(Editor’s Note: The following article, supplied by EAW, covers three projects with EAW loudspeakers playing a prominent role. However, the article is intended to highlight design approaches rather than focus on a single manufacturer, and it indeed does this. And, wherever possible, we have supplied as much information about other contributors, and links to these resources as well. – Keith Clark)

The recent completion of new audio systems at three major-league ballparks present a nice contrast in different design and installation approaches. Two of the facilities are long-standing – Shea Stadium in New York City and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles – while the third, PNC Park in Pittsburgh, just opened for the 2001 season.

Distributed System At PNC Park

According to Jack McCallum of Wrightson Johnson Haddon & Williams (WJHW), Dallas, full bandwidth sound systems for stadiums were much more unique 10 years ago than today.“High quality home and car systems have raised the expectation of sound quality level in all entertainment venues, and I think this has forced stadiums and arenas to move toward full-bandwidth systems,”says McCallum.

The trend is evident at recently completed PNC Park, a new 38,217-capacity downtown home of Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates. McCallum, who managed the sound system development and overall project, explains the scope: “The owners were looking for a full bandwidth system with punch and excellent coverage. In their words, they wanted it to ‘rock n’ roll’. We decided that the best solution would be a distributed system, to facilitate the levels and coverage they were requesting.”

“The ground-up facility allowed us to work with the architect and owner to come up with a custom loudspeaker that would provide what they were asking for, while maintaining a mandate of open sight lines,” he adds.