s easier to use, as you simply press any of the

With a built in Fairlight audio mixer, ATEM Television Studio 4K8 makes it possible

program row buttons on the front panel to cut between video sources. You can

to do complex live sound mixing. The internal mixer features enough channels

select from exciting transitions such as dissolve, or more dramatic effects such

for all SDI inputs, as well as extra channels for the XLR, RCA and MADI inputs!

as dip to color, DVE squeeze and DVE push. You can even add a DVE for picture

Each input channel features the highest quality 6 band parametric EQ,

in picture effects with customized graphics. Then you can live stream the results!

compressor, limiter, expander and noise gate as well as level and pan controls.

Self Contained Broadcast Quality Switcher The ATEM Television Studio 4K8 combines a switcher and control panel into the same unit, so it’s extremely portable. The front panel includes buttons for selecting sources, triggering transitions and setting up video effects. You also get a built in t-bar for manual transition control! The front panel even has an innovative audio mixer control area with live metering on a dedicated LCD.

In addition to the DVE in the ATEM Television Studio 4K8, there is also a powerful SuperSource multi layer processor! Any video input can be used as sources for each DVE, then it’s all layered together over a media pool custom background or live video. SuperSource is perfect for interviews because you can set up the effect so the viewer can see each person being interviewed all within a stylish graphic.

ATEM Television Studio 4K8 €4335

Learn more at www.blackmagicdesign.com/nl SRP is Exclusive of VAT.

MONDO_STADIA_ATEM_TELEVISION_STUDIO_4K8_NL.indd 1

9/1/2024 9:47 am

Partner:Hexogon Solution

THE BIG EVENT. AND THE SMART TECH BEHIND IT. Complete range of projectors Built-in warping and blending Projection software tools Image processing Show control and content management Switchers and AV distribution Extended warranties and support

Explore our solutions: christiedigital.com/completeAV

CD3676-Complete-Campaign-Mondo-Stadia-Stadium-Print-Ad-Jun-23-EN.indd 1

2023-06-29 9:12 AM

34 THE FULL PITCH

012 LDLC Arena | Lyon, France

THE FULL PITCH

LDLC ARENA Lyon, France Images: ©L. Rault, ©DamienLG, Alabama Media, Populous, L-Acoustics, Daplast, MONDO | STADIA

012

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

013

THE FULL PITCH

POPULOUS

014

The Populous-designed LDLC Arena in Lyon opened to the

the design concept was to create a dynamic piece of

public on the 23rd of November 2023 with an inaugural

architecture that responded to its surroundings and opened

Euroleague basketball game between LDLC ASVEL and FC

up the venue to passersby.

Bayern Munich.

“The orientation of the building was key in achieving these

One of the most technologically and environmentally

goals – we did a lot of work looking at how best to position

advanced indoor arenas in Europe and the largest in France

it on the site to make the best possible use of the available

outside Paris, the highly adaptable venue is due to host

public space, as well as integrate it with the stadium master

between 100 and 120 events per year, including concerts,

plan.

LDLC ASVEL’s Euroleague basketball matches, futsal, tennis,

“The facade design responds to the functional gradient of the

esports competitions, large-scale seminars and trade shows.

building from private to public through facade articulation

The design features a versatile modular seating tier system,

methods. The facade becomes more transparent towards

comprising three stands facing the stage and a fourth, which

the public space and towards the stadium. The variable

can be removed for sporting events. This flexibility allows for

transparency is achieved by exercising vertical rotations

an adjustable capacity ranging from 6,000 up to 16,000.

of panels, which allow visual breakthroughs towards the

Externally, the arena’s appearance responds sensitively to

stadium, gradual perforations in the panels, and a horizontal

its surroundings. The outer ‘veil’ consists of textured panels

cut at concourse level allowing a clear view of the stadium.”

set at varied angles, softening the building’s outline and

Jump Studios, the interior design arm of Populous in the

reducing its volume.

EMEA region, designed the arena’s premium hospitality

“The discussions around integrating an arena for the city

spaces, players’ changing rooms, artists’ dressing rooms

within the OL Valley date back to the early planning for the

and offices. This interior work complements the brand

world-class Groupama Stadium, which was also designed by

identity created for LDLC Arena by Populous’ in-house

Populous and opened in 2016. Specifically regarding LDLC

brand activation team, which includes the venue’s logo and

Arena, we’ve been working with OL Groupe since 2019 to find

wayfinding throughout the building.

the best site and define the right programme for the venue,”

Simon Borg, Brand Activation & Wayfinding Lead at

explained Elizabeth Miglierina, Populous Prinicipal and

Populous, said: “Our main goal was to create an identity that

Project Lead for LDLC Arena.

not only captured the essence of the venue, symbolising the

“Both as a piece of architecture and in terms of the venue’s

energy and passion of the sports and entertainment activities

brand identity, it was crucial the arena connected both with

happening within the arena, but also integrated the identity

the fans visiting it and the wider community. Aesthetically,

of the naming partner, LDLC.

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

THE FULL PITCH

“Both the venue and LDLC were heavily involved throughout

extensively across lots of different channels.”

the process. Initially, we had a broad brief to develop an

Sustainability has been a key element, too, as Elizabeth

identity that reflected the dynamic nature of the events

explained further: “From the outset of the project,

hosted at the venue. We provided them with a look book – a

sustainability was at the heart of the design process. We did

brand. And we showed them how the brand could be broken

an immense amount of work to optimise the layout of the

down and how it could be applied, and what it could be

internal spaces to minimise the footprint of the building and,

applied to.”

in turn, reduce the volume of building materials needed.

Drawing on extensive interiors experience designing high-

“The shell of the building comprises a double skin, which

quality hospitality spaces for clients such as Ministry of

helps to regulate the temperature within the arena and

Sound, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Google, and the Co-op

minimise the need for climate control systems.”

Live Arena, Jump Studios conceived a series of flexible,

The arena generates its energy with 5,500 sq metres of

premium spaces.

photovoltaic panels on the main roof. In the public realm

These spaces were strategically designed to maximise the

surrounding the venue, 30% of the total area will be green

customer experience for performers and athletes alike, with

space, with the scheme to include hundreds of mature trees

the overarching goal of maximising revenue consistently,

and a large bird reservation to the north of the site.

rather than relying solely on game days and major concert

Francois Clement, Senior Principal and Leader of Populous’

events.

business operations in France, said: “We’re excited to deliver

“Our vision for the LDLC Arena project was for it to be an

our second venue for Lyon alongside Olympique Lyonnais

identity applied throughout. The client team understood

Groupe. Leading on the arena and interior design with our

and completely bought into the importance of maintaining

interiors practice, Jump Studios, Populous was able to extend

this consistent thread of brand throughout the building, and

the Groupe’s ambitious OL Valley venture by providing a

they’ve applied it in a range of areas, which holds together

venue that responds to the local community. Set to attract

as a complete package of branding,” added Simon. “It’s on

some of the best talent in live entertainment, LDLC Arena will

significant elements including the outside of the building,

become a cultural hub and a significant asset to the city.”

tickets, posters, social media, concessions branding and

Elizabeth concluded: “Arenas are attracting more and more

the interior details in the VIP bars, all the way through to

attention when it comes to sustainability. Designing LDLC

the seating bowl itself — from the perimeter LEDs to the

Arena, a large-scale, ambitious building in one of the biggest

jumbotron in the middle of the venue. So it’s not overkill, but

French cities, demonstrates Populous’ commitment to

it touches lots of points throughout.

delivering best-in-class venues with a reduced impact on

“The feedback has been fantastic – they’re really happy

our environment. As designers, we are sharing our vision of

with the brand. But I think the proof of this is how they’ve

creating spaces for people and the planet.”

adopted it across lots of different types of media – both digital and physical. That’s the indication that the brand is living and growing, so it’s been really well received and used

016

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

populous.com | jump-studios.com

THE FULL PITCH

“Both the venue and LDLC were heavily involved throughout

extensively across lots of different channels.”

the process. Initially, we had a broad brief to develop an

Sustainability has been a key element, too, as Elizabeth

identity that reflected the dynamic nature of the events

explained further: “From the outset of the project,

hosted at the venue. We provided them with a look book – a

sustainability was at the heart of the design process. We did

brand. And we showed them how the brand could be broken

an immense amount of work to optimise the layout of the

down and how it could be applied, and what it could be

internal spaces to minimise the footprint of the building and,

applied to.”

in turn, reduce the volume of building materials needed.

Drawing on extensive interiors experience designing high-

“The shell of the building comprises a double skin, which

quality hospitality spaces for clients such as Ministry of

helps to regulate the temperature within the arena and

Sound, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Google, and the Co-op

minimise the need for climate control systems.”

