The River Cats stadium is renovated with Martin Audio

Sutter Health Park's technology upgrade has included a sound system based on CDD and SX subwoofer components. Martin Audio as well as in amplification controlled by Research line.

Located in West Sacramento (California), he Sutter Health Park is the headquarters of River Cats baseball team and the A's. The infrastructure of this stadium, with capacity for 14.000 spectators, has undergone a major modernization in order to optimize the fan experience and technology during matches. Included in this update is a strategically optimized sound system based on premium components. subwoofer Martin Audio CDD y SX, as well as amplification controlled by Linea Research processes, sister brand of Focusrite.

The River Cats recognized that their system of 25 years urgently needed improvements. Sacramento Production Services (SACPS), local Martin Audio partner with a long history of facility service, was hired to manage the project for a third party, before assuming the role of systems integrator, as the completion period shortened.

“The objective was to put the current system into operation after having completely emptied the control room. During the process, they wondered: What can we do to update the system? “They wanted a top-notch experience in a minor league stadium on a minor league budget.”, comment Keith Wackford, sales and production manager.

Wackford and his partner and project manager, Anthony Brown, They carried out an inspection of the place to determine the imperfections, apart from worn out PA components. Budget and time constraints did not allow for replacement of the main speakers.

“But with the incorporation of the new Linea Research amplification (LR-44C10M-Dante), It's like they bought new speakers. Otherwise, it was about finding the best value for money. We knew that the system had always lacked subwoofers and, if we were going to install them, We also needed to make sure that the fill and output boxes- “were up to the task”.

As a long-time partner of Martin Audio, contacted Will Harris and Jim Sage of Martin Audio USA, who recommended the SX115 for its high-quality outdoor speaker. “field speakers, of 25 years, installed on light poles, They were in very bad condition”, Wackford recognizes, “and although it was difficult to access them, We knew we had to change them and replace them with some CDD15W-WR, “weather resistant”.

Regarding the implementation of the CDD, Wackford comments how “the CDD15 gave us a little more bass and full range in the field.”, since the bowl's sound system doesn't reach there. We also like its intelligibility. At low volume, They have very good intelligibility in the far range, In addition, its amplitude at the near point is impressive.”.

Distributed around the pavilion, subwoofers are mounted on beams at the bottom of VIP suites, while they added 30 Altavoces CDD10W-WR pavilion filler along with subwoofers. After considering it, They opted for one for each seating section, that surrounds the entire enclosure.

“We are impressed with the CDD10 for its range and intelligibility, and the way it attaches to the tweeter to take it a little further. One of the reasons we chose the CDD10 over the CDD8 is its fork, and we wanted something that would allow us to pan and tilt easily”.

In addition to amplifiers and speakers, SACPS updated mixing console, as well as the main system processor and touch screen interfaces to Symetrix, “since it allowed us to use Linea Research's intelligent modules, that bring telemetry data from the amplifier directly to the user's touch screen, giving you information about the status and signs of the nine LR-44CC amplifiers. The system is powered by Dante and an analog failover from the console to Symetrix and the nine LR-44C amplifiers in the facilities”, afirma Keith Wackford.

Better known as 'Raley Field', the site is located right next to downtown Sacramento, with a whole neighborhood growing around it. “We had an exorbitant speed limit of, believe, 85 dB A-weighted a 4,5 meters from the source. Therefore, trying a linear arrangement from the garden or with overhead subwoofers would not work. We had to keep everything inside the stadium, as there are many new apartments and high-rise buildings under construction. It is essential that everything is distributed as close as possible to the listening area”.

The system includes DJs on the concourse, that take advantage of the new audio inputs, and there are plans for future live shows. The system also includes the main public address system and live pre-recorded safety messages.

Anthony Brown was the project manager; Brian Webber handled programming and on-site networking, while, due to tight deadline, Alive Media was hired for the installation, wiring and labor on site.