Scope of Work: Design, Procurement, Construction Administration.
Spartan Stadium: LED Display Systems, Scoring, Integrated Digital and Static Signage, Control Room, Audio System.
Breslin Center: LED Display Systems, Scoring, Integrated Digital and Static Signage, Audio System.
Tom Izzo Basketball Hall of History: Experiential Concept Design, LED Display Systems, Integrated Digital and Static Signage, Audio System.
Munn Ice Arena: LED Display Systems, Scoring, Integrated Digital and Static Signage, Audio System.
Skandalaris Football Center: LED Display Systems, Scoring, Integrated Digital and Static Signage.
Football Gateway Hall of Champions: LED Display Systems, AV System Design and Engineering, Audio System.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
HIGH-DEFINITION LED DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND CONTROL ROOM UPGRADES
Spartan Stadium’s LED displays are currently being refreshed with a redesigned back-of-board structure and updated cladding. Originally designed by AJP in 2012, the South end features a primary display with scoring, stats, and fixed-digit game and play clocks. AJP also designed two auxiliary displays in the North end, which include fixed-digit game and play clocks and integrated speaker enclosures. A signature AJP innovation—the first “Monster Ribbon Board Wall Display”—spans the North end zone. Measuring 10 feet tall and 500 feet wide, it remains a premium location for sponsor visibility.
AJP also supported MSU with control room design and engineering, including equipment selection, conceptual signal flow diagrams, and user workflow assessments.
CUTTING-EDGE DISTRIBUTED AUDIO SYSTEM
In 2022, Michigan State University’s Spartan Stadium underwent major audio upgrades. Designed by AJP, the distributed audio system delivers comprehensive coverage throughout the bowl seating and concourse areas. The system includes Fulcrum Acoustic AHS steerable arrays, US221 subwoofers, and AH65 coaxial horn loudspeakers, powered by amplifiers from Powersoft and QSC. Signal processing is managed via QSC Q-SYS Core 110F and Core 8 Flex DSPs, with integrated touch panels for system control and monitoring. The system’s head-end is networked via Dante, enabling seamless, low-latency communication between devices.
WPS served as the integrator for the project, replacing the entire audio cabling infrastructure with new fiber optic lines and installing an ancillary analog audio system. This secondary system integrates with the existing fire alarm network to support emergency egress announcements. In such events, the primary audio system is designed to mute automatically, allowing the emergency system to take over immediately.
OTHER MSU PROJECTS
Learn more about AJP technology projects at MSU’s [Breslin Center].
Learn more about the design and development of the [Tom Izzo Basketball Hall of History].
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTAN STADIUM
Nomimated for 2023 Mondo Stadia AwardThe technology of the Fulcrum Acoustic AHS is unique. Its design allows it to be installed in confined spaces, provide a long throw, and provide even coverage over a large area. This created an unmatched fan experience, which is the goal of any audio system investment. Both the AJP consultants and WPS integrators are in agreement:
Jack Covert, Senior Design Engineer for Anthony James Partners, stated that the new audio system at Michigan State’s Spartan Stadium is “one of the best-sounding systems in all of college football.”
Keith Neubert, Executive Director of WPS, was in full agreement: “The system clarity, even at the highest outputs, is currently unmatched and we’ve been able to eliminate any hint of feedback from the input sources. Our team and partners have delivered a first-class audio experience that fans will enjoy for many years.
“The demands of athletic departments to increase attendance and maintain high levels of fan engagement are greater than ever. The expectations for excellent audio and video lead the charge in enticing fans to return to in-person events on the tail of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michigan State has made significant investments in recent years to bolster the fan experience through audio-video technology and Spartan Stadium is clearly on the forefront of this evolution.”
Washington Professional Systems (WPS), a national audiovisual technology integrator, was enlisted to complete a series of large-scale audio system enhancements at Michigan State University’s venue. The audio system, designed by Anthony James Partners, provides coverage for the bowl seating and concourse areas of the stadium and includes a series of Fulcrum Acoustic AHS steerable arrays.