Live Arena, Jump Studios conceived a series of flexible,

The arena generates its energy with 5,500 sq metres of

premium spaces.

photovoltaic panels on the main roof. In the public realm

These spaces were strategically designed to maximise the

surrounding the venue, 30% of the total area will be green

customer experience for performers and athletes alike, with

space, with the scheme to include hundreds of mature trees

the overarching goal of maximising revenue consistently,

and a large bird reservation to the north of the site.

rather than relying solely on game days and major concert

Francois Clement, Senior Principal and Leader of Populous’

events.

business operations in France, said: “We’re excited to deliver

“Our vision for the LDLC Arena project was for it to be an

our second venue for Lyon alongside Olympique Lyonnais

identity applied throughout. The client team understood

Groupe. Leading on the arena and interior design with our

and completely bought into the importance of maintaining

interiors practice, Jump Studios, Populous was able to extend

this consistent thread of brand throughout the building, and

the Groupe’s ambitious OL Valley venture by providing a

they’ve applied it in a range of areas, which holds together

venue that responds to the local community. Set to attract

as a complete package of branding,” added Simon. “It’s on

some of the best talent in live entertainment, LDLC Arena will

significant elements including the outside of the building,

become a cultural hub and a significant asset to the city.”

tickets, posters, social media, concessions branding and

Elizabeth concluded: “Arenas are attracting more and more

the interior details in the VIP bars, all the way through to

attention when it comes to sustainability. Designing LDLC

the seating bowl itself — from the perimeter LEDs to the

Arena, a large-scale, ambitious building in one of the biggest

jumbotron in the middle of the venue. So it’s not overkill, but

French cities, demonstrates Populous’ commitment to

it touches lots of points throughout.

delivering best-in-class venues with a reduced impact on

“The feedback has been fantastic – they’re really happy

our environment. As designers, we are sharing our vision of

with the brand. But I think the proof of this is how they’ve

creating spaces for people and the planet.”

adopted it across lots of different types of media – both digital and physical. That’s the indication that the brand is living and growing, so it’s been really well received and used

016

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

populous.com | jump-studios.com

POWERED BY ABSEN LED EXPERTS IN GLOBAL SPORTS APPLICATION

Singapore Smash 2023 (World Table Tennis)

DOTA2 International 2022 Finals (Esports)

Vivint Arena (Utah Jazz Sports Stadium)

THE FULL PITCH

ALABAMA MEDIA - ABSEN | GIS | VIZRT | MODULO PI | LIGHTWARE

018

In Lyon, France, there is a new beacon of innovation and

of their longstanding collaboration with Ligue 1 giants,

entertainment: the LDLC Arena. With a capacity of 16,000

Olympique Lyonnais (OL). With years of experience working

for concerts and 12,000 for sporting events, this state-of-

closely with OL, Alabama Media gained invaluable insights

the-art venue promises to become a go-to for world-class

into the unique requirements for this new setting within the

events, from ASVEL Basket’s Euroleague basketball games

OL Vallée – a 23,000 sq. metre leisure hub in the outskirts of

to incredible shows and concerts featuring renowned artists,

Lyon.

such as Shaka Ponk, Green Day, Big Flo & Oli, and Eric

Alabama Media’s foray into the realm of fixed installations

Clapton. At the core of this architectural marvel is genuine

may have been relatively new for the company, but their

technological ingenuity and creative vision, courtesy of

expertise in creating captivating shows and navigating the

Alabama Media, a company of Groupe Novelty.

intricacies of live events was unparalleled. Drawing upon

Alabama Media’s decision to respond to the invitation to

their experience, Alabama Media approached the LDLC

tender for the LDLC Arena project was a natural progression

Arena project with a unique perspective, understanding the

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

challenges and demands of live entertainment, ensuring that

the cube’s transformative impact, adjusted its approach,

every aspect of the installation was meticulously planned and

particularly concerning load considerations, framework

executed.

construction, and power infrastructure.

Following the selection of VINCI as the contractor, the project

The spectacular LED cube is a masterpiece of engineering

underwent significant evolution. Alabama Media brought

and design that rivals those found in iconic arenas across the

forth innovative ideas diverging from the initial concept,

world. Weighing in at 17 tonnes, this behemoth is adorned

particularly regarding the design of the cube, focusing

with four 3.9mm Absen LED panels, each measuring 8m x

on its load-bearing capacity, demountable nature, and

4.5m, offering stunning visuals that captivate the audience.

aesthetic appeal. Extensive discussions took place during the

The LED cube is not merely a static fixture, but one that

execution phase to precisely define the requirements for the

delivers versatility and innovation. At the heart of the

control room. Collaboration with VINCI proved to be pivotal,

multifunction venue lies a sophisticated system using eight

with seamless coordination characterising the partnership

GIS D8+ engines, each boasting a formidable 2.5 tonnes of

throughout.

power. These robust motors serve as the mechanical muscle

The cube emerged as the focal point of the LDLC Arena,

behind the seamless movement of the monumental LED cube,

spearheading the project’s vision. VINCI, acknowledging

effortlessly raising and lowering it to accommodate various

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

019

THE FULL PITCH

020

events. What sets these engines apart is their precision and

banner panels, used around basketball court. Additionally,

adaptability – they’re equipped with load cells, allowing

there is a motorised ring under the cube, consisting of four

them to gauge the weight of the load to the nearest gram for

6m x 1m Absen PL3.9 V10 LED panels, adding another layer of

optimal safety and performance.

dynamic visual engagement.

Metalwork specialist Fer et Défaire spearheaded the structural

Francois Aubert, General Manager at LDLC Arena, added:

and decorative design of the cube, including the internal

“It’s crucial to have a proficient team that understands our

truss and aluminium bars. Prior to the project’s inception,

needs and can adapt to different requirements. Our goal is

Alabama Media, in collaboration with Cobalt, took the lead in

continuous improvement and, while budget constraints are a

presenting various design concepts. This proactive approach

factor, we strive to upgrade wherever possible.

laid the foundation that would ultimately define the cube’s

“Tony Parker envisioned an American-style venue, which

aesthetic appeal and complement the overall design of the

influenced our decision to incorporate features like the large

LDLC Arena.

LED cube and balcony seating. Modularity was key; the ability

Pierre Duprat, Director at LDLC Arena, highlighted the

to move the LED cube to the roof or stage adds versatility to

importance of the LED cube’s design: “When we first

our events.

discussed with Alabama, our aim was clear: we wanted

“Alabama Media played a pivotal role in ensuring this

something that would make everyone entering the arena say

modularity, despite their primary focus on touring setups.

‘wow!’

Their dedication to quality is evident, so partnering with

“They went through multiple iterations to achieve this, but

companies like Alabama Media has been instrumental in

when they proposed incorporating our logo design, we knew

achieving our vision for LDLC Arena.”

it was the perfect idea. Seeing it now, we are certain it’s

In addition to the LED displays, Alabama Media installed an

exactly what we envisioned. As people enter the arena, they

array of cutting-edge technology throughout the venue. The

instinctively reach for their phones to capture the moment

company supplied and integrated all video equipment for the

and share it on social media, precisely the reaction we aimed

broadcast control room, including servers, production tools,

for.”

and live broadcast capabilities.

Elsewhere, two Absen 3.9mm LED scoring screens, measuring

The Alabama team specified, sourced, and integrated

6m x 3.5m, provide real-time game statistics for an

state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment. At the forefront

immersive experience for spectators. Moreover, 200 linear

of their setup was the broadcast Front of House, equipped

metres of Absen 4mm LED fascia adorn the venue’s stands,

with industry-leading technology, including a Tricaster

enveloping audiences in a mesmerising visual display.

2 Elite video mixer with a control surface 2-Stripe and a

Furthermore, Alabama Media provided 37 metres of LED

3Play 3P1 from Vizrt. This sophisticated setup provided

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

Subscribe to

www.mondostadia.com/register-your-interest

ELECTRIC CHAIN HOIST LP RIG IT EASY WITH GIS WEATHERPROOF LONG-LASTING POWERFUL QUIET LIGHT

3 YEAR WARRANTY www.stadiasessions.com • 7-10 May 2024

Download the magazine on the mondo*dr app.

We know that it’s more important than ever for us to help you communicate with the industry.

If you’d like your copy of MONDO | STADIA delivered to a different address, e-mail Jamie at j.dixon@mondiale.co.uk

GIS AG I swiss lifting solutions I CH-6247 Schötz I Phone +41 41 984 11 33 tel@gis-ag.ch I www.gis-ag.ch

THE FULL PITCH

unparalleled control and flexibility in capturing and

Pierre expressed optimism about the venue’s future success:

broadcasting live events. Additionally, Modulo Pi’s 4 flux

“Ultimately, it’s the people and our clients who will

4K media server, configured to flawlessly broadcast media

determine the success, but we have full confidence in the

across all LED screens throughout the arena, including

partnerships we’ve created to get where we are now. With

the iconic cube, inner circle, balconies, and pitch banners.

over 40 events already scheduled, we’re thrilled with the

Also featured at LDLC Arena is Lightware’s MX2-8x8-DH-

momentum we’ve built.

8DPio-A, a standalone Full 4K Matrix Switcher boasting

“Our goal is to establish LDLC Arena as a premier destination

DisplayPort 1.2 Input and Output Ports. This cutting-edge

for events. We’ve already secured major events like WWE,

technology guarantees unmatched AV signal switching

thanks to our state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure.

capabilities. Experience seamless delivery of uncompressed

Our vision is to firmly place Lyon on the map as a hub

4K UHD@60Hz RGB 4:4:4 video with zero latency, ensuring

for large-scale events, and, while it may take time, we’re

impeccable picture quality without any disruptions during

committed to realising this ambition step by step.”

slow-motion playback. Lightware’s exclusive Advanced EDID

Christopher Dubost, Project Manager at Alabama, concluded:

Management feature makes this product perfect for future-

“We are delighted to be able to finally see the results of all

proof installations, allowing for customized EDID settings

our hard work and efforts in this iconic, state-of-the-art

tailored to LED walls. Additionally, the matrix supports HDR

venue, which plays host to some of the world’s greatest

and Low Latency Dolby Vision, while also offering audio

artists and athletes. We have put all our expertise into

embedding/de-embedding of PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS

equipping this venue with the very best video technology

high bitrate audio.

to deliver an unforgettable entertainment experience for

Xavier Aucagne, Alabama’s Technical Manager, added:

productions and visitors alike.”

“From the initial concept to the final installation, every

Tony Parker, former NBA star and majority owner of ASVEL

aspect demanded precision and expertise. Our team worked

Basket, expressed his delight with his club’s new home

tirelessly to ensure seamless integration that really delivers

venue: “This is the culmination of the incredible project I

for LDLC Arena.”

initiated in 2014. The LDLC is going to be one of the most

Alabama Media’s journey with the LDLC Arena exemplifies

beautiful venues in the world. Today, a basketball match is a

the convergence of technology and artistry, where innovation

spectacle. As soon as the spectators enter the hall, they will

meets spectacle. From the monumental LED cube to the

see the difference.”

immersive LED displays that surround the bowl, each element is crafted to deliver an unparalleled entertainment experience for the venue’s diverse array of events.

