The Introduction:
Based in Philadelphia, PA, Comcast Spectacor is part of Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology company. Comcast Spectacor owns a diverse portfolio of sports and esports teams and sports and entertainment complexes, including the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers Training Center, and the Philadelphia Flyers hockey franchise. Established in 1967, the iconic Flyers NHL team is well known for the original Broad Street Bullies namesake that embodies the grit and work ethic of Philly’s residents and fans.
The Facility:
The Flyers Training Center is home to the faithful fans and is the official training and practice facility for the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team. Located in Voorhees, NJ, just across the bridge from Philadelphia, this best-in-class and best-in-league facility offers enthusiasts a host of venue services and fan experiences, including skating and hockey lessons, youth and adult league competitions, venue rentals, and skate sharpening services. Anchoring the center is CUTTING EDGE – a fully stocked pro shop and team store carrying official Flyers jerseys, apparel, and a large assortment of branded hockey gear, including skates, sticks, helmets, and more.
The Challenge:
As a part of a new team and organization-wide branding effort, entitled “A New Era of Orange,” Comcast Spectacor and the Philadelphia Flyers organization embarked on a new era and foundation for the game, team, and guest experience. The all-encompassing brand is designed to infuse new fan energy into the sport, including new orange jerseys that harken back to the original Flyers team.
Although the brand recalls a nostalgic era, today’s fans want modern immersive audio and visual experiences that surround them with the fast paced action of the game. To this end, Comcast Spectacor engaged Visual Sound to assist with key parts of a total interior renovation and makeover of the training center, including an AV system for a reimagined lobby, private party rooms, facility wide zoned audio with paging capabilities, and two ice rink renovations (A third rink renovation is coming in November of 2024).
Accustomed to meeting tight deadlines and working with various trades, Visual Sound’s greatest challenge was working in a tight window, during the off-season, to complete all of the planned AV installations while leaving sufficient room for AV testing, orientation, and device and software training for the staff.
The Solution:
Lobby Video Wall, Public Address, & Sound System
To welcome visitors and enhance the fan experience, Visual Sound designed, installed, and commissioned an expansive video wall above the guest check in desk. This NX series 12’ x 22” Direct View LED (DVLED) display, from Absen, is the centerpiece of the renovated building and enables facility personnel to create a more welcoming experience with Flyers related content, community programming, event information, and relevant updates. More than a display, the crystal clear digital signage has a variety of pixel pitches for superior high-definition resolution visual experiences from any viewing distance.
The lobby also featured a new sound system, with feeds from the ice rinks, allowing lobby visitors to experience the same feeling as on-ice spectators during practices and home and away games. Finally, staff attendants have access to a digitally enabled audio network, via a table paging station, for an easy-to-use paging system that allows for zoned announcements throughout the facility.
Ice Rink Sound Systems & Digital Scoreboard
Taking advantage of the off-season, the overhaul of one rink and reconstruction of a 2nd rink began in May 2024. Working in concert with the architect, general contractors, and facilities team, Visual Sound equipped the rinks with experiential sound systems and a digital scoreboard designed to enhance the spectator experience and on-ice play.
Sound System
Visual Sound was charged with deinstalling the existing sound system and reinstalling a new and improved sound system for the Flyers’ and Phantoms’ practice rinks and adjoining commentator booths.
Utilizing our proven expertise in AV for large venues we installed an integrated system, including commentator microphones, DSP, system controls, and amplifiers powering a ceiling-mounted cluster of loudspeakers above center ice. This bi-directional speaker cluster from Community, a Biamp brand, is used for speech reinforcement, commentator playback, and auxiliary audio feeds from Bluetooth or program audio. Perfect for ice rink applications, Biamp’s Community speakers feature excellent musicality, intelligibility, low distortion, and weather resistance in a compact form.
Digital Scoreboard
Rounding out the rink’s AV system, Visual Sound installed a new and versatile video wall, from Watchfire. The display acts a scoreboard during play and digital signage or presentation/live video display for community events, including movie nights at the rink! Known for their scoreboard displays for indoor athletic complexes, the 8’ x 14’ Watchfire S-Series LED was specified for its glare-free properties in indoor lighting conditions, viewing distance, durability, and ease of installation benefits. Powered by an Ignite Sports laptop and management software, staff can easily add game scores, animations, and video that add to practice or gameday excitement.
The Results:
Finishing in time for the new practice season, the Flyers began training camp at the newly renovated complex in a noticeably different atmosphere. While the AV renovations directly benefit the team, the new audio visual experience is geared primarily for community supported events and the faithful Flyers fans. Giving team enthusiasts an even greater incentive to cross the bridge from Philadelphia, catch a glimpse of the players, learn about the venue’s programs, and experience the team and facility in a whole new way.
Featured Products:
Brand / Description / Model Number
Absen / 12' H x 22' W x 25' Diagonal, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, 2.5mm Pixel pitch, 800 nits, 4500:1 contrast Direct View LED (DVLED) / NX 2.5
Biamp / Fixed I/O DSP with 12 analog inputs, 8 analog outputs, 8 channels configurable USB audio, and 32 x 32 channels of Dante / Tesira FORTÉ DAN AI
Biamp / Networked, touch-enabled AV control pad with rotary knob / Apprimo TEC-X 1000 White
Biamp / 6.5-inch pendant loudspeaker / Desono DP6-B Black
Biamp / 8-inch, high output, coaxial, in-ceiling loudspeaker with HF compression driver / Desono DX-IC8-W
BrightSign / Digital Signage Controller / XT1144
Community / Amplified Loudspeaker Controller with 4 Channels x 400W with DSP and supports Dante / ALC-404D
Community / Full-range, 3-way, 8-inch, 90°x60° loudspeaker / R.35-3896 Gray
Community / Full-range, two-way, 12-inch, high output, 60°x60° loudspeaker / R.5-66MAX Gray
Crestron / Control System / CP4N 4-Series™
RDL / Wall-Mounted Bi-Directional Line-Level and Bluetooth® Audio Dante Interface / DD-BTN44
Watchfire SMD / 8.25’ H x 14.75’ x17’ Diagonal 1.8:1 aspect ratio), 3.9mm Pixel pitch, 800 nits, Direct View LED (DVLED) Scoreboard / S3.9
All brands are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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