TIO Stadium installs Community sound system
Published: ASIA
AUSTRALIA: Darwin’s TIO Stadium has had an upgrade to its audio system with Community R and Wet Series speakers selected to cope with the demands of its tropical climate.
The stadium is the premier outdoor stadium in Australia’s Northern Territory and it regularly hosts sporting events such as Australian football and cricket. Every two years it also hosts the Arafura Games, where more than 4,500 competitors from over 40 nations compete in 19 disciplines. In addition to several of the events, the stadium is used for the opening and closing ceremonies.
In late 2009 an upgrade of the audio system was approved and local consultants GHD were appointed to prepare the specification. With the heat, rain and humidity of Darwin’s tropical environment, careful consideration was given to the type of loudspeakers to be used in the installation before the Community cabinets were selected.
National contracting company Eo Design was awarded the project and went on site in early June 2010 with a completion date of end July 2010. The project was co-ordinated by Eo’s André van Stom.
Fifteen bi-amped Community Wet Series W2-322L-64H loudspeakers were mounted on each truss of the grandstand canopy and 22 Community R-Series R.5-66TZ and five R.5HPT loudspeakers were pole mounted around the remainder of the ground, ticketing and turnstile areas. All of the loudspeakers were driven by QSC ISA800 Series amplifiers and system control was handled by four QSC Basis 922UZ units.
On completion of the project, Eo managing director Peter Guest said he believed it was one of the better sounding stadium systems he had heard in a long time. He then went on to thank TAG, Community and QSC for their efforts in providing product in such a timely manner, commenting: ‘Without their tremendous support and great product this project would not have become a reality.’