022

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

alabama-media.com

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

023

THE FULL PITCH

L-ACOUSTICS The newly inaugurated LDLC Arena in Lyon is a prominent

Snef designed a professional sound system based on

addition to France’s event venues as the largest indoor arena

L-Acoustics A Series and K Series, chosen for their ability to

outside Paris. In a city already known for its vibrant fusion

provide wide coverage without obstructing spectator views

of history, culture, and innovation, this new, Populous-

during matches, and their capacity to adapt to both intimate

designed venue symbolises the ambitious objective of the

performances and international shows. The engineering

local government to offer a versatile space that can host large

team used Soundvision to map out coverage, choosing a

crowds for electrifying sports events and major concerts.

combination of A Series and K Series for flexibility.

Given the stated mission of offering diverse events under one

In the U-shaped venue, Snef designed a system of two hangs

spectacular roof, the LDLC team turned to Marseille-based

of 12 K3 with two central clusters of KS28 subwoofers at the

integration company Snef to design and install a professional

top of the ‘U,’ which serve as a touring system for concerts.

concert-grade audio system capable of reinforcing any

Six hangs of six A15i are placed three per side, with two

imaginable content.

further hangs of two A15i, front and back, which serve for

Snef has a solid history of successful collaboration on similar

smaller events or can be used as a delay for concerts. Six

projects, including the professional sound system installed in

LA7.16i and two LA12X amplified controllers drive the whole

Marseille’s multi-purpose Stade Vélodrome. At LDLC Arena,

system.

Snef was tasked with providing flexible yet uniform coverage,

“We’re proud to have a superior sound system provided by

throughout the audience for any sport or entertainment.

L-Acoustics for this unique new venue,” said Roellinger.

In addition, the sound system needed to be compact and

“With its acoustical precision and power, every event leaves

adaptable to different arena layouts as the form and capacity

an indelible imprint on the audience. The response has been

of the space changed depending on the event.

resoundingly positive, with attendees lauding the astounding

“This project was a real adventure for Lyon,” explained

quality and crystal-clear clarity of the sound. Thanks to

Rodolphe Roellinger, National Technical Director at Snef.

L-Acoustics, we’ve set a new standard for audio experiences

“They’ve never had a space capable of hosting such a wide

in Lyon.”

range of events, each requiring an equally versatile and highquality sound system.”

024

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

l-acoustics.com

X8i X6i

Xi Series l-acoustics.com

L-Acoustics_Xi_MondoStadia_245x318mm.indd 1

2/21/24 9:08 AM

THE FULL PITCH

UNIGUEST Uniguest, a renowned leader in delivering cutting-edge

approach to fan engagement and entertainment, being the

secure engagement technologies, played a pivotal role as an

largest arena outside of Paris,” added Najoua Zenati, Sales

official supplier to the LDLC Arena in Lyon, in collaboration

Director, Europe and North Africa, Uniguest. “Through the

with IP-Partners and Videlio.

Their contribution included IPTV and Digital Signage solutions, which transformed the arena into a hub of modern, immersive experiences for fans and guests alike. From electrifying basketball matches to unforgettable concerts, Uniguest’s versatile technology brought the LDLC Arena to life, offering a seamless blend of entertainment options.

Whether it’s checking out the digital menu boards for favourite snacks or reliving the winning moments on the massive 144 sq metre LED screens, Uniguest’s technology enhanced every aspect of the arena experience.

The LDLC Arena stands as a beacon of experiential design excellence, thanks to the innovative Tripleplay platform by Uniguest. Beyond mere aesthetics and cost-efficiency, these

utilisation of the Tripleplay platform by Uniguest, facility

digital engagement solutions redefine the way fans and

managers can effortlessly deliver content to over 300

visitors interact with the arena, forging lasting memories that

screens within the arena, elevating the overall experience for

have already become synonymous with the LDLC Arena itself.

everyone involved.”

Uniguest’s involvement goes beyond just providing sophisticated digital engagement solutions; it encompasses a commitment to superior customer service and collaboration.

Their technical experts seamlessly integrated digital solutions into the state-of-the-art space of the LDLC Arena, ensuring a flawless experience for all visitors.

“In collaboration with IP-Partners and Videlio, we have brought advanced technology to a truly exceptional arena in France. The LDLC Arena represents a groundbreaking

026

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

uniguest.com

THE FULL PITCH

DAPLAST LDLC Arena is a venue that showcases a host of innovations,

of comfort and style has been considered.

including cutting-edge seating solutions crafted by Daplast.

The retractable stands, outfitted with Avatar seating by

The Lyon arena boasts a stunning array of 16,000 seats, all

Daplast, offer unparalleled flexibility, seamlessly adjusting

manufactured at Daplast’s factory in Cordoba, Spain. These

to accommodate larger crowds or creating ample space for

seats not only epitomise comfort, but also offer remarkable

electrifying concerts.

flexibility, allowing LDLC Arena to cater to diverse event

Further enhancing the auditory experience, Daplast

needs with ease.

introduced its Sittem seat model with acoustic covers,

Joining the ranks of illustrious venues worldwide, LDLC

designed to optimise sound absorption.

Arena proudly features Daplast seats, joining the likes of FC

With an impressive modularity and capacity up to 16,000

Barcelona’s Camp Nou, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, and

spectators, LDLC Arena is poised to host an array of concerts

Parc des Princes in Paris.

and events, including Eric Clapton, Green Day, Justin

While Daplast has historically excelled in soccer stadium

Timberlake, Jonas Brothers, and Fally Ipupa, as well as two

seating, their collaboration with LDLC Arena marks a

WWE events.

significant milestone in their portfolio. As a premier concert

LDLC Arena stands as a testament to technological

and sport events destination, the venue’s plush, adaptable

advancement and environmental sustainability, solidifying its

seating sets a new standard for versatility and luxury.

status as one of Europe’s premier venues.

Designed to meet the demands of a genuinely multifunctional space, Daplast designed removable seats that can be effortlessly stored on wheeled trolleys, ensuring swift transitions between configurations.

Daplast expertly tailored the flexible seating system with specially designed brackets. From the plush Avatar Premium seats to the fully upholstered Avatar Suite seats, every aspect

028

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

daplast.com

Stadium seating for sports venues Specialists in “turnkey” project management · Customized solutions for each type of grandstand. · Since 1973, more than 50 years of experience. · 100% control of production. · Innovation and sustainability.

More info www.daplast.com

Phone: (+34)957 329 448 e-mail: daplast@daplast.com

Ctra. Palma del Río, km9 14005 · Córdoba · Spain

THE FULL PITCH

PIXMOB During the electrifying LDLC Arena opening evening, 11,354 spectators wore wearable lighting tech designed by Montreal-based entertainment lighting innovators, PixMob. PixMob’s immersive LED wristbands synchronise the crowd with the on-field action for teams, leagues and large-scale sporting and music events, to supercharge fan engagement.

Throughout the magical inaugural event, an exhilarating game between LDLC ASVEL and FC Bayern Munich, spectators became active participants in the show and game, igniting joy and fan experience throughout the entire arena.

“We were thrilled to be part of this incredible inaugural event at LDLC Arena,” said Ysabel Van Grudenberg, PixMob’s Managing Director in Europe.

“Seeing the crowd light up in this new venue was exhilarating. The entire performance was designed for a truly fan-fuelled experience and we’re proud to have played a role in making it happen.” pixmob.com

030

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

WE DON’T MAKE LIGHTS

We give goose bumps OUR IMMERSIVE LED TECHNOLOGY TURNS UNLIT CROWDS INTO IMMERSIVE PARTICIPANTS OF THE LIVE EXPERIENCE, IGNITING JOY AND DEEPENING FANDOM.

Y TR 24 EN 20 EE TS FR MP # 15-16 May 2024|Olympia London

Bringing Content Creation to Life

Broadcast Technology

Production

AI Forum

Post Production

Audio

Virtual Production

Access to 250+ hours of FREE content

mediaproductionshow.com For information about stand & sponsorship packages for 2024, contact: Mark Chapman mark.chapman@mbi.london +44 (0)20 8102 0896 Powered by

:

Registration sponsor:

34 VENUE FOCUS

LIGHTING 034 AFC Asian Cup | Lusail, Qatar

SUSTAINABILITY 040 Bluenergy Stadium | Friuli, Italy

TURF 046 Rams Park | Istanbul, Turkey

AUDIO 050 Guildford Spectrum | Guildford, England

3D DESIGN SOFTWARE 054 Chase Stadium | Fort Lauderdale, USA

LIGHTING

AFC ASIAN CUP 2023 Lusail, Qatar Images: © Katara Studios

O

n 12 January 2024, Qatar hosted the Opening Ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup at the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, the largest stadium in the Middle East. Unusually for a football tournament, the ceremony was on an unprecedented scale,

comprising a full-size stage in midfield with a set featuring sand dunes, colourful costumes, and stunning visuals around a central motif of giant

034

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

035

LIGHTING

036

mirrored petals. Simultaneously broadcast internationally

looks for the remaining 20% for the live broadcast, and to

across the Middle East, Asia and Australasia, the 21-minute

reflect the joy and enthusiasm for the game of football within

visual extravaganza, Mirrors, The Lost Chapter from the

the region.”

Book of Kelileh Wa Demneh, was a triumph of theatrical

Countering the constraints of stadium rigging positions, Greil

story-telling. Equally impressive was the speed in which

worked with Technical Director Shannon Gobell to develop

it was struck in just 27 minutes by 700 stage hands, in

some “really good” lighting positions, the throw distances of

choreography as coordinated as the performers who preceded

which “bring their own physics with it!”

them, before the first match of the tournament kicked off.

