The two stadiums are located about 55km apart on opposite sides of Doha, the capital of Qatar. When AV-Tech was contracted to install jumbo video screens and accompanying sound systems at both venues, the goal was to deliver highly intelligible speech and wide-bandwidth music to all 20,000 seats from one screen-side tower. It was an ambitious goal, as each point-source system would have to cover all of the seats at the stadium.
"Our design specification called for 105 dB SPL throughout, the same as for similar stadium systems we had done previously," says Hadi Arzouni, general manager of AV-Tech. "But here, because users wanted to have music during events, usually with video playback, we added the SB-2s and 700-HP subwoofers to get improved midrange projection and bass as well as very high intelligibility."
The towers at the two stadiums support identical configurations, each with 15 self-powered Meyer Sound loudspeakers, custom-painted in sand colour. Two arrays, each comprising three Milo and one Milo 120 line array loudspeakers, cover the stadium's long sides. The twin SB-2 sound beams aim focused sound over the pitch to the far end seats, while three CQ-2 loudspeakers are tilted down to cover close-end seating. From the tower's centre, two 700-HP subwoofers radiate bass throughout the vicinity. A Galileo loudspeaker management system provides system drive and processing.
Although a roof is in the plans, the systems are now exposed to climatic extremes that are typical in places situated between warm Gulf waters and desert, where dust storms, high humidity, and temperatures often reach more than 50 degrees Celsius. Nevertheless, reports Arzouni, the weather-protected Meyer Sound systems have maintained flawless reliability through all scheduled football matches.
The client is pleased with the new sound system and the smoothness of the installation process. "The sound quality is excellent, especially during playback music," says Ghanim Al-Kuwari, head of maintenance and project manager of the Sports Facilities & Installations Department of Qatar Olympic Committee. The renovation of the Al-Khor and Al-Wakrah football stadiums was handled by International Trading & Contracting.
(Jim Evans)
