FANTEK - FPR PreRig Truss
FANTEK, a leader in cutting-edge solutions for the entertainment and event production industries, proudly introduces the FPR PreRig Truss, a groundbreaking system designed to optimize efficiency, safety, and versatility for professionals in live events and touring productions.
Read more in ISSUE 40 below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mondo_stadia_40_-_feb_mar_2025/52
Manchester United Announce Plans for 100,000-Seat Stadium
Manchester United has pledged its commitment to the UK Government’s growth agenda by unveiling plans for a state-of-the-art 100,000-seater stadium at the heart of the Old Trafford regeneration project.
This ambitious development, alongside the wider regeneration efforts, is expected to contribute an estimated £7.3 billion annually to the UK economy. The project aims to deliver substantial social and economic benefits, including the creation of approximately 92,000 jobs, 17,000 new homes, and an additional 1.8 million visitors each year.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “Today marks the beginning of an extraordinary journey towards creating the world’s greatest football stadium, set within a revitalised Old Trafford.
“Our current stadium has been an iconic part of our history for 115 years, but it has fallen behind the leading venues in global sport. By constructing a new stadium adjacent to the existing site, we can preserve the legacy of Old Trafford while offering a world-class fan experience just steps away from our historic home.
“Beyond football, this project represents an opportunity to drive economic and social regeneration in the area. The Government has prioritised infrastructure investment, particularly in the north of England, and we are proud to align with that vision through this transformative initiative.”
Manchester United’s Chief Executive, Omar Berrada, reinforced the club’s long-term ambitions: “Our goal is to have the best football team playing in the best stadium in the world. We appreciate the feasibility work undertaken by the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force and have carefully considered the insights from thousands of fans and local residents.
“After thorough evaluation, we believe a new stadium is the right path forward for both Manchester United and the surrounding community. We are committed to ongoing consultation to ensure fans and local residents have a voice as we progress towards final decisions.”
Renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners has been appointed to design the stadium district, unveiling conceptual images and scaled models that outline the masterplan for the next phases of feasibility studies, consultation, and planning.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager in English football history, emphasized the importance of the project: “Manchester United should always strive for excellence both on and off the pitch, and our stadium should reflect that ambition. While Old Trafford holds countless cherished memories, we must embrace this opportunity to build a new home that honors our past while shaping our future.”
Lord Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners, highlighted the project’s visionary approach: “This is one of the most exciting projects in the world today, with immense regional and national significance. The design prioritises the fan experience, bringing them closer to the pitch while cultivating an electrifying atmosphere.
“The stadium is encapsulated by a vast canopy that harnesses energy and rainwater, sheltering a vibrant public plaza twice the size of Trafalgar Square. It is the centrepiece of a sustainable district designed for walkability, public transport accessibility, and environmental harmony—a dynamic hub that will shape the future of Manchester and beyond.”
Manchester United’s vision for Old Trafford signals a bold new era, combining world-class sporting excellence with transformative urban regeneration.
Full Time: George R Vaughan - Is Voice the New Player In Hospitality?
Having worked in the venue and hospitality industry for over two decades, we talked to George R Vaughan, current CEO of technology consultancy, The Digital Line, about his views on the opportunities afforded by true A.I. driven tech and how in many ways, voice platforms offer a credible solution in a world of rising costs and staff shortages.
Read more below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst31_digitallr/64
Rafael de la-Hoz & Gensler Chosen by Real Betis for New Benito Villamarín Stadium
The project presented by Rafael de la-Hoz and Gensler has won the international competition in architecture called by Real Betis to design the new Benito Villamarín Stadium, one the key points in the Strategic Plan 2022-26.
The board of administrators decided in the final vote for the joint candidature of the Spanish architect and the studio from the United States of America. They will develop the project design that is crucial in the growth of the Club and that will transform the house of the Béticos in one of the referential football venues at national level and a new icon of the city of Seville.
The new complex will multiply the revenue of the institution through a new stadium concept, open, modern, and that will allow to increase the commercial activity of the Club throughout the whole year thanks to different quality spaces. The design will widen the entertainment and hospitality offer on match days, before, during and after the games, and also on days without sporting events. The Stadium will become a big leisure and events center, with an auditorium of 450 seats, and also an important touristic site in the city.
The Stadium, in spite of the conceptual change, will preserve the essence and spirit of Real Betis and its fans, providing a special place for history by improving and expanding the Museum and the Tour; and boosting the atmosphere and fan experience by increasing the number of services and comfort.