45 Domino Profiles and 80 Huracán Profiles were rigged

“It was like Super Bowl on steroids!” said Lighting Designer,

around the circumference of the pitch on Level 0 at a height

Roland Greil who, brought in by design and production

of at 1.6m with a throw distance of 40m-50m. “These

agency, Sila Sveta, used over 450 Ayrton fixtures as the

immediately gave us traditional theatrical side lighting

majority - and main key lighting workhorses - of his design.

without interfering with audience sightlines, yet were high

“Our aim from the beginning was to create a very theatrical

enough to fire above the heads of the security teams on the

theme and lighting design in keeping with the cinematic

perimeters,” explained Greil. “Side lighting is your biggest

approach taken by producers, Katara Studios,” explained

friend for those magical looks, and the Domino Profiles and

Greil. “The show was a hugely complex, spectacular, yet

Huracán Profiles were our work horses for key lighting, side

very theatrical piece with a detailed story line and glorious

lighting and eye-candy for background imagery from here.

costumes. We needed a rig that could support the beautiful

“Half way up the grandstands on Level 4 we found another

story on stage and create magical looks for 80% of the time,

perfect lighting position which we filled with 110 Domino

but also to have additional fire power to create some big

Profiles for more key lighting from a distance of 80m-90m.

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

RIVALE PROFILE the ultimate revolution RIVALE PROFILE is the first ultra-equipped luminaire in AYRTON’s brand new ‘ULTIMATE’ series, all models being perfectly homothetic and sharing common features, delivering previously unimaginable weight to output ratios.

Developed for mixed use indoors and outdoors, and in all conditions, RIVALE PROFILE, with its unique visual signature, is unparalleled on the market.

Weight determines performance, and RIVALE PROFILE weighs only 30.8 kilos.

To allow you more creativity and freedom in your lighting design, RIVALE PROFILE has been provided with continuous rotation of the pan and tilt movement.

RIVALE PROFILE, a unique projector that boasts performance, creativity, subtlety and power, is the most versatile fixture created

by AYRTON to date.

A truly innovative luminaire with no equivalent on the market…

3 Series - Source

Lumens

Beam Aperture

Frontal Lens

IP Rating

Weight

450 W - 6500 K

30,000

4° to 52°

160 mm

IP65

30.8 kg

9S 6S

3S w w w. a y r t o n . e u

LIGHTING

Domino Profiles are basically an IP version of the Huracán

follow spots offering a limited number of angles, with 450

Profile so I was able to use them both as if they were the

‘follow spots’ that could be used in an incredibly creative

same light. In the Arabic world, lighting for the live audience

way. It gave us huge flexibility and saved us an immense

is of equal importance to lighting for worldwide broadcast, so

amount of time in rehearsal too.

getting the key lighting right is the most important aspect of

“Considering scale of the show, we lit the whole ceremony

the whole lighting package to achieve both.”

with relatively few lights,” concluded Greil. “In total there

A further 67 Domino Profiles were rigged along two overhead

were 54 Domino Washes, 224 Domino Profiles, 80 Huracán

catwalk trusses at a height of 90m-100m providing two high

Profiles and 96 Cobra, alongside another 244 moving lights,

lighting positions from where they could light the audience

all of which were amply able to cope with the huge throw

for background shots, washing them with LED spotlights.

distances. Thanks to these and a great collaboration between

96 laser-sourced Ayrton Cobra fixtures were rigged on top

all the departments we were able to beat the challenges of

the stadium roof to create aerial beams and extend the effect

lighting a huge profile event in a stadium.”

of the fireworks which were filmed by overhead drones and a

038

heli cam. “We also used the Cobras to create some nice looks

All lighting for the AFC Asian Cup was supplied by PRG

that worked from the inside of the stadium, positioning them

Middle East.

to build a kind of roof of lights over the open stadium that

Lighting Design: Roland Greil

could be seen perfectly from within.”

Stage Design & Visuals Creative Director: Artur Kond/ Sila

On stage, Greil integrated 54 Ayrton Domino Washes into the

Sveta

floor which he used to light the scenic elements, but also to

Katara Studios Executive Creative Director: Ahmed Al Baker

create a ‘beautiful shaft of light’ in between the five mirrored

General Producers: Alexey Rozov & Alexander Us

LED petals of the main scenic element.

Katara Studios Executive Producer: Mahmoud Hamaky

Traditional follow spots were replaced by a FollowMe system

Producer: Magrifa Kamayeva

working in conjunction with the Huracán and Domino

Show Director: Slava Kualev

Profiles on Level 4. “In fact, we were able to calibrate each

Broadcast Director: Marek Mill

and every one of 450+ Ayrton fixtures in the overhead rig

Technical Director: Shannon Gobell

and choose any light or combination of lights we wanted to

Associate Lighting Design: Troy Eckerman

act as follow spots,” said Greil. “This was very beneficial

LX Programmer & Studio Associate: Michael Kuehbandner

for broadcast as we could pick and choose multiple lights

LX Programmer: Markus Neubauer

to ensure we had the exact perfect angle for both broadcast

Design Assistant & Spot Caller: Tom Levin

and the live performance at all times. This was the first

Audio Design: Scott Willsallen

performance of a FollowMe system on a major stadium event

Staging & Automation: Stage One

and it worked perfectly. We were able to follow performers

LX Vendor: PRG Middle East

over an entire football field, not just a defined stadium stage,

Audio Vendor: Agora

and we replaced what would traditionally have been 12-20

Rigging Vendor: Es:Me

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

Clarity For Every Seat

BROADBAND BROADBAND DIRECTIVITY DIRECTIVITY MADE SIMPLE SIMPLE MADE

S3 is a 2.5-way passive multi-purpose speaker S3 is a 2.5-way passive multi-purpose speaker featuring Passive End Fire Technology broadband featuring Passive End Fire Technology broadband directivity control and multiple user adjustable directivity control and multiple user adjustable directivity patterns. S3 can be used as a stage directivity patterns. S3 can be used as a stage monitor, compact club system, as a single or an monitor, compact club system, as a single or an arrays and installations ranging from small arrays and installations ranging from small auditoriums to big sporting venues. auditoriums to big sporting venues.

auraaudio.fi/s3 auraaudio.fi/s3

S3

SUSTAINABILITY

BLUENERGY STADIUM Friuli, Italy Images: Udinese Calcio

U

dinese Calcio and Bluenergy Group have announced the start of construction on a cutting-edge photovoltaic system to be fitted to the roof of the stadium owned by the Friuli-based club. Over 2,400 state-of-the-art

solar panels will help produce around 3,000 kWh/day, enabling the facility to become partially energy self-sufficient.

The project means further innovation for an avant-garde sports facility which is already seen as a model of design, multifunctionality, safety and sustainability throughout Europe.

The new photovoltaic system is being developed by Bluenergy Group with the support of the Polytechnic University of Milan as energy advisor. In particular, the collaboration focused on identifying the

040

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

041

042

most suitable technology for the specific needs of the project,

energy partner is to continue on the path of energy transition

technical assessment of the system with a view to self-

and eliminate all emissions. Udinese is working to this end

consumption, and analysis of the possibility of adopting other

as part of the European Club Association (ECA) Sustainability

technologies and models to aid the energy transition, such as

Working Group, drawing up a sustainability roadmap for

storage systems and energy communities.

European football clubs.

A total of 2,409 solar panels will be built, covering a total

“Innovation and environmental awareness continue to play

surface area of 4,615 m2. The panels will be laid in two

a central role in Udinese Calcio’s decision-making,” Udinese

parallel sections across the entire stadium roof, integrating

Managing Director, Franco Collavino said. “This is another

seamlessly with the stadium’s architectural design by Studio

reason why we’re thrilled to make our stadium even greener,

Casamonti. The project team is also assessing the possibility

with the invaluable help of Bluenergy.

of adding a 330 kW battery storage park to ensure longer

“We have been recognised as the most sustainable club in

charge and discharge cycles and enhance the potential of this

Italy and the fourth most sustainable in the world. This

impressive system.

motivates both us and Bluenergy, one of the key players

This latest initiative will see Bluenergy and Udinese take a

in Italy’s energy transition, to promote projects that give

further step towards an increasingly sustainable management

further momentum to this commitment. Football has an

of the stadium, whose naming rights were recently acquired

unparalleled presence in mass media and, in addition to our

by the energy group owned by the Curti family.

own responsibility to act in a moral way, we have a duty to

Since becoming Udinese’s energy partner in 2018,

spread messages that encourage fans to come together in the

Bluenergy has provided the club with energy solely from

fight against climate change.”

renewable sources, with a saving of 5,620 tonnes of CO2.

“We have worked passionately and determinedly on this

This achievement, together with the new solar park, takes

project and now it is finally a reality,” added Alberta

Bluenergy Stadium ever closer to achieving a balance between

Gervasio, CEO of Bluenergy Group. “Together with Udinese

anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and their removal

Calcio, we are proud of being the developers of an energy

from the atmosphere. However, the aim of the club and its

system capable of combining sustainability, energy efficiency

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

SUSTAINABILITY

and return to the local area. Alongside the numerous

matchday. A meeting centre, the club’s headquarters, offices

activities we carry out daily, participating in this project

for businesses and institutions, and shops are already in use,

means that we are even more involved in the sustainable

with a museum, a wellness centre and areas for families in

economic development of the local area. Sustainability plays

the pipeline. Such decisions, together with the support of

an essential role in the lives of businesses and individuals,

Bluenergy Group and the construction of the new solar park,

and it is a concrete investment both in terms of quality of life

make Bluenergy Stadium Italy’s most pioneering football

and economic gain for the region.”

stadium for the elimination of CO2 emissions.

