Opened in 2019, the 19,400-seat Allianz Field is home to Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United FC franchise. Responsibility for coordinating the technical operation of the venue largely lies with production engineer Cole Mayer, who uses RTS intercoms to ensure that all game day events – from team introductions to half-time events and the stadium’s massive video display – go smoothly and to schedule.
According to the Mayer, the in-house show on the video display is the centrepiece of their in-game content: ‘We produce our own show in real time, so it’s essentially the same as a telecast, but with the audience being inside the stadium,’ he explains. ‘Our production control room is right next to the press box, and includes a switcher, two replay machines, plus clips, graphics, and audio, including a DJ.’
An RTS Odin (Omneo digital intercom) matrix is key to coordinating the in-game presentation. Minnesota United runs a 64-port Odin frame with about 15 KP-4016 keypanels spread around the control room, along with three DKP-4016 desktop units. Odin’s Omneo capability allows the intercom to be part of the stadium’s Dante audio network.
Stage managers stationed throughout the venue use RTS Roameo wireless beltpacks to manage the timing of various production elements during games. ‘The Roameo packs are a really key tool for us. It’s like having a keypanel on your hip,’ Mayer says. ‘We have wireless access points set up all around the stadium to keep us in direct communication, so everything happens smoothly and on cue, whether it’s directing the on-field camera, the team walk-out from the tunnel or half-time entertainment.’
Mayer also points out that Roameo’s plug-and-play connectivity gives him the ability to expand his productions as needed. In fact, he has a spare AP-1800 access point on hand for just this purpose…
‘That’s the luxury of Roameo,’ he says. ‘Wherever there’s a network connection, I can create wireless communication. I just configure a port on the Dante network, and the access point will service all of the beltpacks entering that space. So if we have a private event in a luxury suite, or even out in the parking lot, we can provide the same production quality as our in-game presentation.
‘We’ve done a number of bigger events here, and I’ve come to really appreciate how easily our network ties into broadcast trucks, most of which also use RTS,’ he continues. ‘Our regular game-day productions are pretty stable, but whenever I have a new challenge, I just call RTS and they will walk me through whatever’s needed.’
As a huge soccer fan who went to school in the Twin Cities, Mayer feels fortunate to be working in his field for the team he loves: ‘Everything we do is produced in-house, from the in-game fan experience to podcasts and all kinds of video content. Having tools like RTS intercoms is critical to creating the kind of compelling content that Minnesota United fans deserve.’
More: https://rtsintercoms.com
