The Alamodome is used to host football, basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball and other events
USA - Dallas-based technology design firm Idibri was chosen to design a new sound system for the Alamodome, the City of San Antonio’s 65,000-seat multi-purpose facility.
The PA specified was the L-Acoustics’ K2. Installed by LD Systems’ integration division, the new system is now composed of 76 K2 boxes and a dozen KS28 subwoofers powered by LA8 and LA12AX amplified controllers, with fill support from X8 coaxials on the club level.
“The Alamodome is a huge venue with some very real acoustical challenges, but you still want to give every seat the same great experience,” says Ray Givens, sales engineer and project manager for LD Systems, on the Alamodome sound system renovation. “The K2 lets us get excellent coverage and meet the SPL requirements of every game, including the Final Four - which will get really loud - without sacrificing speech intelligibility.”
He adds: “L-Acoustics is developing the same kind of reputation in sports venues as it has in live music,” says Givens. “It puts the sound right in front of the fans in the stands, no matter where they’re sitting. Upper bowl or lower bowl, you don’t feel like the sound is coming from some distant place. It puts you right up close.”
Ryan Knox, senior consultant at Idibri, points out that the Alamodome’s new sound system designs began with modeling in L-Acoustics’ Soundvision, the first 3D sound system design program capable of operating in real time. Beyond the main K2/KS28 arrays, the design was able to determine precise locations for the X12, X8 and 5XT speakers used to cover the under-balcony and suites areas, as well as hang points for any additional speakers needed for the Final Four and touring concert setups.
(Jim Evans)

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