Austria - Arena Vienna, a cultural institution with roots in the 1970s counterculture movement, continues to be a vital hub for music and art. To meet contemporary acoustic challenges, the complex recently upgraded its outdoor sound system to a Meyer Sound Panther system. This new installation enhances the audience experience while minimising noise impact, ensuring ‘the Arena’ remains a premier live venue.
Originally transformed by activists from an abandoned slaughterhouse into a centre for artistic exploration, the Arena has become an integral part of Vienna’s cultural life, explains chairwoman Petra Ruckendorfer. “It’s not just a music venue; it’s a cultural landmark that has adapted to modern requirements while staying true to its roots as a space for creativity, freedom, and expression.”
Today, the Arena has several stages catering to a range of events and audience sizes from 50 to 1,000 indoors and 3,000 outdoors. The largest, the outdoor stage, hosts large concerts and festivals and is a prime spot for summer events.
In recent years, housing complexes were constructed near the venue. With this urban development came increasing noise complaints from neighbours, especially during open-air nighttime events.
“Management anticipated potential noise disturbance issues, which could have jeopardised the Arena’s operation at its existing location under Austrian law,” says Manfred Prochazka, president of Meyer Sound’s Austrian distributor, ATEC Pro, which has outfitted the complex with sound solutions for two decades. “As a result, they approached us to explore the possibility of a new PA system that would minimise noise emissions to the new high-rises.”
The plan was to upgrade the outdoor sound system, a legacy Meyer Sound Milo system shared with the Arena’s largest indoor stage, to a Panther system. “After successfully using the Milo system over the years, we determined that the only way to improve was to transition to the Panther system,” says Prochazka. “Panther provides us with the control needed to direct sound primarily into the audience area while minimising sound emissions to the outside, particularly toward the nearby high-rise buildings.” (The Milo system remains in the indoor venue, while the new Panther system is used exclusively at the outdoor stage.)
The first step was proving that Panther could solve the noise issues. ATEC Pro collaborated with Meyer Sound’s technical services manager, international, Dennis Tholema and European technical support Michael Pohl to model system performance using Meyer Sound’s MAPP 3D system design and prediction tool.
“Directing sound precisely within the audience area while avoiding spillover to the surrounding neighbourhood was crucial to prevent complaints and comply with regulations,” says the Arena’s head of audio for all sound and technical info, Thomas Löffler. “Using MAPP 3D, we designed the system to ensure that the main PA coverage was tailored to the audience area while minimising sound directed upward or outward.
“ATEC Pro first presented the complete Panther system along with the 1100‑LFC subwoofer, as the 2100‑LFC was not yet available at that time,” Löffler explains. “During the presentation, we had the opportunity to experience the sound quality, while a civil engineer and the responsible municipal authority conducted measurements. These measurements confirmed that the predictions made in MAPP 3D were accurate, demonstrating that noise emissions could be minimised effectively.”
In April 2024, ATEC Pro, led by project manager Richard Redl, installed and calibrated the system in cooperation with Pohl and Tholema and the Arena team.
The new system is anchored by left/right arrays of nine Panther large-format linear line array loudspeakers in both narrow and wide-coverage variants, along with six 900‑LFC compact low-frequency control elements per side in cardioid configuration, and nine 2100-LFC low-frequency control elements under the stage.
“The 2100-LFC subwoofers play a key role in controlling low-frequency energy,” Löffler explains. “Positioned strategically under the stage, they reduce bass emissions to the sides and rear, preventing unwanted sound leakage into residential areas. Additionally, 900-LFC units flown on each side of the stage help cancel out bass energy directed upward and compensate for the slope from FOH to the stage. This configuration enhances coverage within the venue while maintaining precise control, allowing us to achieve concert-level sound quality without exceeding noise limits.” Lina very compact linear line array loudspeaker front-fills and Ultra‑X40/X42 out-fills round out coverage.
A FOH PA comprising two Ultra-X40s and a 900-LFC, calibrated to sound identical to the main PA, lets technicians perform soundchecks without using the main PA, minimising daytime noise disturbances. “This setup works so effectively that it’s rare for technicians to believe the main PA is turned off during soundchecks,” says Redl.
The implementation of Galileo Galaxy Network Platforms with Milan connectivity marks a significant advancement in the Arena’s audio control capabilities.
“The new system’s attributes – scalability, flexibility, and user-friendliness – enable Arena Vienna to seamlessly host a diverse array of programming,” says Ruckendorfer. “As a result, the venue bolsters its reputation as a dynamic space capable of delivering exceptional audio experiences, further enhancing its appeal for a wide range of performances and events.”
