Earlier this year, Romers was tasked with refitting the executive areas of Ewood Park's Jack Walker stand, part of Blackburn Rovers' 31,000-capacity stadium. The three suites needed a new audio distribution system to provide more flexibility and control of the various sources for match day hospitality events and private functions. Each suite required access to local sources - a music source, radio, and wired mic inputs - and access to network-based global sources, comprising Rovervision, the Club's in-house TV Company; Radio Rovers, the match day radio station; and Atmosphere, a system that transmits the crowd and pitch noise into the suites.
Two iDR-4 16x16 matrix mixers were installed - one in the Pennants Lounge and the other in the Premier Lounge - along with a CD player, radio, and amplifier. The units are networked to share programming information, and connected to the Stadium's data network so that audio can be managed from the main control room, via iDR's PL Client software.
Also, Allen & Heath's PL-4 rotary control within PL-7 LCD wallplates are installed in each of the three suites for remote control of the source material and levels. There are plans to install two further iDR-4 units, an iDR-in, and an iDR-out to manage audio in the remaining suites in the stadium, forming a complete network of interlinked units.
The 25,000 capacity JJB Stadium, home to Wigan Athletic Football Club and Wigan Warriors Rugby Club, required a similar audio refurbishment for four of its executive hospitality suites in the West Stand, located across two floors. The existing audio system was struggling to cope with the demand of the venue's growing hospitality business, which includes corporate entertainment on match days, and an increasing number of conferences and wedding functions.
Romers installed an iDR-4 on the third floor to manage the entire audio distribution system, which includes inputs from four Sennheiser radio systems, a CD player, DVD, local PC inputs, and the in-house match TV system. An iDR-in expander unit has been installed on the second floor where the larger number of inputs are required. Again, remote control of any of the lounges is enabled via locally installed PL-4 wallplates, or the PL Client software.
(Lee Baldock)
