Creating The Ultimate Fan Experience Through Audio
Sep 4, 2024
During a game at Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2021, ESPN analyst Chris Fowler said “I think they can hear this music in the blimp. They did not put in cheap speakers when they redid [this stadium].” Just 36 days earlier, the team at Danley Sound Labs commissioned a new system in Bryant-Denny Stadium’s lower bowl to compliment the existing Danley system in the upper bowl and in use for the stadium’s on-field sound needs.
As sports venues have grown to focus on the fan experience, there has been increased demand for better audio experiences leading to major advancements in loudspeaker technologies and engineering. High-fidelity sound is now provided strategically throughout venues, replacing older public announcement (PA) systems and creating immersive experiences for fans, athletes, and recruits.
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During a game at Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2021, ESPN analyst Chris Fowler said “I think they can hear this music in the blimp. They did not put in cheap speakers when they redid [this stadium].” Just 36 days earlier, the team at Danley Sound Labs commissioned a new system in Bryant-Denny Stadium’s lower bowl to compliment the existing Danley system in the upper bowl and in use for the stadium’s on-field sound needs.
As sports venues have grown to focus on the fan experience, there has been increased demand for better audio experiences leading to major advancements in loudspeaker technologies and engineering. High-fidelity sound is now provided strategically throughout venues, replacing older public announcement (PA) systems and creating immersive experiences for fans, athletes, and recruits.
Sports venues around the country ranging in size and scope have selected Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers, subwoofers, and other technologies to improve their game day experiences.
East Carolina University
Before the kickoff of each East Carolina University (ECU) football game, Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” is played over the sound system at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Today, the facility has a capacity of 51,000 including a club level, loge boxes and suites, and a new HD video / scoreboard completed in 2019. However, after these upgrades, the audio in the facility needed an additional upgrade.
“In 2010 we put in a PA system,” said Greg Pierce, associate athletic director of external relations. “as time went on, we lost amps and speakers. Before long, band-aids to the system were becoming more expensive than the surgery, so we decided to do something new.”
North Carolina-based PC Sound and Danley partner Precision Audio were selected for the project consisting of 2 J8-94 loudspeakers for far coverage, 2 J7-95 loudspeakers for near coverage, 1 SH62 loudspeaker for field cover and 3 SH46 loudspeakers as down fills from the board. In addition, 4 BC415 subwoofers were installed all powered by Danley DNA20K4 amplifiers.
According ECU athletic director Jon Gilbert, “we have new video boards, new LED ribbon boards, but I’d argue that the fan base is most excited about the new sound system.”
Wakulla High School
Located 20 miles south of Tallahassee, FL, Wakulla High School was in desperate need of a new sound system. The existing system, two single horns found in between the goal posts on the far end of the stadium, had been in place for nearly 40 years.
JSC Systems selected the Danley Sound Labs OS80 outdoor loudspeaker along with the complementary TH115 subwoofer mounted on each side of the press box on the home side of the football field. Additionally, Danley Go2 loudspeakers were used as down-fills. All loudspeakers and subwoofers are powered by a Danley DNA10K8-Pro amplifier. Following installation in 2023, a category 1 hurricane passed through the area.
“Wakulla is less than 5 miles from the Florida coast,” said Daniel Hunt of JSC Systems. “There was a good deal of damage in the area following the hurricane and we were asked to come out and check the system. There was no damage at all. Danley’s ability to build audio equipment that can withstand that kind of weather is impressive.”
“Danley is set apart from other manufacturers because we have a focus on creating high quality audio experiences, no matter the weather,” said Skip Welch of Danley Sound Labs. “Our outdoor line of loudspeakers and our Extreme Weather (EW) variants allow us to ensure that weather doesn’t damage critical components and allows us to offer the same crystal clear and quality sound we are known for.”
University of North Florida
“We wanted to create an experience not just in the game, but around the game,” said Nick Morrow, athletic director at the University of North Florida (UNF). “Building energy in the [basketball] arena creates a better experience not just for those in attendance, but for our student athletes as well.”
To create this new experience, UNF chose CCF Presentation Systems Southeast to complete the audio and visual upgrades to UNF Arena. The system included Danley SH96 and OS80 loudspeakers as well as 4 TH118 subwoofers. Utilizing Danley’s patented Synergy Horn technologies, CCS Southeast as able to better control sound patterns to reduce reverberance and direct the sound onto the crowd.
“This past year, we sold the second most tickets we ever have for a game and it’s because the word is out about our fan experience,” said Morrow. “These little things make a huge difference.”
About Danley Sound Labs: Danley Sound Labs is a visionary in the audio industry providing powerful loudspeakers, subwoofers and other innovations to performances and venues around the world. Led by co-founders Tom Danley and Mike Hedden, Danley built its reputation on designing the most technologically innovative audio products on the market today. Whether a high school stadium or gymnasium, or an internationally known arena or stadium, Danley’s wide variety of audio technologies can help you meet any acoustical challenge.