The new Benito Villamarín Stadium will have capacity for 60,379 spectators. The current Preferencia Stand (West Stand) will be demolished and rebuilt, with capacity for 15,754 seats (11,533 regular seats, 4,023 premium seats and 180 seats in the Presidential Box). The other three stands will not be demolished, but they will undergo substantial changes that will have an impact on the comfort and fan experience. The project also includes the installation of a roof over the four stands and a new façade that will radically change the current look with an architectural proposal that will surround the Stadium with the thirteen stripes of the badge.
The Stadium will have 4,436 premium tickets, 7.3% of the total capacity. 30% of them will be VIP model (private hospitality) and 70% Club model (shared hospitality). Also, the design has flexibility to increase these numbers in case of a higher demand. These areas will be available both on match days and to host corporate events.
The restaurant offer will be another of the pillars of the fan experience enhancement, both on match days and on every other week day. There will a wide variety of food selling points in the venue, and a 360 corridor on the lower stand where different food concepts will be, such as the 'Green Market'.
Among the experiences included in the design, we can find the rooftop and the sky lounge, a spectacular place on top of the West Stand with hospitality options and a great view of the city.
The New Benito Villamarín Stadium will also implement three important points for the city: quality public spaces, with a main square, greenery, pedestrian areas, with leisure options; services and equipment, with new underground parking lots and commercial areas that will increase the activity in the area during the whole year; and, more specifically, it will give the city a new iconic building that will have a positive impact in the image of Seville.
Following the values in sustainability supported by Real Betis through its platform Forever Green, the New Stadium will be one of the first in Europe to have environmental certification with a design focused on energetic optimization. The design will include spots for persons with reduced mobility (PRM) as well, with more than 500 places and spaces specially designed for an enhanced view of the games.
Architect Rafael de la-Hoz explained that this is "a great opportunity" to link "an iconic venue" with the public space of a "legendary city. We had been waiting for a long time to work on an urban stadium and we are going to do it in the best possible place."
"This is not just a stadium transformation project into a vanguardist infrastructure but, also, an urban insertion project in La Palmera and Heliópolis neighborhood. This all makes it especially interesting" De la-Hoz added.
Real Betis president Ángel Haro showed his satisfaction to announce a "historical" project that will be a turning point in the future of the Club and also a referent in national and international football.
"This is the first fundamental step for the Club's future and one of the cornerstones of our strategic plan. Real Betis will have a quality stadium that will make all the Béticos proud, with comfortable facilities and great services. The New Villamarín will be a national and even international reference, with an innovative business model that will allow us to take a big leap forward in revenue, and that will help us to keep growing. And, of course, an added value to the city. The City Hall sees it as a project for the citizens, too. We want to congratulate Rafael de la-Hoz and Gensler for their project, and all the other candidates for the excellence they showed in their works. It has been a tough decision because all the projects were exceptional," he stated.
Once the winning candidate has been chosen, the Club will start working alongside Rafael de la-Hoz and Gensler on the basic project and, later, the execution project to obtain the permits for the works, that are expected to begin next summer.
Butler Esports Park
Butler University is transforming into an epicenter for Esports - the state-of-the art facility connects members of the Esports community and broadcasts games using NewTek’s iconic TriCaster®, 3Play® and PTZ products.
Originally established as a student-led initiative in 2017, Butler University has helped foster its students’ passion for Esports and gaming into an opportunity for players to grow academically, competitively, and professionally. It has since transformed into a flagship location for the sport and one of the most competitive programs in the country with Butler’s varsity Esports teams competing in the BIG EAST Conference, in both Rocket League and League of Legends.
With the facility hosting live events and streams, it was necessary to have strong broadcasting production capabilities. Butler University chose the NewTek TriCaster® TC1 video production platform and NewTek 3Play® 3P1 sports video production solution, and three NewTek NDI®|HX PTZ2 cameras, which enabled the studio to extend its live production capabilities with ease.
Read the full article below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst30_digitallr/32
InCrowd Cast
InCrowd Cast is a game-changing in-stadia LED display management software, currently powering over 130 stadiums and sports venues around the world including Wembley Stadium, Johan Cruyff Arena, Murrayfield, Stamford Bridge, Stadium Australia and Sydney Cricket Ground.
“Installing InCrowd Cast was the best decision I ever made at Chelsea, It’s user friendly, easy to understand and so powerful. It was light years ahead of anything else we had used for our pitch side advertising boards.” - Chris Frazer, Former AV Manager at Chelsea FC.
Alongside standard game time output, Cast has also powered several fan activations for sports and brands around the world, including The Hundred, Indian Premier League, Australian Football League & Kennedy, SA20, and Netball Australia & Origin. Activations include decibel meters, live fan voting, social feeds, live statistics, live betting odds, live video and much more. Mobile technology and fan activations can be integrated with screen control and graphics, engaging viewers and enabling brand partners to become an organic part of the story.