The Bluenergy Stadium solar energy system, which is

“We’re pleased to have supported Bluenergy Group

expected to come into operation by October 2024, is the latest

and Udinese Calcio with this important project,” stated

example of Udinese Calcio’s commitment to sustainability,

Senior Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic University

which has guided every decision relating to the stadium from

of Milan, Simone Franzo. “We hope it can lead the way

its very conception. Despite the greater costs, the club chose

in enabling further initiatives in the world of football

to build the new facility on the site of the previous one so as

and sport to support Italy’s energy transition. As part of

not to use additional land. Furthermore, part of the material

this collaboration, we had the chance to discuss various

produced from the demolition of the old stadium was reused.

opportunities sports clubs can take advantage of in the realm

The same philosophy was behind the decision to create a

of energy transition, as well as the associated environmental

structure that can be used every day of the week, not only on

and social benefits.”

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

043

Venues, Clubs & Architects Enquiries

Supplier Enquiries

Sam Hughes s.hughes@mondiale.co.uk

Jamie Dixon j.dixon@mondiale.co.uk

M Y KO N O S , G R E E C E | 7- 1 0 M AY 2 0 2 4

For clubs, architects and suppliers of sporting venue projects; STADIA | SESSIONS is a new intimate space to share ideas, specify projects and network.

www.stadiasessions.com

TURF

RAMS PARK Istanbul, Turkey Images: Raul77, SIS Pitches

M

anaging cup competitions alongside domestic fixtures is difficult at the best of times. But it’s even harder when games in the Champions League need rescheduling. The extra mid-week travel puts pressure on football’s elite clubs, with some squads clocking

up thousands of added miles to complete their fixtures. It’s a complication every manager wants to avoid.

Still, you can’t account for the weather and sometimes it’s so bad a game seems destined for another date. That is, unless you have SIS Pitches managing the playing surface.

On November 29, 2023. Galatasaray hosted Manchester United in Istanbul for a Champions League clash. Rams Park, Galatasaray’s home ground, sees a range of conditions throughout the year, with city temperatures averaging between 20-28°c for the first few months of the season. Cooler temperatures, rain and even snow are common during the winter months, owing to Istanbul’s altitude and coastal position.

Rain was forecast for November 29 – certainly not unusual for the time of year.

However, the amount expected to fall is what gave UEFA cause for concern.

Observation notes and data collected by SIS on the morning of the game tell their own story. From 10am, thunderstorms would occur throughout the day, bringing near-constant rain up until midnight.

Conscious of a potential postponement, SIS activated its SISAir soil aeration system at 9.15 am. SISAir has been developed to help sports club owners and groundskeepers make the most of root zone growing conditions, making it easier to maintain stronger, healthier turf.

The system is installed just underneath a site’s playing surface. Once in-situ, SISAir can be used for subsurface aeration, water removal and gas exchange.

This is done by setting the network of pipes to vacuum mode or pressure mode.

As Ilyas Kobal, Managing Director at SIS Pitches (Eastern Europe) pointed out: “We knew vacuum mode would be critical throughout the day, so we began with manual operation early that morning to gauge rainfall intensity and the need for both pumps to discharge water.

“Our approach is proactive. We don’t wait for problems to arise; we anticipate and mitigate them. Days before an expected downpour, we fine-tune our system, to ensure optimal pitch conditions. It’s a delicate balance, but we also need to be prepared for anything. And when the teams take to the field, our system ensures that the game proceeds without a hitch.

“Beyond the game itself, our partnership extends to ongoing maintenance and support. We work closely with stadium officials, monitoring both the system and pitch conditions in real-time. It’s a collaborative effort, ensuring that every match is played on a pitch that’s primed for peak performance.

046

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

047

TURF

According to SIS notes, at 10.18am the system’s drainage

upon impact. Many agreed with Ferdinand’s assessment at

well recorded a level of 50cm, triggering the first pump into

the time, but the SIS team were confident the evening game

action. The rain was heavier than expected throughout the

would kick-off as planned.

late morning, causing the second pump to start.

“From 17.15 onwards, we moved the system up gear,” said

A few hours later, just before 1pm, the pumps were stopped

Ilyas. “The vacuums increased from 60% to 80%, and both

as the well water level fell below the 50cm mark for the first

pumps continued to run on/off cycles to remove excess

time. The system was proving highly effective, though it

liquid. From 18.30, a single pump was sufficient to discharge

would only be a temporary reprieve with more bad weather

water as the rain began to ease – this approach is used for

to come.

a rainfall intensity up to 25mm/h. Even so, the two pumps

“We only had a short period with the pumps off,” added

would have been capable of preparing the pitch in time had

Ilyas. “But we had proof of concept. These conditions were

conditions worsened.”

extremely challenging, but the system was more than

Despite an extraordinary amount of rain amid intense media

prepared to handle the strain. That gave us confidence

speculation, officials remained confident the game would

knowing what was to come.”

be played. In the early evening, a statement was released

As torrential rain continued throughout the day, fans and

from UEFA, which read: “We are closely monitoring the

journalists began to question if the evening game would be

weather forecast and at this stage the match will go ahead as

called off. One noted the ‘biblical showers in Istanbul’ while

scheduled.”

another tweeted that the two teams would be ‘playing in a

This was a vote of confidence for the SISAir system as rain

swamp’ if the game wasn’t postponed.

continued to fall while both teams warmed up. Sensor level

Speculation continued to mount as the U19s competed in

trend data showed 2.116m3 of water flowed into the well

a UEFA Youth League match at the nearby Recep Tayyip

within one minute at maximum rainfall, indicating an overall

Erdogan Stadium. Video of that match showed the ball barely

rate of 127m3 per hour and a rainfall intensity of 15.61 mm/h.

rolling across a heavily waterlogged pitch making it virtually

These recordings are corroborated when compared with data

impossible for players to perform.

from NASA instruments taken on the same evening.

Unlike Rams Park, Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium is not

“This figure is not unheard of but over the whole day it

fitted with SISAir. This demonstrates the importance of

constitutes a severe storm,” Ilyas concluded. “Even so, we

effective surface management systems for major sporting

made it clear to UEFA that conditions still fell well within the

events, particularly in regions where poor playing conditions

system’s capabilities and the pitch would be playable. In the

are common. At Rams Park, water was being siphoned off

end, we were able to remove all excess rainwater and keep

just as fast as it was settling. At the other stadium, the pitch

the pitch resistance-free. For some fans the final score was

was effectively unplayable.

a disappointment, but for us this was a clear win away from

“The SISAir soil aeration system is a game-changer. It’s not

home.

just about dealing with extreme weather; it’s about ensuring

“By ensuring that games proceed as scheduled, without

the integrity of the game itself. When faced with torrential

costly delays or cancellations, our system delivers tangible

rain before the Galatasaray-Manchester United match, our

benefits for both teams and fans alike. It’s an investment in

system sprang into action, swiftly draining the water from

the future of the game – one that pays dividends every time

the pitch,” said Ilyas.

the whistle blows.”

Shortly after the U19s match concluded, former Manchester

Innovative systems, like SISAir, are just one part of SIS’s

United defender Rio Ferdinand said he was doubtful the

offering. The company also creates natural, hybrid and

evening’s fixture would go ahead, and throughout the

artificial surfaces, including running tracks, as well as

afternoon UEFA officials were seen inspecting Galatasaray’s

ongoing maintenance of all pitches regardless of whether

pitch. Some threw match balls into the air to test

they were originally built by SIS.

responsiveness only to find them sticking to the ground

048

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

VORTIS 2

PROFESSIONAL

EN 54- COMPLIANT HIGH PERFORMANCE With the new SI SERIES HK Audio has unveiled a family of speakers tailored to meet the needs of today’s installation market.

VORTIS 2 is particularly suitable for applications where high-quality music and voice transmission is required in addition to standard-compliant (voice) alerting. All models are certified to EN 54-24:2008 for this purpose.

Certified for voice alarm (EN 54-24:2008)

55

Certified protection class IP 55 (EN 60529) optional Certified for outdoor use Certified temperature range (-25° C - 70° C) High transmission quality for music and voice Visual customisation with over 30 colours

Certified ball impact proof (DIN 18032-3)

VORTIS 2, VORTIS, SI SERIES and LSUB Merck Stadion am Böllenfalltor Darmstadt

hkaudio.com

HK_Audio_Vortis2_Serie_Anzeige_2023_Family_mit Stadion_245x318_de/en.indd 1

hkaudio.com

hkaudio.com

hkaudio.com 12.12.23 09:06

AUDIO

GUILDFORD SPECTRUM Guildford, England Images: APEX

S

050

ystems integrator, NoiseBoys Technologies Ltd.

equipment was off the ice before the early training sessions

burned the midnight oil to install a trio of APEX

began each day.

CloudPower amplifiers as part of a recent audio

The installation involved the removal of three pairs of old,

and lighting refresh for the ice rink at Guildford

centrally located 15” speakers hanging above the ice. These

Spectrum.

bulky cabinets were replaced by 22 FBT Shadow 108CT eight-

The Olympic-sized ice rink is home to Guildford Flames, a

inch coaxial all-weather loudspeakers distributed throughout

professional team in the Elite Ice Hockey League. Among the

the space, supported by six Shadow 114S-T subwoofers,

project requirements were the need to provide high quality

enabling even coverage to the rink and adjacent stands.

audio throughout the acoustically challenging space, and to

Amplification is provided by a trio of APEX CloudPower

extend audio coverage to spectator stands. The venue is open

CP1504 amplifiers, each delivering 4 x 1500W. NoiseBoys

from 4.30am to 11.00pm daily and hosts a packed programme

made extensive use of the CloudPower amplifiers’ integral

of matches, training, figure skating, leisure sessions, Ice

equalisers and other DSP tools to mitigate the inevitable

Xtreme disco nights, and more. To minimise disruption to

reverberations encountered in an environment with many

the client, the NoiseBoys team completed most of the AV

hard surfaces. Each of the new amplifiers occupies a single

upgrade in the early hours of the morning, ensuring that all

rack unit, freeing up valuable space in a control room which

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

051

AUDIO

previously housed a rack full of older analogue amps. Both

comfortably delivers the higher SPL needed for disco nights

the loudspeakers and amplifiers were supplied by distributor,

and special events. As different uses of the facility require

FBT Audio (UK) Ltd.

sound reinforcement in discreet areas, NoiseBoys created a

“CloudPower gave us all the tools we needed at a sensible

custom browser-based interface that allows the ice rink staff

cost,” explains NoiseBoys Technologies director, Phill

to switch between events that require audio on the ice only,

Beynon. “With the time constraints we were working under,

in the stands only, or throughout the whole venue.

it was great being able to use the IntelliCloud software to

The ice rink’s lighting system also benefitted from a full

tweak the amplifier EQ and level settings from the ice or

overhaul, enabling the client to employ lighting effects

in the stands, without wasting time climbing all the way

during discos and play timed light shows before ice hockey

up to the amp room each time. The APEX team was also

games. A total of 72 older Par Cans were replaced with 48

refreshingly approachable and happy to discuss the project

colour changing LED Par Cans and 12 high powered LED flood

with us.”

lights.

