RCF Upgrades Avnet Arena With Stadium-Wide Sound System

The grandstand reinforcement system is based on 22 TT+ Audio GTX 10 Wi clusters. The system design comprises four clusters at each end stand, five clusters along both the main and opposite stands, and additional loudspeaker positions at the stadium corners. For pitch coverage, eight horn-loaded RCF HL 2290 two-way loudspeakers were installed along the longitudinal stands, providing uniform direct-field coverage across the playing surface.

Power distribution and system supervision are handled by RCF XPS 16KD amplifiers integrated into a redundant Q-SYS audio network via Dante. A dedicated RCF-developed plug-in enables comprehensive control, status monitoring, and telemetry access directly within the Q-SYS control environment.

“The RCF systems met all acoustic and technical requirements, from the specified speech intelligibility and redundancy criteria through to integration within the Q-SYS platform,” said Thomas Schnitzler, project lead at PROAID. “At the same time, the solution remained within the permitted load limits. During the tender process, the system was selected not only for its technical suitability, but also for its commercial evaluation and the proven stadium experience of RCF and SEA.”
For the installation team, the project also underlined the importance of close engineering coordination throughout the implementation phase. “This is already the second Bundesliga stadium project we have completed with RCF,” said Peter Lohß, site manager at SEA. “We particularly value the close support provided by RCF in electroacoustic simulation, structural load assessment, and on-site system commissioning.”

MVGM also reported a positive outcome following commissioning. According to Andreas Voigt, the first matches with the new system proceeded without issue, with positive feedback from both supporters and venue operators.

“The installation in Magdeburg follows a proven stadium design approach,” said Georg Hofmann, Head of Engineering Support Group Germany. “GTX clusters for the grandstands, horn-loaded HL loudspeakers for pitch coverage, and XPS amplifiers with Q-SYS integration. The result is a reinforcement platform engineered to meet demanding requirements for intelligibility, operational resilience, and long-term flexibility.”