Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been fitted with a new Aus$25m (£13.3m/€15.4m/$17.3m) public announcement system to enhance the audio experience at the 100,000-seat stadium.
A number of large speakers are already in place at the MCG, which is currently hosting the Twenty20 international between Australia and Sri Lanka, but the system will not launch until the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand.
The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) has worked with Auditoria on the design of the new system, while Rutledge AV served as head contractor. More than 3,000 speakers will be located throughout the MCG’s seating bowl, function rooms and concourse areas as part of the roll-out.
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said: “Providing clear, consistent audio throughout a venue this size is a significant challenge – and that’s before you add 100,000 screaming sports fans into the mix.
“We are looking forward to switching to the new PA system from Boxing Day, and are confident all visitors to the stadium will notice and enjoy the improved sounds of the ‘G.”
Auditoria director Scott Willsallen added: “Australia is a world leader in sports presentation and this upgrade will place the ‘G as one of the best stadium audio systems in the world, creating an immersive and memorable game-day experience in every seat.”
The upgrade forms part of a wider Aus$50m series of improvements at the MCG in 2019 and 2020. The plans, revealed back in January, are designed to maintain the MCG’s status in the increasingly competitive Australian stadium market.
Last month, telecommunications companies Telstra and Ericsson teamed up to deliver 5G coverage at the MCG for the AFL Grand final match. Fox said the initiative made the MCG the first stadium in Australia to provide patrons with access to the 5G network.
Image: Richard Munckton
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