The AHS series is targeted at applications where very high output and precise pattern control are required. The AHS’ configurable vertical pattern allows dispersion to be tailored to a venue’s needs. Its modularity allows it to scale as needed to tackle very long-throw applications, such as those encountered in stadium end-zone/scoreboard deployments. Additionally, its compact size allows the AHS to be integrated into congested scoreboard structures.
The AHS440 (45° horizontal beamwidth) utilises four HF horns, each paired with a coaxial compression driver. The AHS460 (60° horizontal beamwidth) uses three HF horns. Both models incorporate four high-power 10-inch woofers loaded by Oculus phase plugs. The Compression Head extends the LF horn length, allowing for LF extension to 60 Hz in a modest 28-inch depth. Frontal dimensions are a compact 36-inches wide by 31-inches tall.
Fulcrum Acoustic’s TQ processing combined with beam-forming DSP algorithms configure AHS vertical dispersion to match a venue’s specific geometries and throw distances. Multiple HF horns combine coherently to provide the output necessary to combat HF air loss, which can be substantial in stadium-scale applications.
“The ability to shape the coverage of the system and match the seating areas of the stadium resulted in a remarkably consistent coverage,” says Rich Frembes, Senior Technologist at Fulcrum Acoustic. Jack Covert, Senior Design Engineer for AJP, stated that the new audio system at MSU’s Spartan Stadium is “one of the best-sounding systems in all of college football.”
Keith Neubert, Executive Director of WPS, was in full agreement: “The system clarity, even at the highest outputs, is currently unmatched and we’ve been able to eliminate any hint of feedback from the input sources. Our team and partners have delivered a first-class audio experience that fans will enjoy for many years.”
The main difficulties the project encountered included limited install space, long-throw, and a large coverage area.
Rich Frembes, Senior Technologist at Fulcrum Acoustic, explained the challenges: “A lot of speakers had to go into two existing scoreboards that had very limited space to work with. The scoreboard is divided up into four or five levels inside, and we only had approximately two-and-a-half metres in height to work with, so we had to pack a lot of horsepower into that limited height profile.
“It’s 750ft from the south scoreboards, where the AHS loudspeakers are installed, to the far north end zone seats, so a long throw was needed. Plus, we had to match the seating profile of the stadium, too. The east/west clusters also had to cover from 10ft above field level to 113ft, which is the top of upper deck.”
The AHS series was the perfect match for Spartan Stadium, as it’s specifically targeted at applications where very high output and precise pattern control are required. The AHS’ configurable vertical pattern allows dispersion to be tailored to a venue’s needs. Its modularity allows it to scale as needed to tackle very long-throw applications, such as those encountered in stadium end-zone/scoreboard deployments. Additionally, its compact size allows the AHS to be integrated into congested scoreboard structures.
“The ability to shape the coverage of the system and match the seating areas of the stadium resulted in a remarkably consistent coverage,” Rich added. “One of the things we would do for the demonstration is to start at the far end zone and just have people walk all the way up to listen to some music – and you just wouldn’t perceive a change in level like you’d expect.”
A SPARTY PARTY: WPS, AJP AMP UP THE CROWD AT MICHIGAN STATE
A sound system comprised of technologies from Fulcrum Acoustic, Powersoft, and QSC enhances the gameday experience.Spartan Stadium, home to the Michigan State Spartans, was constructed in 1923 with a seating capacity of just 14,000. Since its opening, the stadium nicknamed ‘The Woodshed’, has undergone significant upgrades, with an enhanced playing surface, updated video scoreboards, stadium-wide lighting, and increasing the total capacity to 75,000.The stadium has been revamped once more, with the audio system being the focus as part of a $4.1 million capital improvement plan by the university to adapt to changing code requirements and maintain a first-rate experience for fans. Washington Professional Systems (WPS) was enlisted to complete a series of large-scale audio system enhancements at the Michigan State venue.