The new system has been designed for intelligibility of everyday announcements and commentary but also

052

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

How do you light an arena for the NHL, WNBA, concerts and more . . . using net-zero carbon?

That was the goal at Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, WNBA’s Seattle Storm, world-class concerts, and possibly a future NBA franchise.

Musco designed a TLC for LED® system with custom mounts that adapt to the arena’s iconic roof structure, tunable white fixtures that adjust color temperature for unique visual settings, and the ability to integrate with in-house and traveling special effects consoles.

“ This shows that, as an arena, you can have professional sports, you can have the big concerts, and you can do it without impacting the environment. And Musco is the industry standard, it’s the go-to for any project of this size and significance.”

– Randy Foster Director of Production, Climate Pledge Arena

And it helped Climate Pledge Arena on its journey to become the first net-zero carbon arena in the world. ©2024 Musco Sports Lighting, LLC · ADSTA24-3

245x318_ADSTA24-3 Mondo Stadia.indd 1

Scan here or go to www.musco.com/we/climate-pledge-arena/ to learn more.

2/27/24 10:09 AM

3D DESIGN SOFTWARE

CHASE STADIUM Fort Lauderdale, USA Images: GRID CAD & Rendering Corp / Andres Albornoz

Y

ou may have heard the news: Lionel Messi, known to many as the greatest player in football/ soccer history, is about to begin his first full season for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF.

The FC Barcelona legend and World Cup winner joined the Miami club at the end of the 2023 season and was a force of nature — in fact, Messi scored 10 goals in his first 11 games.

Another impressive number attached to Messi’s arrival is the 3.5 billion people who tuned in for Messi’s unveiling to the Inter Miami supporters and fans around the world. Continue reading to see how industry veteran and Vectorworks expert Andres Albornoz helped put on the event watched by nearly a third of the world’s population.

Albornoz worked on the Messi unveiling with Black Stage Productions and Grid CAD & Rendering Corp, two companies based in Miami. The team focused on creating a production that was worthy of the occasion, but also one that matched Messi’s disposition. “He’s a very grounded guy,” said Albornoz, “so we didn’t want something exploding; we chose to just keep it simple and create something special for him.”

To strike the creative balance, Albornoz looked into why Messi chose to come to Major League Soccer.

“It was family first, blood first. I ended up thinking about the flower of life, geometrical paths that assure one’s position in life,” Albornoz said.

The flower motif signifies that Messi chose Miami for the most important reason of all: family.

Like so many productions, the biggest challenge for Albornoz was how little time he had to bring the project to life, with just a couple weeks of production planning, two days of loading, and only one day to program.

054

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

Unlike a project where Albornoz could take time drafting

The successful production had Vectorworks at the centre, but

everything in great detail — like the record-breaking Karl

as Albornoz acknowledged, it couldn’t have happened without

G USA tour in 2023, for example — he needed to rely on

a team. So, the designer wanted to call special attention to

Vectorworks Spotlight’s rich features to quickly pitch and

those who helped bring the Messi unveiling to life:

build the project.

GDTF and MVR, for example, helped Albornoz and the

• Black Stage Productions

production team previsualize the project with quick

• Grid CAD & Rendering Corp

renderings and even pre-program all the lighting in no time

• LPS Productions

at all. Simple extrusions, additionally, depicted the stage’s

• Persival Productions

LED screen floor and other scenic elements.

• Production Video Group

Albornoz also used automatic area values within the

• CES Power

Rectangle tool in Vectorworks to calculate how much of the

• Live and Loud

grass needed to be protected during the event, one of Inter

• Ronny Garcia, Stage Manager

Miami’s primary concerns of the production. The tool helped

• Nesmar Cepeda, Lighting programmer

communicate the stage’s dimensions, where cables would be

• Jorge Valdex, Lighting Director

laid, and what sections of the field would be needed for the

• Rafael Perez, Drafting and Rendering

unveiling.

• Daniel Quinones, Crew Chief

With the graphics-forward nature of Vectorworks Spotlight, conveying all of the design’s important information was no issue for Albornoz.

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

055

PLSG24_318x245_mondiale UK.pdf

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

1

26/2/2024

2:25 PM

34 EXTRA TIME

EVENTS 058 ESSMA Summit 2024 | Amsterdam

IN DETAIL 062 Renkus-Heinz | UBX Series 066 Tasker | CPR Cables for 2024 068 BSS | Soundweb OMNI Series 070 Electro-Voice | V600:2

FULL TIME 072 Terraplas

ESSMA SUMMIT 2024 he 10th edition of the ESSMA Summit, held on January 23rd and 24th, marked a significant moment for European Stadium Industry professionals to gather and share their experiences.

With over 300 participants hailing from 21 different countries, the Johan Cruijff Arena became a hub for knowledge sharing, networking, and celebrating excellence in the stadium industry.

T

Day 1 - Johan Cruijff Arena shares its secrets The summit commenced with inspiring keynotes from prominent figures representing the Johan Cruijff Arena, FC Barcelona, and AMB Sports and Entertainment. Attendees were treated to in-depth stadium tours, exploring various facilities such as the 058

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

control room, tunnel club, changing rooms.... where experts shared insights, providing a behind-thescenes look at the intricacies of stadium operations.

Day 1 concluded with a grand seated dinner and award show where the inaugural Stadium Industry Awards were presented. RC Strassbourg received recognition for development, Johan Cruijff Arena for sustainability, and Racing Club de Ferrol for safety and security – setting the stage for an evening of celebration and acknowledgment.

Day 2 - Best practices across the European stadium landscape The second day of the summit was filled with engaging presentations, panel discussions, and seminars. A special mastermind session on safety and

security, led by John Beattie, ESSMA President and Stadium Direct at Arsenal FC, kick-started the day.

Participants were then divided into groups, with one focusing on stadium development and safety, and the other on fan engagement and commerce.

The presentations and panels delved into a spectrum of crucial topics shaping the future of stadium management. Notable themes included: - Sustainability - Stadium hospitality of the future - Safe standing - Stewarding - Club content creation - Enabling smart stadiums and the digital fan experience - MICE business models

ESSMA SUMMIT 2024

- Creating and unifying a seamless fan journey The summit brought together a diverse array of presenters, with representatives from renowned clubs such as RCD Espanyol, Arsenal FC, PSG, Manchester United FC, Everton FC, FC Barcelona, and Newcastle United, along with contributors from entities like 433. The blend of perspectives provided attendees with a comprehensive view of the challenges and opportunities facing the stadium industry.

The 10th ESSMA Summit undoubtedly proved to be a resounding success, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and recognition within the stadium industry. As the global community continues to navigate challenges and embrace opportunities, the insights gained from this summit will undoubtedly contribute to the on-going evolution of stadium management practices worldwide.

ESSMA members - key takeaways “Today data is number one in football. You can you

use it for stadium operations, enhance marketing efforts, and tailor offerings to meet the preferences of fans and much more. It’s very interesting to see how we can build up the industry quickly through data.” Ola Gällstad, Event Manager at Malmö FF “Digital trends can reconnect clubs and fans.

On the other hand fan behaviour and customer intimacy is becoming more and more important.

We explored new strategies to improve the overall fan experience, including insights into fan behaviour and personalised services for spectators.” - Michiel Vanderheyden, Founder of The Arena Group “Sustainability is more important than ever.

Renewable energy integration, waste reduction strategies, and eco-friendly transportation options for fans are a few elements that were very interesting for me. “ - Sander van Stiphout, International Director of the Johan Cruijff ArenA

ESSMA Stadium Industry Awards The 10th edition of the ESSMA Summit marked a historic moment with the introduction of the ESSMA Stadium Industry Awards. As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation and excitement as the industry’s best initiatives were recognised and celebrated.

The awards ceremony, accompanied by a seated dinner, showcased outstanding achievements across various categories, reflecting the commitment and innovation within the stadium industry. Here is a closer look at the winners and their remarkable initiatives: Sustainability Initiative of the Year: Johan Cruijff ArenA The prestigious Sustainability Initiative of the Year award went to the Johan Cruijff ArenA, a testament to their dedication to environmental responsibility and innovation and their aim to become Net Positive by 2030. The arena’s sustainable practices set a benchmark for the industry, demonstrating WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

059

ESSMA SUMMIT 2o24

a commitment to a greener, more eco-friendly future. In a close competition, LFP secured the 2nd position with their integration of CSR criteria in teh club licensing process, followed by Vfl Wolfsburg in 3rd place with their project to reduce microplastics.

