L-Acoustics brings clear, confident sound to Cheltenham Racecourse

This famous equestrian venue in the United Kingdom has installed a sound system of L-Acoustics, compatible with BS safety standard 7827, which has improved the clarity and sharpness of messages, both sports and emergency and evacuation.

He Cheltenham racecourse, located in the English county of Gloucestershire and with ability to 75.000 personas, It is a benchmark in obstacle races and one of the most prestigious in the world.. With the aim of improving the experience and safety of visitors, the venue has installed a new professional sound system, based on manufacturer's technology L-Acoustics.

This system, Compliant with BS safety regulations 7827, has been designed and installed by Audiotek, in collaboration with the technical services provider of Racetech, to improve the voice intelligibility, with precise coverage and reliable performance both for sports commentary, advertisements and background music as well as for emergency and evacuation messages, replacing old public address components.

After three years of development, Jockey Club, owner and operator of Cheltenham Racecourse, as well as fourteen equestrian venues in the United Kingdom, selected Audiotek after a bidding process, managed by audio consultant Stuart Strachan, RaceTech manager, who specified strict performance criteria for the new system based on the British standard BS 7827.

“Cheltenham is one of the jewels in the crown of the Jockey Club, and it was essential that the new system lived up to the tradition and prestige of the venue, while meeting modern performance and compliance standards - explains Chris Kmiec, Audiotek project manager-. The main goal was clarity: ensure that every word of the live broadcast of the races “will be heard accurately”.

Besides, as Strachan adds, “The Cheltenham crowd is one of the loudest in the racing world.”, his 'roar' at the beginning of the festival is famous, so it was vital that we select a system that harmonized with, and not that he fought against the atmosphere of the enthusiastic crowd”.

This technological renovation responded to the venue's compliance with the BS standard 7827, the British code of practice for the design and operation of emergency sound systems in sports venues and large public spaces, which ensures that voice messages are intelligible in all areas and defines the sound pressure requirements.

Los architectural and environmental challenges of the location added greater complexity to the project. The main tribune of Cheltenham, built in the decade of 1970, presents exposed facades, balconies and variable crowd density, which required precise control of the coverage and uniformity of the sound pressure level.

The waterproofing It has also been a crucial factor for its installation, since the system had to operate safely and constantly outdoors, something that L-Acoustics equipment offered with its outdoor certification.

“The objective was not only to comply with the regulations, but to improve the viewer's experience - Kmiec points out -. Horse racing narration is continuous and dynamic; Each word should stand out from the crowd without sounding strident or tiring.. We needed a solution that offered power, precision and clarity in equal parts, and we already have it”.