WPS first demolished the aging audio system, and then engineered, programmed, and integrated a new, distributed audio system. The audio system, designed by Jack Covert, senior design engineer for Anthony James Partners, and his team, provides coverage for the bowl seating and concourse areas of the stadium. It includes a series of Fulcrum Acoustic AHS steerable arrays, US221 subwoofers, and AH65 coaxial horn loudspeakers powered by amplifiers from Powersoft and QSC. Signal processing is handled by QSC Q-SYS Core 110F and Core 8 Flex DSPs with touch panel integration for system control and monitoring. The “head end” system is connected via a Dante network and allows for interoperability between equipment with near zero latency.
“The existing system had reached the end of its anticipated service life and the venue was looking for some new audio technology,” explained Rich Frembes, senior technologist at Fulcrum Acoustic.
“Anthony James Partners made visits to the Fulcrum factory to discuss the new stadium steerable system,” Frembes continued. “From there, they had enough confidence in the experience and creative forces and could see what our capabilities were. We were the only ones with the product that can do exactly what we were saying it could do.
“A lot of speakers had to go into two existing scoreboards that had very limited space to work with. The scoreboard is divided up into four or five levels inside, and we only had approximately two-and-a-half meters in height to work with, so we had to pack a lot of horsepower into that limited height profile.
“It’s 750 feet from the south scoreboards, where the AHS loudspeakers are installed, to the far north end zone seats, so a long throw was needed. Plus, we had to match the seating profile of the stadium, too. The east/west clusters also had to cover from 10 feet above field level to 113 feet, which is the top of upper deck.”
The AHS series was the perfect match for Spartan Stadium, as it’s specifically targeted at applications where very high output and precise pattern control are required. The AHS configurable vertical pattern allows dispersion to be tailored to a venue’s needs. Its modularity allows it to scale as needed to tackle very long-throw applications, such as those encountered in stadium end-zone/scoreboard deployments. Additionally, its compact size allows the AHS to be integrated into congested scoreboard structures.
The AHS440 (45-degree horizontal beamwidth) utilizes four high- frequency horns, each paired with a coaxial compression driver. The AHS460 (60-degree horizontal beamwidth) uses three high-frequency horns. Both models incorporate four high-power 10-inch woofers loaded by Oculus phase plugs. The Compression Head extends the low frequency horn length, allowing for low frequency extension to 60 Hz in a modest 28-inches of depth. Frontal dimensions are a compact 36x 31 inches tall.
Fulcrum Acoustic’s TQ processing combined with beam-forming DSP algorithms configure AHS vertical dispersion to match a venue’s specific geometries and throw distances. Multiple HF horns combine coherently to provide the output necessary to combat HF air loss, which can be substantial in stadium-scale applications.
“The ability to shape the coverage of the system and match the seating areas of the stadium resulted in a remarkably consistent coverage,” Frembes added. “One of the things we would do for the demonstration is to start at the far end zone and just have people walk all the way up to listen to some music—and you just wouldn’t perceive a change in level like you’d expect.” Covert stated that the new audio system at Michigan State’s Spartan Stadium is “one of the best sounding systems in all of college football.”
“The system clarity, even at the highest outputs, is currently unmatched and we’ve been able to eliminate any hint of feedback from the input sources,” agreed Keith Neubert, executive director of WPS. “Our team and partners have delivered a first-class audio experience that fans will enjoy for many years.
“The demands of athletic departments to increase attendance and maintain high levels of fan engagement are greater than ever. The expectations for excellent audio and video lead the charge in enticing fans to return to in-person events on the tail of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Michigan State has made significant investments in recent years to bolster the fan experience through audio-video technology and Spartan Stadium is clearly on the forefront of this evolution.”
WPS also replaced the entire audio cabling with all-new fiber optic cabling infrastructure and installed an ancillary analog audio system that interfaces with the existing fire alarm system for egress announcements during emergencies. The main audio system is designed to mute entirely during an emergency and immediately switch to the ancillary system for emergency broadcasts.
WPS tested, tuned, and commissioned the newly integrated Fulcrum Acoustic system ahead of Michigan State’s first home game of 2022 at Spartan Stadium against the Western Michigan University Broncos on September 2nd, which the Spartans won 35-13.
