New York Red Bulls Collaboration will Upgrade Technology and Enhance Fan Experience

On Aug 4, 2017

Sony Electronics and the New York Red Bulls have teamed to provide new A/V technology installed at Red Bull Arena, designed to expand the production quality of play-by-play coverage and the overall fan experience.

KMH led the integration, which speeds the capture and distribution of audio and video streams before feeding them into state-of-the-art broadcast components.

The newly integrated production workflow gives the Red Bulls the ability to share and distribute file-based content for baseband playout more efficiently, translating into an enhanced, more realistic fan experience inside the arena.

“The technology upgrades we have made with Sony Electronics and KMH are part of the ongoing commitment to our fans to provide the best possible experience at Red Bull Arena,” said Joe Stetson, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, New York Red Bulls. “Feedback from our supporters has been extremely positive thus far and we look forward to many more enhancements as the result of this collaboration.”

KMH and Sony worked with the Red Bulls to devise an upgrade plan with a mandate to improve production quality while staying within budget and finishing on time.  KMH installed a new production switcher and joined with Sony leading systems and product training to enable Red Bulls technicians to be “up and running” in time for the start of the season in March 2017.

The upgraded control room incorporates a variety of new technology from Sony, including HSC-100 studio and wireless cameras, the PWS-4500 production server, and MVS switchers.

In addition:

• A Sony BRC camera installed high above the field’s halfway line provides a unique birds-eye perspective.
• Sony HSC-100 camcorders are used as “live” cameras” for home games, recording crowd shots and other footage for in-game playback, as well as pre-game ceremonies, halftime events and a mix of pre-produced material.
• The Red Bulls are also safeguarding their new content creation capabilities using Sony’s Optical Disc Archive technology.

“The integration of complex components from several different manufacturers is seldom accomplished with plug-and-play ease,” said Kevin Henneman, president of KMH Audio-Video Integration. “Our strong collaboration with Sony and the other vendors, along with the quality of their products, are key to the successful completion of complex projects like this.”

Deon LeCointe, Senior Manager for IP and Sports Solutions, Sony Electronics, added: “The Red Bulls are attracting a new type of sports fan, and our production technology – from content acquisition to playout to storage – is a perfect match for enhancing this fan experience.”

Besides Sony, other key components and manufacturers on the Red Bulls project include:

• Fujinon lenses
• Studio Network Solutions EVO SAN
• Chryron Lyric Graphics system
• RTS Zeus III Intercom
• Avocent KVM System
• New Technical Furniture Forecast Consoles

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