CODA Audio Supports the Beautiful Game in China

Headliner discovers how production specialist and integrator Tongbo recently designed and installed a complete CODA Audio system at the FIFA-approved international football stadium in Qingdao, China…

Part of the Park Sports Complex in the Chengyang district of the Chinese city of Qingdao, the Qingchun Football Stadium was designed by the China Southwest Architecture Design and Research Institute, and built by China Construction Eighth Engineering Bureau. With seating for 55,000 spectators, the stadium constitutes a major development for international football in China. With ambitions to stage the Asian Cup and World Cup tournaments in the future, the Stadium needed to conform to the stringent standards of the game’s worldwide governing body, FIFA, as set out in its Stadium Technical Recommendations and Requirements.

The fully-roofed, two-tier construction provides for every requirement of players, officials, media representatives, VIPs and fans to international standards, while a multifunctional training hall, swimming pool, two further grass pitches and commercial spaces complement the development of the site.

Leading production specialist and integrator Tongbo was engaged to supply and install a comprehensive audio system for the Stadium, and chose a CODA Audio system to meet the demanding brief. The primary objective of the system is to ensure exceptional power and clarity, in order to ensure that everyone present inside the stadium can hear announcements at all times, often against the background of loud crowd noise. Headroom in such circumstances becomes a vital element of the PA system, as does the ability to precisely control its area of coverage to avoid the sound reflections created by many walls and glass surfaces.

The system at Qingdao deployed two of CODA Audio’s principal ranges to cater for the seated areas and playing-surface areas, respectively. CODA’s HOPS12i high-output threeway point-source loudspeaker was used for the main seating areas. 20 groups of three HOPS12i (140° vertical x 90° horizontal) were mounted under the catwalk to give even coverage of the entire area, while ViRAY compact line array loudspeakers took care of the playing area. Four groups of eight ViRAY (two groups on each of the east and west sides) comfortably cover the pitch. A further six CODA Audio G512-PRO 12” compact two-way versatile point source speakers can be deployed for the rostrum area or anywhere else in the stadium where mobile returns are required.

“In the first event of this year, the sound clarity and coverage were excellent, providing a natural balance,” said senior engineer Lang Jun. “The audio maintained high clarity whether at low sound pressure or high sound pressure, receiving praise from the owner and various parties.”

“We’re very proud to see CODA Audio providing the solution for such a high profile stadium in China,” added CODA Audio director of global sales and marketing, David Webster. “This is a major project in a venue that will stage leading international matches and serves to demonstrate how the audio quality, flexibility and adaptability of CODA systems can meet and exceed the very highest standards demanded.

“The Qingchun Football Stadium is also another fine example of Tongbo’s excellent work - their team has now been involved in the delivery of a wide variety of large scale prestigious installations and live performances using CODA, all of which have securely cemented our high reputation amongst their clients.”