Read the full article below:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst29_digitallr/76
Riedel Bolero S Improves Coach Communications for FSV Mainz 05
Riedel Communications today announced that the 1. FSV Mainz 05 — one of the teams in Germany's top-tier football league, the Bundesliga — is using Riedel's Bolero S wireless intercom system for coach communications. With six Bolero S beltpacks spread across the team's analysts, assistant coach, athletic coach, and physiotherapists, Mainz 05 now enjoys much easier workflows on match day, allowing for improved strategic and tactical preparation, athletic training and warmups, and diagnosis of injuries.
"As an analyst, you not only get a bird's-eye view of the area but also special camera scouting feeds that allow you to see everything on repeat. All this data would be wasted if we couldn't reach the rest of our team to advise the coaches on strategy or to clarify something for the athletic trainer," said Tijan Nije, Video Analysis Specialist for Mainz 05. "Fortunately, Riedel has provided us with more communication capabilities than we thought were possible, whether its during technical setup, throughout the game, or in our post-match wrap-up analysis. We're greatful for their help in ensuring that our team performs at its best in all capacities, both on and off the field."
Prior to Bolero S, Mainz 05 used a third-party system that frequently faced connection and handling issues. These technical challenges became more prominent in stadiums, where communication between analysts in the stands and coaches on the benches would cover extremely long distances. However, since using Bolero S, the team has not faced any issues regarding ease of use and connectivity. In fact, Bolero S' capacity for crisp communication enables analysts to reach coaches quickly about players' standing throughout the course of the game, including where they are having problems and how they can adapt to their opponents' strengths — giving them an edge over their competitors.
Riedel Bolero S also allows Mainz 05's physiotherapists to communicate with each other on a separate channel from the analysts, coaches, and trainer. This allows physiotherapists from inside the player cabin to be informed directly about everything that occurs out on the field, such as if there's an injury on the pitch, so they can respond immediately and with the appropriate gear. Moreover, the coach can tell the athletic trainer that a certain player will be needed in the game in the next few minutes, giving the trainer more than enough time to warm up the player before they go out.
"Everything happening off the field can be just as critical as everything on the field, in which the coaches, analysts, trainers, and physiotherapists are constantly watching and preparing," said Torben Hermann, Sales Manager at Riedel. "With its strong wireless connection, ease of use, and sharp audio quality, Bolero S allows all members of any team to remain in-the-know and respond accordingly. We're honored to work with one of Germany's finest football teams and help maintain its competitive edge in all senses."
Pixellot Launches Show S3 Camera - a New Standard in AI-Automated Sports Production
Pixellot, the leading provider of automated sports video and analytics solutions, unveils the Pixellot Show S3, the next generation AI-automated sports camera to transform the way sports are captured and streamed. With superior image and audio quality, versatile coverage options, and advanced AI capabilities, the Pixellot Show S3 will continue Pixellot’s legacy of setting the standard for automated sports capture, production and delivery.
With over 3 million games produced to date, the S3’s development was based on 8 years of field experience and collaborative customer feedback from every corner of the world. It was specifically designed to address the current challenges of sports organizations looking to livestream games easily and cost-effectively, making it ideal for sports leagues and federations, educational organizations, and broadcasters.
Featuring a 12K three camera array in one compact and lightweight unit, the Pixellot Show S3 captures every detail of the game, providing a vivid, sharp video image for fans, and a high-quality analysis solution for coaches. Its unique, multiple production modes provide different viewing angles for the fans and the coaching staff including a broadcast view, a tactical view for analysis, and a full-pitch panoramic view.
The S3 delivers superior image quality with a 50% boost in resolution. This improves the AI visual tracking algorithms, significantly upgrading ball and player tracking, resulting in a smoother and more refined video output. The camera system can be operated under varying conditions for 19 different sports, including full pitches or small courts, indoors and outdoors, from distance, or close to the pitch.
The size and weight of the camera were reduced significantly, and the installation process was radically simplified. The compact 3.5 Kilo (7.7 lbs.) camera makes it easy to mount even in hard-to-access locations and thanks to a single cable that connects all the components, the installation and setup process is now fast and cost-effective.
"We are thrilled to introduce the Pixellot Show S3 to the market, creating a new standard for sports streaming as part of our end-to-end sports video and data solution," said Alon Werber, CEO of Pixellot. "The S3’s superior image quality and improved AI capabilities enable sports streaming with unparalleled precision and clarity. We also made sure to significantly simplify the system installation process making it easier for sports organizations to scale at a faster and more cost-effective pace."
