The recently opened Giants Town Stadium in Inagi, Tokyo, is home to the Yomiuri Giants’ ‘farm team’ (nursery club) and will also host women’s and amateur men’s baseball games as well as being a multi-use facility. Designed to bring fans closer to the action, the 2,900-seat, three-storey stadium is equipped with a Martin Audio-based weatherised sound system.
With acoustic planning, construction and sales handled by Denon Engineering Co, the system comprises CDD10-WR main loudspeakers, CDD6TX-WR 100V/70V line speakers for ‘Excite’ premium seats, first base infield, third base infield rooftop garden and standing room in the right field. There are also CDD8-WR for the outfield grass area and temporary, portable speaker systems, and Adorn A40 lpudspeakers for the Umpire area inside the field. Audio transmission is over Dante, with Symetrix processing/distribution and Netgear network switching.
With aacoustic simulation and tuning performed by Audiobrains, the Martin Audio solution was proposed in order to achieve an immersive atmosphere and high clarity and intelligibility for each area as befitting professional sports. In particular, the design needed to be close to the audience.
According to the Denon Engineering team, ‘At G-Town, the emphasis is not simply on producing sound, but on providing the optimal acoustic environment for each area and purpose. The type and placement of speakers are based on how the sound reaches and is heard. Martin Audio CDD10-WR speakers, which deliver clear sound over a wide area, were used as the main speakers. These cabinets are weather-resistant and dust-proof, preventing deterioration and breakdown due to wind, rain and humidity.’
The ability to mitigate sound spill outside the stadium was another key issue. At this stadium, the loudspeakers are housed in dedicated boxes and their directionality is controlled, ensuring accurate sound transmission within the stands themselves, while minimising sound escape beyond the stadium.
High-quality CDD6TX-WR support the immersive experience of the Excite VIP seats located closest to the ground. This is a special viewing area offering the ultimate in immersive experience unique to G-Town. To maximise the seating’s features, these are designed to deliver clearer and more dynamic sound including announcements and background music. This integration is purpose designed to create a more memorable experience for spectators.
In the vast space of a stadium, there are differences in the arrival times from the various loudspeaker placements. For example, the 122m distance from home base to centre field is calculated to result in a delay of approximately 0.36s, which can have a major impact on how announcements and background music are heard. Delay correction has ensured that sound can be heard naturally from any seat, creating a comfortable acoustic space. The speakers on the first floor also serve as emergency loudspeakers.
Further challenges at the G-Town stadium extend to the sound control room being located on the third floor, with were concerns that this would make communication between the referee and the public address announcer difficult during games. To address this, mics were installed on the field to allow communication between the referee and the PA announcer, and sound equipment was improved to ensure smooth communication between the two parties. Martin Audio’s Adorn A40 was used for this communication.
The central control system emphasises intuitive operability, and uses tablet devices in the Symetrix control environment. In addition to intuitive operation of mics, background music and other controls, the screen is customisable to suit the user’s proficiency level.
A patch panel for maintenance services is also provided within the ground, allowing the system to be monitored from the ground side, ensuring ease of maintenance.
In a space where sports and entertainment combine, sound is one of the keys to creating emotion. The project team are satisfied that the Giants Town Stadium maximises the power of sound to enhance the spectator experience, embracing the cutting edge of sound engineering required for professional sports facilities such as this.
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