Safety & Security Initiative of the Year: Racing Club de Ferrol Racing Club de Ferrol emerged as the winner in the Safety & Security Initiative of the Year category. Their exemplary efforts in ensuring the safety and security of fans following their promotion to the 2nd league showcased the club’s commitment to creating a secure environment. Real Betis secured the 2nd position with their safety initiative for fans of functional diversity, closely followed by KAA Gent with their biometric access project in 3rd place.

Stadium Development, Construction & Renovation Initiative of the Year: Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace claimed the top spot in the Stadium Development, Construction & Renovation Initiative of the Year category. Their innovative approach to stadium development which includes upcycling and reusage of Airbus 1340 fuselage components for their South stand, set a standard for excellence in the industry. Friends Arena secured the 2nd position with their new event deck and floodlight installation, with Manchester United FC securing the 3rd spot for their connectivity network implementation.

The ESSMA Stadium Industry Awards not only celebrated the winners but also expressed gratitude to all the finalists for their invaluable contributions. The showcased initiatives highlighted 060

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

the industry’s continual efforts to push boundaries and embrace innovation. The diversity of projects and ideas presented by the finalists showcased the dynamic nature of the stadium industry.

A special note of appreciation was extended to all members who actively participated in the voting process. The success of these awards relies on the engagement and support of the industry, and the enthusiastic participation demonstrated the collective commitment to recognizing and promoting excellence.

As the curtain fell on the awards ceremony, the stadium industry looked forward to building on the momentum created by these initiatives. The ESSMA Stadium Industry Awards not only acknowledged past accomplishments but also served as inspiration for future endeavors, reinforcing the industry’s dedication to progress, sustainability, safety, and overall excellence.

RENKUS-HEINZ UBX Series

he UBX Series from Renkus-Heinz is a multi-awardwinning family of passive column loudspeakers. Powered by new Passive UniBeam Technology, the UBX Series brings Renkus-Heinz’s industry-leading expertise in beam-steerable technology into the realm of passive arrays, creating more opportunities to craft the perfect sound solution for stadiums, training facilities, and other spaces where both durability and sound quality are key.

T

Innovation in Steering Technology Utilizing the same complex beam-steering algorithms from RenkusHeinz’s flagship Iconyx columns, the UBX Series’ new Passive UniBeam Technology delivers pristine sound and consistent coverage with minimal distortions or side lobe artifacts. By implementing steered array technology into a compact passive column, the UBX Series offers a new way to meet the unique needs of diverse projects with the power, performance and intelligibility that have made Renkus-Heinz 062

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

an industry leader for decades — all without compromising on precise coverage or sleek design.

Even with the loudspeakers’ small, unobtrusive size, the UBX Series offers big, high-quality sound with consistent front-to-back coverage due to Renkus-Heinz’s new Passive UniBeam Technology. All models in the UBX Series are pre-steered: The hardware addresses each transducer with specially designed all-pass filter networks, gain shading and frequency filtering in order to generate a fixed, asymmetrical vertical lobe with constant directivity and downward bias. Put simply, Renkus-Heinz’s Passive UniBeam Technology optimizes the array for precise, consistent coverage and speech intelligibility, delivering crisp, clear sound to everyone in the audience area.

“UBX Series is the culmination of 20 years of beam-steering engineering and experience,” said Brandon Heinz, product manager at Renkus-Heinz. “Our Passive UniBeam Technology is a perfect fit for reverberant or open spaces needing high speech intelligibility and directivity.”

EXTRA TIME

Clear and Reliable, Rain or Shine The UBX Series is engineered for utmost discretion and durability.

Each passive column is housed in a slender, unobtrusive cabinet that can be mounted flush to the wall with the included pannable wallbracket, ensuring the system blends smoothly into the space with minimal architectural intrusion. The UBX Series is also weather-resistant (IP64) right out of the box: Heavy-duty aluminum extrusions and weather-sealed gland nut input pockets protect the system from dust and water from any direction. The UBX Series is also EN 54 certified, designed according to the EU’s stringent standards for voice alarm systems to ensure reliable, intelligible sound even during emergencies.

With additional resistance to chlorine, extreme salt, and UV light, UBX Series loudspeakers will look as good as they sound for years to come.

Flexible and Easy to Integrate Available in black or white, the UBX Series family of passive columns includes three models: the UBX4, UBX8 and UBX16. Featuring highquality, low insertion loss transformers for 70V/100V constant voltage

operation in large, distributed audio systems, the UBX Series is also perfect as delay or fill loudspeakers.

Combined with the narrow cabinet and thorough weather-proofing, the Passive UniBeam Technology of the Renkus-Heinz UBX Series is ready to deliver ultimate sound performance with maximal coverage and longevity— and minimal intrusion to the venue.

UBX passive column loudspeakers are designed to be surfacemounted plumb to the wall with zero degrees of additional downward angle, making them more cost-effective than flying or re-hanging a line array and much easier to blend into the background of a space’s architecture. When mounted at the recommended height of 6-8 feet above finished floor, consistent coverage is expected at distances up to 160 feet (depending on the model). The pre-steered beams require fewer loudspeakers for adequate audience coverage than competitive passive column loudspeakers, resulting in lower installation costs and reduced architectural intrusion. An optional pan/tilt wall bracket is available for installations requiring the column loudspeaker to be WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

063

EXTRA TIME

mounted higher than eight feet while maintaining optimal coverage.

Beam-Steered Clarity, Passive Column Price The UBX Series delivers precise, intelligible audio through tight vertical dispersion and constant directivity, even in high-traffic spaces or areas with high ceilings or challenging acoustics. Where traditional loudspeakers deliver muffled or distorted audio due to the shape and size of a venue, the UBX Series ensures everyone in the building can clearly hear announcements, presentations and background music.

By applying renowned steered array technology to a compact passive column, the UBX Series offers new ways to meet the unique needs of many projects with the power, performance and intelligibility that have made Renkus-Heinz an industry leader for decades.

Use Case: Haras National du Pin Recently, UBX Series passive column loudspeakers were the sound system of choice for the newly constructed outdoor training and competition facilities at the International Equestrian Sports Center at the Haras National du Pin in France. The center is intended to host all manners of equestrian competitions, and equestrian staff contacted 064

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

local integrator AUVISYS to design an audio system for the sports center and fields. Two UBX8 loudspeakers from Renkus-Heinz were installed at each of the larger competition fields and one at each smaller field to communicate effectively with riders.

“The main challenge was throwing sound a long distance from a low elevation of 1.5 meters from the ground,” said Etienne Berard, CEO of French AV distributor DEMOA. “That may not seem significant until you understand that two of the competition fields are 120 x 60 meters and the others are 100 x 50 meters. The loudspeakers also had to be small so that they wouldn’t block the sightlines of the judges or audience members. UBX loudspeakers were perfect on both fronts.”

The equestrian staff was thrilled with the power and speech intelligibility of the UBX Series, which outperformed competitive offerings in both price and capabilities.

“The speech intelligibility across the wide fields was fantastic,” said Berard. “But the fact that it came from passive column loudspeakers was nothing short of astonishing.”

renkus-heinz.com

ou take control

les support,

EXTRA TIME

TASKER CPR Cables for 2024 ith the advent of CPR legislation, Tasker has once again responded to market demands by expanding its range of medium-risk class cables (Cca). In 2024, Tasker proudly introduces 15 new products, all meticulously designed to meet the most advanced homologations required globally.

Crafted with cutting-edge construction materials, these cables are engineered to excel in both indoor and outdoor installations while maintaining their inherent flexibility and softness.

Tasker has bolstered its speaker cable lineup with five new models, catering to diverse needs. Among them are two-conductor models like the TSK406 CPR Cca 2x6.00 mm² and the TSK408 CPR Cca 2x8.00 mm². Additionally, Tasker introduces two four-conductor models, including the TSK502 CPR Cca 4x1.50 mm² and the TSK504 CPR Cca 4x4.00 mm². For those seeking even more versatility, there’s the eight-conductor TSK604 CPR Cca 8x4.00 mm² model.

In the realm of audio, Tasker presents a new range of digital multipair cables. Starting from the TSK902 CPR Cca 2x2x0.22 mm², the range expands to include the TSK904

W

066

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

CPR Cca, TSK908 CPR Cca, and TSK912 CPR Cca, offering 4, 8, and 12 pairs respectively.

Recognising the growing demand for video applications, Tasker introduces a range of cables tailored for this sector.

The TSK1078 CPR Cca, TSK1079 CPR Cca, and TSK1080 CPR Cca are specifically engineered for 12G-SDI video signals at 4K resolution, with varying distances of 60m, 80m, and 100m respectively.

Looking ahead, Tasker remains dedicated to continuous research and development. By creating custom productions and anticipating emerging technologies, Tasker strives to provide tailored solutions for individual customers while staying at the forefront of industry advancements. With a steadfast commitment to innovation, Tasker ensures that its products not only meet the demands of today, but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow.

tasker.it

Made in Italy

EXTRA TIME

BSS Soundweb OMNI Series ARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in audio, lighting, video and control systems, announced its new BSS Soundweb OMNI Series - the next generation in open architecture digital signal processing.

Featuring the most powerful processor ever from BSS, Soundweb OMNI caters to the diverse needs of hospitality, large venues, corporate, education and government installations. The Soundweb OMNI family combines enterprise-grade processors, flexible I/O expanders, Dante/AES67 networked audio, an onboard scripting engine developed by AMX, and a vast library of processing objects, including media playback, AEC, VoIP, and more.

The platform is seamlessly managed through AVX Architect and AVX Control, an all-new software suite, built from the ground up to support the latest installed products from HARMAN Professional starting with BSS Soundweb OMNI, ushering in a new era of installed AV software at HARMAN. Soundweb OMNI is designed to meet the specific requirements of AV system designers, integrators, and end users, while removing the pain points often found in traditional system design. It combines purpose-built hardware with intuitive software that offers the flexibility of centralized or distributed DSP, allowing system designers to choose the appropriate topology for any installation.

