Sporting events are one of the world’s oldest traditions, but modern advancements in sound, lighting and control technology are completely revolutionizing the fan experience. In order to deliver pristine sound, crystal-clear video and mesmerizing lighting displays, stadiums and arenas require cutting-edge AV solutions. Additionally, these solutions must be versatile enough to accommodate an array of events, simple enough for staff members to use and scalable for future upgrades.
HARMAN Professional Solutions networked AV systems combine award-winning solutions from iconic brands like JBL, Crown, BSS and Martin to provide venues with everything they need to deliver electrifying fan experiences for sporting events, live music performances and more. We spoke with personnel from world-class sports and entertainment venues and leading AV integrators to learn how they’re implementing HARMAN technologies to provide fans with unforgettable experiences.
Fiserv Forum Arena
When the 18,000-seat Fiserv Forum was built to replace the aging BMO Harris Bradley Center as the home of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, it required a state-of-the-art audio and lighting solution to deliver a high-energy experience for basketball games, concerts and more. With the help of consulting group Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams (WJHW), Parsons Technologies and Theatrical Lighting Designer Ian Hoffer, the Forum installed an industry-leading HARMAN AV solution, including JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, BSS signal processors and Martin lighting fixtures.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years, so I chose fixtures that I knew would be reliable, work well and look good,” said Ian Hoffer. “Martin is known for reliable fixtures—they last. They need to operate every night, and it’s not the kind of thing you can just run up to the ceiling and take down, so I wanted something that would last for a long time.” Learn more.
X Games at the Armory
The X Games is an annual extreme sports competition and concert series produced by ESPN. The 2018 Summer X Games were held at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with three nights of official concerts at the Armory. In order to provide stunning visuals and immersive lighting for show-stopping performances in the 8,400-capacity venue, ESPN teamed up with live production company Slamhammer to deploy a full complement of Martin lighting fixtures.
“ESPN asked us to put together an impressive lighting rig that could handle the demands of a high-energy concert at an extreme sports event, while staying within a reasonable budget,” said Marty Lesmeister, Lighting Department Manager at Slamhammer. “Everyone was really satisfied with the Martin rig because it’s flexible and powerful enough to deliver impressive results with a modest number of fixtures. One lighting designer requested more than 200 fixtures for the show, so it’s a real testament to Martin fixtures that he was able to get everything he needed from a fraction of the lights.” Learn more.
Jyske Bank Boxer Arena
In preparation for the 2018 International Ice Hockey Foundation (IIHF) World Championships in Denmark, the MCH Messecenter Herning equipped the Jyske Bank Boxer arena with a new visitor foyer. In order to direct visitors to the various areas throughout the complex, MCH Group installed a complete audio and lighting solution from HARMAN Professional Solutions, made up of Martin, JBL, BSS and Crown.
“We selected the Martin Exterior Linear QUAD Graze for its uniform color mixing, high output and beautiful saturated colors,” said Martin Gehling, Head of Operations, Messecenter Herning. “We are very pleased with the overall result and how the Martin lighting transforms the building into an exciting environment—it delivers the perfect atmosphere. Our new facade is highly visible, even from the highway, so people start looking forward to a great night from the moment they arrive.” Learn more.
Incheon SK Happy Dream Stadium
Home to the SK Wyverns, a professional baseball team based in Incheon, South Korea; Happy Dream Stadium is one of South Korea’s most renowned stadiums. In order to deliver clean, intelligible sound with even, balanced coverage to the venue’s 25,000 seats, SK Wyverns hired local audio integrator Kinoton Korea to upgrade the stadium’s aging sound system with a state-of-the-art audio solution, capable of withstanding harsh weather. Kinoton Korea selected a complete HARMAN networked audio system, including class-leading solutions from JBL, BSS, Crown, and Soundcraft.
“The stadium owners love the new HARMAN system—the improved audio coverage really enhances the fans’ experiences during games,” said Cheol Yoon, VP, Kinoton Korea Inc. “South Korea experiences a wide variety of weather as the seasons change, so it was critical that all stadium speakers be weather-proof. The ability to utilize weather-resistant JBL speakers enabled us to provide SK Happy Dream Stadium with a high-quality sound reinforcement system that is perfectly suited to the dynamic South Korean climate.” Learn more.
Rajamangala National Stadium
With seating for up to 65,000 fans, Rajamangala National Stadium is Thailand’s premier sports and entertainment venue. In order to provide even coverage and intelligible sound during soccer matches, musical performances and political rallies, Rajamangala National Stadium partnered with audio integrators Mahajak Development and rigging experts Baan Rig to install a complete HARMAN Professional Solutions audio system featuring class-leading solutions from JBL, BSS, Crown, and Soundcraft.
“Large-scale, multi-use venues like Rajamangala require advanced audio systems to deliver clear voice and music coverage across all seating sections,” Pongsakorn Kanchanachayphoom, Project Director of Mahajak Development. “HARMAN’s audio solutions not only provide great sound to the entire stadium, but they’re durable enough for constant use and inclement weather with excellent after-sales service, which was one of the many reasons they were chosen.” Learn more.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Recently opened in 2019, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the home of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. With seating for more than 62,000 fans, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is one of the largest stadiums in the Premier League, and the largest club stadium in London. In order to deliver exceptional audio throughout the facility, the stadium is equipped with an integrated HARMAN Professional audio solution made up of JBL loudspeakers, BSS signal processors, Crown amplification, and Soundcraft digital mixing console.
“HARMAN Professional Solutions is an industry-leading provider of world-class audio solutions, and we are pleased to announce them as the official audio supplier for our new state-of-the-art stadium,” said Matthew Collecott, Operations & Finance Director, Tottenham Hotspur. Learn more.
Mitr Phol Stadium
To provide fans with clear, intelligible audio during Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC soccer matches, the team hired Mahajak Development to install a cutting-edge audio solution in their 10,000-seat Mitr Phol Stadium. Mahajak Development selected a complete HARMAN Professional audio system including JBL loudspeakers, BSS signal processors, Crown amplification, and Soundcraft audio mixer.
“We required a customized audio solution for the new stadium that would deliver consistent coverage and vocal clarity for announcements and music performances,” said Tanawat Nitikarnchana, Vice President, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC. “Mahajak supplied us with great customer service and a state-of-the-art HARMAN system. We’re highly satisfied with the HARMAN system, which provides exceptional audio quality and perfect coverage, no matter where you are in the stadium.” Learn more.
Explore Additional Stadium & Arena Design Possibilities
HARMAN has over 70 years of experience and the best knowledge experts in the industry to design the ideal audio, video, lighting and control solution for any application in stadiums and arenas as well as over 25 other markets. You can also experience real world examples of our installations at work in our Stadiums & Arenas Case Studies Library as well as all of our HARMAN Professional Solutions Case Studies.