Borussia Park Stadium moves forward and upgrades its audio system

RCF has recently completed another notable audio project in one of Europe’s main stadiums, Germany’s BORUSSIA-PARK in Mönchengladbach (BMG), with a capacity of 54,010 spectators. Despite having been built between 2002 and 2004, until 2015 the BMG had not been equipped with a sound system that met the requirements of a modern football stadium, and thus the project marks an important advance in the venue’s technology. The new audio system – developed by RCF in collaboration with Graner & Partner consulting company and Wärtsilla Funa integrator – required a considerable amount of adaptation to standard equipment and installation hardware, involving extensive know-how in acoustic solutions for large sports arenas.

The final design included 12 arrays of 12 x HL20 WP passive speakers – six arrays on each of the west and east long grandstands, four on the north and south short grandstands, and a further on the corners. The HL 20 WP weatherproof passive line array module guarantees high output and dynamics, with a precise coverage of 100°x15° thanks to the especially designed waveguide. The new system at BORUSSIA-PARK also includes four arrays of six HL2290 WP horn-loaded two-way speakers, ideal for mid-to-long-throw applications. Requirements specified in the competitive tender were a direct SPL of 101 ± 3 dB on 99% of the audience seats, and a minimum STI of 0.51 ± 0.02 in the fully occupied stadium. RCF technicians report the system as having an average STI of 0.53 and SPL of 107, with uniform distribution on all seats. Mr. Bernd Muckl, Head of Engineering at the BORUSSIA-PARK, asserted that the results at the stadium marked a brilliant achievement and a significant upgrade in the stadium’s technological equipment.

Furthermore, perhaps the most impressive customised element of the BMG system is the unusual array design, that was inspired by the Dortmund stadium. Expo Engineering developed a special cluster frame with mounting plates on both sides, to support a curved shape that allows the advantages of point source technology with linear distribution to be combined.