Home to the Eisbären Berlin ice hockey team and Alba Berlin basketball club, Berlin’s Uber Arena is aiming to sound better than ever, following the recent installation of an L-Acoustics L2 sound system – the first sports facility L Series installation in the world.
The 17,000-seat multipurpose venue hosts up to 180 events annually, ranging from championship games to concerts from the likes of Metallica, Coldplay, Barbra Streisand, U2, and Foo Fighters. Other high-profile events include the Euroleague Final Four, NBA and NHL games, the European Men’s Basketball Championship, the IHF Handball World Championship, and the MTV Europe Music Awards.
‘Our previous system, installed in 2008, had served us well but was no longer meeting the demands of today’s events,’ says Director of Venue Operations Sebastian Rossman, who manages the arena. ‘We needed a solution that could deliver crystal-clear sound for both sports fans and music lovers while also adapting to the 30 different configurations that our venue calls on to meet the demands of the diverse events that we host.’
To meet the challenge, Rossman enlisted the help of MMT Network consultants and long-term arena sound partner PAM Events. After rigorous testing of systems from four manufacturers, the L-Acoustics L2 emerged as the winner.
‘We faced unique challenges, including the need for uniform, long-term 99dB SPL across all seats and managing the venue’s complex acoustics,’ says MMT Network Project Engineer, Felix Maiworm. ‘The cardioid pattern of L Series proved crucial in controlling lower frequencies and taming the hall’s reverberant field.’
The new set-up features five hangs of L2 arrays, two facing south, and one each facing north, east and west. Eight X8 delay fills are used for the VIP restaurant and six X12 are placed underneath the video cube. The sound system is powered by L-Acoustics amplified controllers and managed by their processors. This configuration ensures optimal coverage for every seat in the house, whether it’s for a high-stakes hockey match or a sold-out rock concert. ‘The L2 upgrade provides unparalleled flexibility,’ says PAM Events CEO, Thomas Moritz. ‘We can now create delay lines for concerts and deliver exceptional sound for sports events, meeting all our diverse needs across all possible configurations.’
The compact form of the L Series also addressed the arena’s physical constraints, allowing shorter hangs that don’t interfere with sightlines or the venue’s elaborate roof structure to be used. This aspect is particularly beneficial for the arena’s frequent transitions between sports and concert set-ups, and means the system can be lifted and parked up above the main grid when not in use.
The coverage of the system, which is significantly different between basketball and ice hockey, can be readily adjusted by using the FIR Autofilter algorithm in LA Network Manager – there is no need for mechanical adjustments, which saves cost of labour and time.
‘The success of this project is a testament to the seamless cooperation between L-Acoustics, PAM Events, MMT Network and our team at Uber Arena,’ Rossman reports. ‘Everyone involved was committed to achieving the best possible outcome for our fans and performers.’
The new L-Acoustics L2 sound system is set to make its debut at the end of September with shows by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and promises to elevate the experience for both sports enthusiasts and music lovers.
