After seeing a major renovation in 1996 of Johnson Stadium at Doubleday Field, the heart of the Army Black Knights baseball team has been transformed yet again. August of 2011 saw the addition of beautiful press box directly behind home plate. This new space designed and installed by Sports Field Specialties of Delhi, New York brought a whole new level of sophistication and class to the Black Knight's home.
Once complete, it became apparent the sound system and scoreboard were well overdue for renovation. In a joint endeavor between Eversan Scoreboards and Advance Sound Company, the Black Knight's needs were answered. The project began with the installation of a large baseball scoreboard and video display. Eversan worked with Army architects to design a scoreboard that was functional, yet made little impact on the breathtaking views of the campus.
Last to take the field was the sound system designed by Thomas DePace, CTS. The design, as DePace describes it, allowed for tight clusters of speakers that addressed the needs of the baseline stands, backstop and surrounding areas, as well as the field. Based off of the Community R.5 and R.25 speakers, DePace created a system that promoted ease of use, while providing the highest quality audio.
"I chose the Community R Series speakers because they're meant to withstand the elements... West Point is in a unique geographical region location on the Hudson River mixes both salt and freshwater. That combination can be quite challenging when you're designing a system that you expect to last for years to come" DePace said. When it came to mounting hardware, DePace used Adaptative Technologies Pole Mount Solution, which provided not only an refined look on the pole, but safely supported the speakers.
In terms of the headend, the system was designed with Crown Audio CDI series amplifiers that allowed for individualized level control of the zones. For ease of use, a Shure SCM800 mixer backed by Biamp Nexia SP processor provided the mixing for the system. DePace than provided Shure wireless microphones, a Tascam CD-200i, and customized announcer plate to the client for field level performances and color commentary.
