Germany’s largest multifunctional arena, the Lanxess Arena in Cologne can seat up to 20,000 and offers 83,700sq-m of usable space. It is home to eight-time German ice hockey champions, the Cologne Sharks, and has been hosting major events of all kinds for more than 20 years. Its most recent event was the installation of an Artist-based communications network from Riedel
After extensive testing, Arena Management GmbH settled on a decentralised comms solution, basing it on two Artist-32 digital matrix intercom nodes, with one Artist frame in the production control room and a second in the central technical area beneath the arena. This two-frame strategy allows technicians to access an existing network infrastructure beneath the facility to create required redundancies.
‘Since its completion in 1998, the Lanxess Arena has been relying on Riedel comms. Now, this comprehensive intercom upgrade is a gift to ourselves for our 20th anniversary,’ says Arena Management Technical Manager, Martin Rebiszewski. ‘In terms of reliability and flexibility, the products really are unmatched and, with its unparalleled scalability, the Artist infrastructure is perfect for multifunction halls with constantly changing requirements.’
Thanks to its modular structure, the Artist ecosystem can be easily expanded to match the specific conditions of various Lanxess Arena events. The ability to effortlessly integrate rented Riedel accessories, such as SmartPanels and Bolero wireless intercoms, has been particularly valuable for larger events and productions.
The Artist ecosystem with 23 2300-Series SmartPanels enables flexible and creative workflows for the Arena Management production team. At Cologne Sharks hockey games, the communications system not only connects production, camera, sound, and lighting staff, but also integrates referees, house announcers, and the DJ.
‘Ice hockey allows for particularly spectacular staging, but it also imposes exacting demands on TV and event production,’ say Riedel Communications Account Manager, Niklas Rautenberg. ‘By enabling clear and reliable communications between all participants, the production team can now present the Cologne Sharks games in an even better light. With this Artist installation, the Lanxess Arena is prepared to overcome any production challenge.’
More: www.riedel.net