"The Pixellot Show S3 represents another milestone in automated sports technology," said Gal Oz, Co-Founder and CTO of Pixellot. "Together with our open platform which integrates video, data, and monetization capabilities, the S3 empowers sports organizations and coaches to capture and share games at a whole new level of quality. The S3 provides multiple capturing modes to cater to the needs of the viewers and the coaching staff and runs on Linux OS for advanced security and privacy.”
Citizens Bank Park
Quince Imaging partnered with the Philadelphia Phillies to provide baseball fans with a memorable projection show in an Independence Day celebration like no other.
As the birthplace of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the Fourth of July is Philadelphia’s hometown holiday. Last summer, the city’s beloved Major League Baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies, wanted to put their stamp on the holiday with a celebration as iconic as America’s favorite pastime. Impressed with the reaction received from fans following the dazzling projection show at the Las Vegas Golden Knights’ season-opener against the NHL’s Seattle Kraken in October of 2021 produced by Quince Imaging, Phillies’ Marketing Events & Special Projects Director James Trout contacted Quince in the spring to make its annual fireworks event bigger and better with a jaw-dropping projection experience on the field before the fireworks at Citizens Bank Park.
Read the full story in MONDO | STADIA - ISSUE 29:
https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/mdst29_digitallr/46
NVP Chooses Riedel's Simplylive Production Suite for Serie B Remote Production
Riedel Communications today announced that broadcast production services company NVP has chosen Riedel's Simplylive Production Suite to support remote production for Serie B football matches in Italy. Rather than sending OB trucks and full crews to every stadium for every match, NVP has begun deploying the live multi-camera production platform for selected matches in its "Innovation Hub" production center, leveraging the software-driven suite to increase capacity and productivity, while reducing costs and emissions. The production center was deployed in Cologno Monzese (Milan) and integrated by Video Progetti, Riedel's local partner and integrator.
"Serie B is the perfect project for our Simplylive deployment because it's complex content with wide national coverage," said Ivan Pintabona, CTO at NVP. "While our move to these new workflows will allow us to leverage innovation to reduce emissions and improve the editorial plan of the broadcast product, it also gives us the opportunity to ensure a high level of professionalism on all events. Riedel's Simplylive Production Suite is an amazing and versatile product, and because the new machines are so powerful, we also can manage more services simultaneously."
Through an agreement with Sky Italia, NVP will be the sole provider of HD/UHD television broadcasting services for the entire Serie B Football Championship (Serie BKT) for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, including championship matches and related playoffs/playouts. The company is rolling out the Simplylive Production Suite on a testing basis this season, with plans for more extensive implementation after this first phase. As matches are moved to Simplylive, NVP will have the resources and capabilities they need to produce events that couldn't be previously produced due to personnel, equipment, or scheduling constraints.
The Simplylive Production Suite provides application layers that can be tuned to specific tasks — slow motion replay, video mixing, audio mixing, graphics, web commentary, multiviewing, master recording, streaming, and referee review — or serves an All-In-One production solution that delivers virtually every capability needed to serve a live production. With a single touchscreen interface, users can perform tasks such as live switching of cameras and video sources, cueing and scrubbing slow motion replays, controlling audio, or adding graphics.
The Simplylive configuration for NVP includes two ViBox servers, each of which may act as an All-In-One production control system or as a slow-motion replay system, depending on the needs of the moment. Each system is designed to support two users and multiple simultaneous operations but can be scaled up to accommodate more. Camera and audio feeds will be sent from each pitch over fiber to the NVP innovation hub in Cologno, where the Simplylive system will provide all the necessary protocols and functions for managing remote production. The NVP team will use the Simplylive suite for slow-motion replay and third-party tools to handle other aspects of production.
"At Video Progetti, we help our customers in designing optimized broadcast systems which satisfy all editorial needs," said Carlo Struzzi, CEO, Video Progetti. "In today's rapidly evolving broadcast market, flexible software production tools such as the Simplylive Production Suite are key technologies that allow our customers implement innovative workflows to help them succeed."
"NVP is an Italian leader in broadcast production that has already chosen the top of the line with Riedel intercom systems and our MediorNet audio video, signal distribution, and processing system," said Harry Kapros, Business Director for Live Production at Riedel EMEA. "With our Simplylive Production Suite, NVP has committed to new workflows, deployment types, and business models that enable them to innovate and navigate into the future of live production. It has been great to combine forces with NVP and with our trusted partner and system integrator, Video Progetti, to see this project become a reality. We feel confident there will more innovative projects to come."
Giuseppe Angilello, Riedel's Sales Manager Italy, added: "It feels great to be venturing in the heart of live production with a forward-thinking partner like NVP, who has made a reputation as an early adopter of innovative technologies. It is customers like these that help us push the boundaries of the possible, and we are delighted to be able to showcase our new distributed production workflows in NVP's new scalable and futureproof innovation hub."