Cold temperatures and snow aren't enough to keep Bison fans away from cheering on their team. North Dakota State University's football team, the Bison, attracted a full house for the Harvest Bowl, when they faced Western Illinois.
As tailgating shut down, hardy Bison fans filed into the FARGODOME, a large entertainment venue in Fargo, N.D. At the "Dome," football is the main tenant and you can see why once you're inside.
The stands are packed with a sea of fans who cause a steady hum of cheers and chatter. Most are dressed in bright green and yellow, a show of support for the Bison.
The Challenge: Aging Audio Systems and Performance Limitations
The cheers from the stands can be deafening. Every first down, a loud "Bison" is called on the venue's sound system.
The professional audio system didn't always perform as nicely as it does today. The audio equipment at the time showed its age, causing the technical team at the FARGODOME to suffer dead spots in coverage, frustrating outages, and costly repairs.
Sometimes, those repairs had to be done during the game, while other repairs would have to wait. You can't work on speaker clusters that are hundreds of pounds while they suspend over fans. That's dangerous, to say the least.
The system's shortcomings were simply caused by age – and that meant either funding more repairs or replacing it entirely.
While repairs could extend its life, they add up. In the FARGODOME's case, the manufacturer no longer supported those particular speakers, which meant they needed to seek out third parties to service the audio equipment. That helped for the time being. But it's expensive.
Eventually, the cost to keep the professional sound system performing as it should was outweighed by the benefits of simply replacing it. Running around on game day making repairs adds another layer of stress and anxiety to an already busy day at the Dome.
Why Fan Experience Depends on Reliable AV Systems
If fans can't hear a performer on stage, it's disappointing. They've paid money to be there and want to enjoy the entertainment they've long anticipated. The same goes for football games. If a referee makes a call that's not heard by some of the fans, then those fans are left out of the moment entirely.
For live events of any kind, such as concerts, college football, and special programming, live event audio solutions are not a luxury. They are the backbone of the fan experience. Poor audio means a diminished event, no matter how great the action on the field.
The FORTÉ Solution: Scalable, High-Performance Stadium Audio
For these reasons, the FARGODOME, FORTÉ, and Bose Professional worked together to develop a new stadium AV solution built for the demands of a high-volume, multi-use venue.
"There were many challenges with the old system," said Matt Costello, technical services manager at the FARGODOME. "The audio quality is so much better with this [new] system. No complaints so far, nothing but praise that it sounds better."
FORTÉ's AV integration services were central to this project. From system design and engineering to final installation, FORTÉ managed the full scope of work required to bring the FARGODOME's audio infrastructure into the modern era.
Advanced Audio Technology for Indoor and Outdoor Stadium Environments
FORTÉ and Bose Professional worked together to integrate the audio system, featuring Bose Professional ArenaMatch Loudspeakers that are specifically suited for outdoor venues, with an IP55 weather rating. They're capable of distributing clear, even sound throughout indoor and outdoor venues alike.
The project also showcased FORTÉ's approach to commercial AV design, engineering a system layout that accounts for the unique acoustics, layout, and mixed-use demands of a stadium environment like the FARGODOME.
The fan experience is better because of this new system, Costello said. Clean sound carries throughout the 466,000-square-foot venue, with no dead spots or outages. It works so well, in fact, Costello said they don't need to use all of the speakers depending on the event, which helps save time and energy.
The stadium audio system upgrade has eliminated the reactive, costly repair cycle that burdened the FARGODOME's technical team. Staff can now focus on delivering a great event rather than troubleshooting aging infrastructure mid-game.
Why FORTÉ Leads in Stadium and Outdoor AV Solutions
Projects like the FARGODOME illustrate why venues across the U.S. trust FORTÉ for stadium and large event centers AV solutions. With 50-plus years of industry expertise in AV integration services, and a track record of delivering results in some of the most demanding environments, FORTÉ brings both the technical knowledge and project management capability that large venues require.
Whether the challenge involves outdoor audio systems exposed to the elements or complex indoor acoustics, FORTÉ's commercial AV design process ensures every seat in the house gets the same clear, powerful audio experience.
Explore FORTÉ's Stadium & Outdoor Solutions
Read ourn in-depth case study of the FARGODOME here. If you're interested in learning more about FORTÉ's stadium AV solutions and live event audio solutions , subscribe to our blog below for updates on new posts, case studies and more.
