CLIENT
BWS for Supreme Committee Ceremonies
LOCATION
Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar
YEAR
2022
PROJECT TYPE
Opening Ceremony & Matches
Scope
Stadium-wide overlay loudspeaker system for FIFA Opening Ceremony and subsequent matches
Services Provided
- →System design
- →Implementation Planning
- →Optimisation
- →Signal Distribution
- →Tuning
The Brief
To deliver a world-class audio experience at Al Bayt Stadium for the FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony and all subsequent matches hosted at the venue. With only weeks before the event, Auditoria was engaged to design and implement an overlay loudspeaker system to meet the exacting standards of both broadcast and live audiences.
The Challenge
The project timeline was particularly ambitious. With confirmation received just four weeks ahead of the first match, our team was tasked with evaluating the existing installed system and designing an overlay that could be delivered within a compressed timeframe. Rigging restrictions meant we had to work with the stadium’s existing infrastructure and minimise additional engineering. The system had to deliver high fidelity, intelligibility, and consistent coverage for both the Opening Ceremony and FIFA’s matchday requirements, including special considerations for media and player lineups.
Our Approach
Our strategy focused on designing a high-performance system that could be deployed quickly and efficiently using existing rigging points. We broke the design down into five key elements to ensure targeted coverage and effective control:
- Upper Bowl Coverage
- Lower Bowl Coverage
- Sub-bass Extension
- Shadow Fill
- Player Lineup Coverage
To streamline delivery and maintain audio integrity, we adopted a hybrid signal transport strategy combining AVB and Optocore, ensuring resilience and flexibility. The system was designed, simulated, and tuned using L-Acoustics Soundvision and LA Network Manager to achieve precision alignment and optimal performance across the massive venue.
Technical Highlights:
Audio Design
Upper Bowl Coverage
- 16 flown arrays of 9 × L-Acoustics K2 each
- 144 K2 in total, powered by 48 × LA12X amplified controllers
- Flown and catwalk-mounted amplifier configurations to minimise cabling
- Selective attenuation in media areas to comply with FIFA commentary requirements
Lower Bowl Coverage
- 16 arrays (12 with 9 × Kara II, 4 corner arrays with 6 × Kara II)
- 132 Kara II in total, powered by 32 × LA12X amplified controllers
Sub-Bass System
- 6 sub-bass arrays using 3 × KS28 in cardioid configurations with the top elements reversed
Fills & Player Lineup Array
- 2 × X12 loudspeakers mounted on scoreboards to cover seating in shadow
- A discrete 3 × Kara II array specifically for player lineup audio during National Anthems
Signal Distribution
- Primary delivery: AVB via L-Acoustics P1 processors and Luminex Gigacore switches
- Secondary delivery: Closed-loop Optocore network using X6R-FX AES/EBU to amplifiers
- The system was configured in an alternating L/R stereo arrangement
System Control & Tuning
- System controlled via L-Acoustics LA Network Manager
- FIR filtering and optimisation in Soundvision
- Time alignment and final system tuning conducted onsite by our specialist team
The Results
The overlay system at Al Bayt Stadium delivered a powerful and immersive experience that met the highest international standards for both ceremony and competition. Despite the tight timeline, the design was executed seamlessly, with superb coverage, speech intelligibility, and musical fidelity across all areas of the stadium. The solution supported one of the world’s most-watched sporting events without compromise.
Acknowledgements
Our Client
Thanks to John McCullagh and the whole team at BWS for involving us in this project and managing the procurement and delivery of this significant piece of work. Thanks also to Jennie-lee Van Gelder, Tom Casey and the team at SC Ceremonies for initiating and guiding the project.
Our Team
The Audio system was designed by Scott Willsallen with support from Ethan Curry. Our implementation team included Luis Miranda, Toby Chester, Lee Holmes, Marty Harrison, James Ghamlouch and Martin Dineley.
Our Supplier
Thanks to Oli Crump and Robin Conway and the team from Solotech for supplying and installing the PA. Thanks to Giulio Rovelli and the team from Agora for the signal transport and project management. Thanks to Sam Carter from Unusual for the rigging and expertise.
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