Mexico. Bose technology was used in the sound system of the BBVA Bancomer Stadium, home of the Rayados of the Monterrey Football Club. The stadium, located in Ciudad Guadalupe, Nuevo León, uses Bose systems to sound all areas, from dressing rooms, corridors and restaurants, to private suites or the same PA (Public Adress) system that covers with premium quality the modern stands for more than 51 thousand spectators. In total, 883 Bose speakers are distributed throughout the work.
Built by Club de Futbol Monterrey, the BBVA Bancomer Stadium is the work of architects Christopher Lee and David Lizárraga of Populous, one of the most innovative firms in the projection of stadiums around the world. Its forms, emulate the natural symbol of the city, the Cerro de la Silla and its exterior structure, with the metal façade, refers to the industrial heritage of Monterrey.
Technological innovation without restrictions
"This is a stadium that breaks paradigms in every way," says engineer Patricio Xavier Beltrán, a consultant for the company BeSa (Beltrán Saldívar Consulting), who was responsible for the technological implementation of the new building. "Our interest was to develop a project from scratch with the most innovative advances in all specialties. We had a very clear goal: to build the best soccer stadium in Latin America, so getting the best sound was not up for discussion. We knew that audio quality, power and intelligibility would be mandatory elements for every fan to listen perfectly and this became a comfort factor before, during and after matches."
BDP Audio Video, a Mexican company of professional audio services was the integrating company in charge of providing the necessary sound solutions within the stadium. There were other candidate companies, but the BDP project in combination with Bose's comprehensive solution, met the needs and requirements of the Regiomontano club. The BDP team, led by the experienced engineer Antonio Vaca, carried out the design and implementation of processing, amplification and loudspeakers.
A graduate of ITESM, engineer Patricio Beltrán is also Rayado at heart. "I joined the project in 2009. I was tasked with the implementation and commissioning of all converged digital technologies: data network, voice, video and giant screens, digital signage, internal television cameras, PA sound, distributed ambient audio, CCTV, intrusion, access control, fire detection, emergency systems, WiFi and cellular networks, lighting control and general automation."
All services are network-based, therefore, the infrastructure has a very wide bandwidth that today, even with all the services incorporated, has capacity to spare, which will allow a planned use for many years.
Power, coverage and intelligibility
The club's board was very clear about the purpose of the stadium, to enjoy football. So the sound system had to respond to the needs of the fan: the audio would offer full coverage, clarity and intelligibility. So BDP planned two major systems:
Ambient audio distributed for 68 audio zones, 14 of which have volume control and independent source selection (corridors, restaurants, suites, changing rooms, press room, among others).
PA system for the stands, composed of 14 clusters of Bose PowerMatch speakers (104 loudspeakers around the court at 55 meters high hanging from the steel structure). The boxes display full range of frequencies and there are no subwoofers. The system is managed through the ControlSpace application in which the design and connection of the elements is very easily visualized, in addition to the distribution of the contents.
RoomMatch the PROPOSAL of PA for 51 thousand Rayados
Once the project was defined, Bose conducted sound coverage tests based on Modeler® software, a sophisticated predictive analytics program used to determine the configuration and location of speaker systems from blueprints. Subsequently, the Auditioner® system was used that allowed to hear and judge the exact sound that the system would have in the stadium, without the need to install a single equipment.
"In addition to the work on plans, one of the arguments that convinced us was the demonstration we received through the Auditioner system; we were surprised to test a very precise model on how the sound of the RoomMatch would be heard in various locations of the stadium, "says Patricio Beltrán.
The latter meant an engineering challenge for BDP and for the construction company of the steel structures that surround the perimeter of the stadium roof; each horn weighs 55 kilograms and there were arrangements of 6 or 10 boxes depending on the location of each cluster. In such a way that large clusters weigh more than half a ton.
To date, BDP and Bose have carried out the fine calibration and acoustic optimization of the RoomMatch system on three occasions, one prior to the inauguration, another with the stadium completely finished and empty, and a last one with the stadium full, in the middle of the season of this 2016. "We make sure roomMatch meets the promised frequency response, intended coverage and ideal sound pressure level in each seat," reveals BDP's Antonio Vaca. "We've only made minimal adjustments to the equalization to raise the bass a little bit to give more body to the music."