BSS’s commitment to supporting control system programmers is reinforced through the introduction of HControl, a human-readable, standards-based, and developer-friendly API. Soundweb OMNI also supports both 48kHz and 96kHz processing, exemplifying BSS’s commitment to audio fidelity.

Soundweb OMNI features two flagship processing devices, the 512p and 256p, which deliver exceptional DSP power and high Dante/ AES67 channel counts, up to 512x512 at 96kHz. This surpasses previous generations and positions Soundweb OMNI to effortlessly meet today’s complex demands while remaining future-ready for

H

068

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

tomorrow’s AV/IT needs.

Soundweb OMNI also offers two I/O expansion devices, the 32e and 16e, which provide unparalleled I/O flexibility. Each audio I/O port is “format configurable” as either analog or stereo AES3 digital.

Furthermore, certain audio I/O ports and all GPIO ports are “direction configurable” as either inputs or outputs - all easily managed through software on an individual port basis.

The AVX software suite streamlines the configuration, control, and monitoring of Soundweb OMNI systems through two user-friendly applications. AVX Architect is a desktop software app for system diagramming, device configuration, network management, and custom UI design. AVX Architect allows users to add an unlimited number of processors and expanders to a single project file, while still enjoying the simplicity of a true, single canvas for device configuration.

AVX Control is a lightweight software app, which provides easy access to custom UIs for controlling and monitoring devices across a multitude of platforms, including Windows, iOS, Android, and AMX Varia touch panels. These custom UIs work not only with Soundweb OMNI devices, but also Crown DCi amplifiers and previous generation Soundweb London devices, thanks to protocol-bridging technology developed by AMX. “BSS has set the standard for signal processing innovation with legendary products that have driven some of the world’s most prestigious installations,” said Phil Scobee, Director of Installed Audio for HARMAN Professional Solutions. “As the new standard in open architecture DSP, Soundweb OMNI builds upon that legacy to advance signal processing and maximize system design potential for system designers, integrators, and end users.”

bssaudio.com

INTRODUCING

CONFIGURE. CONNECT. CONTROL. OPEN ARCHITECTURE DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSORS

The all-new Soundweb OMNI Series epitomizes the next generation in open architecture digital signal processing and is infinitely scalable to support the diverse requirements of installed applications. It combines enterprise-grade DSP, flexible I/O expansion devices, networked audio and distribution and integrated media playback managed via AVX Architect and Control unified software suite. The Soundweb OMNI series are available in four options including: 512p, 256p Open Architecture Digital Signal processors and 32e and 16e Analog and AES3 I/O Expanders.

Learn more at bssaudio.com.

© HARMAN 2024. All rights reserved.

FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH AVX ARCHITECT & CONTROL SOFTWARE SUITE FOR WINDOWS, APPLE, IOS, ANDROID, AND AMX DEVICES

EXTRA TIME

DYNACORD V600:2 ynacord, one of the leading manufacturers of professional audio electronics, is pleased to announce the introduction V600:2, a new member of its V Series family of commercial amplifiers. With a total output capacity of 600 watts, this ultra-compact two-channel amplifier is not only tailored for background music and announcements but also excels whenever higher SPL levels in small to mid-sized fixed installations are required, including educational facilities, hospitality venues, retail areas and houses of worship.

Enhancing the installation versatility, integrators can now mix and match different V Series models to precisely meet their specific project requirements. With the same premium features and Dynacord technologies on board as the four-channel model V600:4, the V600:2 offers optimal installation flexibility, superior power efficiency and advanced reliability. powerTANK technology adds flexible power allocation, acting as a power reservoir. With direct access to the total power of 600 watts, the V600:2 can deliver asymmetric power across all channels as needed.

Dynacord’s patented VLD (Variable Load Drive) technology allows the amplifier channels to be driven at 4 ohms, 8 ohms, 70 V or 100 V without affecting output power.

Overall power consumption is significantly reduced with ecoRAIL, conserving energy and lowering ownership costs. APD (Auto Power Down) further improves energy consumption by automatically

D

070

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

powering down the amplifier when no audio signal is present. dualCOOL ensures silent operation for applications in quiet environments, while a built-in multi-stage fan is activated under extreme thermal conditions. The proven PFC (Power Factor Correction) – together with a sophisticated protection package usually only found in high-end professional amplifiers – maintains flawless and reliable performance, even under demanding conditions.

At just a single rack unit high and half a rack width wide, the V600:2 offers a multitude of installation options wherever space is limited. The included brackets facilitate single or dual rack-mount options as well as unobtrusive installation wherever needed, such as under counters.

Two amplifiers fit in a single rack unit when rack-mounted side by side, efficiently using space and doubling the channel count and output power.

The V600:2 combines best-in-class features at a very attractive price, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking for an eco-friendly, robust and versatile amplifier that is quick to install and runs troublefree.

electrovoice.com

See us at IBC booth 10.A31

LIVE VIDEO PRODUCTION ALL-IN-ONE | REPLAY | CLOUD

VIDEO NETWORKS SDI | IP | HYBRID

INTERCOM

ALL STANDARDS | WIRELESS | IP

STADIA

CONVENTION CENTERS

EVENTS

THEATERS

CRUISE SHIPS

www.riedel.net

TERRAPLAS For more than 30 years, Terraplas has been at the forefront of developing and producing temporary flooring systems that safeguard high-quality stadium turf. Renowned globally, Terraplas offers venues the opportunity to maximise revenue streams by hosting a wide range of non-sporting events while preserving top-quality playing surfaces.

rom natural to hybrid and artificial turf, Terraplas products are versatile, providing both indoor and outdoor solutions for various event needs.

Whether it’s heavy-duty use or accommodating pedestrian traffic, Terraplas ensures stadiums can seamlessly transition from sports events to concerts and beyond.

At the heart of Terraplas’ mission is the commitment to deliver the highest quality turf protection and driveable stadium access systems, enabling venues to achieve maximum return on investment. With a focus on innovation and excellence, Terraplas ensures fast turnaround times from grass field to alternative surfaces, all while maintaining top-quality playing conditions.

F

Pioneers in Turf Protection In the late 1980s, Wembley Stadium faced the challenge of hosting numerous concerts without compromising its grass turf. Traditional methods like heavy matting and plywood proved detrimental to the grass. Terraplas stepped in with a revolutionary system that not only protected the turf but also left it playable after events. Collaborating with pitch specialists and event organizers at Wembley, Terraplas pioneered a system ideally suited to safeguarding 072

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

quality stadium turf.

London’s Wembley Stadium stands as a testament to Terraplas’ effectiveness. Since the delivery of their original system in 1991, Terraplas has remained the gold standard for turf protection. Despite imitations, none can match the performance or longevity of Terraplas products. Trusted worldwide, our solutions protect natural, hybrid, or artificial turf at multipurpose stadiums from the rigors of mass events, ensuring the pitch remains pristine and unaffected by spectators, heavy stages, cranes, or forklifts.

Safety & Reliability: Integrated anti-slip surfaces and interlocking mechanisms guarantee safety and stability. With proven product lifespans exceeding 30 years, Terraplas offers reliability and peace of mind to its customers.

Peace of Mind: Backed by a 30-year guarantee against UV degradation and a 5-10 year warranty, Terraplas products provide long-term reassurance, ensuring customer satisfaction.

Why Choose Terraplas?

Continued Growth for 2024 Innovative Design: Crafted from natural High-Density Polyethylene, Terraplas products boast superior strength and longevity. Specially designed webbing ensures maximum durability, while optional patented circular feet minimize ground disturbance, reducing labor costs.

An exiciting announcement to kick off the New Year: Terraplas has been awarded the prestigious London Stadium tender. Terraplas will be supplying 9,000m² of Terratrak Plus to the venue in Spring 2024, aligning with the busy event calendar.

More to come in 2024…

Continued Grass Growth: Terraplas’ translucent tiles allow light to pass through, facilitating photosynthesis even while the grass is covered. Raised air holes promote ventilation and moisture control, ensuring the health of the turf without the need for constant watering.

FULL TIME

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

073

FULL TIME

Alex Goldsack, General Manager, Terraplas Alex brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to the company. Joining as Global Business Director in 2020 amidst global challenges, Alex’s leadership has been pivotal in steering Terraplas through uncertain times.

Prior to joining Terraplas, Alex held the position of International Sales for an Equestrian business, providing construction and surfacing solutions for equestrian racetracks worldwide. This diverse background equipped Alex with insights into markets and industries with synergies to stadium operations, laying the foundation for her success at Terraplas.

In 2023, following the retirement of the Founder and Chairman of Terraplas, Alex was promoted to General Manager, taking over the full management of the company on behalf of the USA Justrite Group. Under her leadership, Terraplas has seen significant growth, 074

WWW.MONDOSTADIA.COM

including the establishment of a new manufacturing plant in the USA, serving the Americas and the Northern Hemisphere.

With a commitment to excellence and innovation, Alex continues to lead Terraplas into the future, solidifying its position as the leading turf protection product globally. As the company expands and evolves, it remains dedicated to delivering highquality products and service, ensuring stadiums worldwide can host diverse events while preserving top-quality playing surfaces.

Take your stadium from cost centre to profit centre With over 30 years experience in the design and manufacture of the world’s most widely used temporary event flooring, Terraplas® products are the ultimate solution.

A wide range of turf protection suitable for heavy duty vehicles to pedestrian use. We can create a customized flooring system to suit your specific site requirements, offering an outstanding floor for concert guests and the ideal work surface for production and operations staff and vehicles.

www.terraplas.com Unit 4, S:Park, Hamilton Road, Stockport SK1 2AE. UK T: +44 (0)1332 812813 E: contact@terraplas.com

The Only Truly Integrated System Solution

Art and Music meets technology

Mykonos 7th-10th May space.codaaudio.com

SbC Advert - Mondo Stadia.indd 1

01/03/2024 08:10