Distributed ambient audio
As for the distributed ambient audio system, a combination of Bose FreeSpace speakers with processors and amplifiers of other brands of high quality is used. The communication is carried out through the fiber optic network and IP technology and CobraNet. To do this, in six of the 17 existing IDF's (Intermediate Distribution Frame) amplification and control rooms were built throughout the stadium, this to reduce the distances of the wiring to each zone.
The general audio sources (ambient music from digital players or CD players, voice of the announcer in the cabin, wireless microphone signal for activities that take place at halftime or audios of advertising spots) come from the command center located on the third floor of the stadium. These digital signals travel by optical fiber to the processors distributed in various parts of the enclosure, there the amplification is done and then transit through analog cables to each of the hundreds of speakers distributed.
The design of the distributed audio was a monumental challenge. Not only did sound have to be delivered in each designated area, but the signals had to arrive independently in each zone, so that from the central station it is possible to send certain sources to certain areas or that 14 of the 68 zones in which the sound of the stadium is divided can choose their local sound source (audio from a portable digital player or a CD, for example) and manipulate your own volume level. Not easy when talking about a space of more than 187 thousand square meters.
Service, the value proposition
Bose Professional design engineers in the United States and Mexico have been heavily involved in the project. In fact, they can monitor the audio system through a separate VLAN through the TeamViewer platform, resulting in high-level technical support, always attentive to solve any unforeseen events.
"We have achieved the goal, we have the most beautiful, functional and modern soccer stadium in Latin America," says Patricio Beltrán. "I am satisfied and grateful to a lot of people we teamed up with over the last 7 years. My commitment to Club de Futbol Monterrey has been fully settled and with the utmost professionalism."
The litmus test
On August 2, 2015, the new BBVA Bancomer Stadium was inaugurated with a match between Rayados de Monterrey and Benfica de Portugal. Minutes before the game came the litmus test for the PA system of the building, the sound should look imposing and so it was, exceeded any expectation of the club and the fans who enjoyed the show that included the presence of emblematic players who made history with the team and a concert that paid tribute to the culture of Regiomontana.
Thus, BDP and Bose consolidated a complex project that came to a happy conclusion. They managed to sound the BBVA Bancomer Stadium and that each word or musical note touches the fibers of one of the most faithful fans in the world of football.
Numeralia
- Stadium capacity: 51,000 spectators
- 104 RoomMatch speakers divided into 14 clusters
- 27 PowerMatch PM8500N amplifiers of 4000 Watts each (for PA)
- 18 amplifiers of 2400 watts each (for ambient audio)
- 541 Freespace DS16F speakers (level suites 1 and 2, hallways, club area, general areas)
- 40 Freespace DS16SE speakers (corridors, press room, club area, commissary)
- 125 Freespace DS100SE speakers (Plaza level hallways, high tiered hallways, parking, service areas, Blue restaurant)
- 22 Freespace DS100F speakers (mixed zone, hallways)
- 1 pair of MA12 speakers in press room
- 19 Freespace 3 systems (bass module with satellites), Club Coca Cola and restaurant Capitanes
- Total of 68 ambient audio zone circuits
- 883 Bose speakers in total
14 Zones with independent audio control (volume and source control)
- Local dressing room
- Visiting dressing room
- Chapel
- VIP Lounge 1
- VIP Lounge 2
- Restaurant Club
- Club lounge Poniente
- Club lounge Oriente
- Club lounge Oriente Plaza
- Shop Rayados plaza
- Rayados Shop esplanade entrance
- Shop Rayados high stands
- South Restaurant
- Booking office
Other relevant data
- The ambient audio system is distributed in 6 IDF ́s or amplification rooms
- The distribution of audio between IDF ́s is done by optical fiber
- Each ambient audio circuit has a backup channel
- More than 50,000 meters of speaker cable for ambient audio
- More than 4,000 meters of cable for clusters in PA
- There are 900 screens of various sizes (80, 55 and 42 inches) so that the public does not lose detail of the games no matter the area where they are.
- Two giant screens of 8.41 x 19.02 meters inside the stadium
- The stadium offers free WiFi for all fans
- The BBVA Bancomer Stadium was named the second Best Stadium of 2015, according to an international jury of specialist architects convened by the portal www.stadiumdb.com which rewards the best property inaugurated or remodeled in the last football cycle.
- In the public voting section, the BBVA Bancomer Stadium was chosen as the Best Stadium of 2015, by a wide margin over the other participants.
