The much-anticipated Tech Port Center + Arena, being hailed as the “most technologically advanced concert and eSports facility in the US,” is finally open for guests to experience!  Managed by entertainment giant ASM Global, the $70 million, 180,000-square-foot, multipurpose technology arena and interior gaming event space will host esports competitions, conventions, conferences and concerts, including the sold-out May 2^nd grand opening concert featuring The Smashing Pumpkins. Industry-leading Owner’s Representative and AV Consultant, Anthony James Partners (AJP), was behind the $5.2-million-dollar AV Technology scope, with services including Design, Financial Modeling, Bid Management and Negotiations, Construction Administration and Commissioning.

“A first-class AV technology system is critical to the guest experience at Tech Port, and the AJP team has done a tremendous job supporting its design, which will provide guests with booming sights and sounds the second they enter the arena,” said Tech Port Arena General Manager Eric Blockie. “San Antonio is a city on the forefront of technology and with AJP’s guidance, creativity and design concept, Tech Port is primed to become, not only the area’s top high-tech venue, but one of the best in the world.”

AJP AV TECHNOLOGY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Exterior LED Displays: High-impact exterior LED Displays for messaging, wayfinding, advertising, branding, and sponsorships. All LED content controlled by a unified management platform

• Exterior Corner LED Display is 10mm @ 11.7’ x 20’ with aspect ratio of 360 x 608
• Box Office LED Display is 4mm @ 7.5’ x 13.9’ with aspect ratio of 576 x 1088
• Event Center Ribbon LED Displays (2) 10mm @ 3.5’ x 111.3’ with aspect ratio of 96 x 3392
• Walk-up LED Video Displays (2) double sided 3mm @ 9.9’ x 5’ with aspect ratio of 1032 x 516

Arena LED Display System: Flexible rigging layout for the LED displays that are configured to be removable and repositionable

• Three separate high-definition LED displays on chain hoists that can be configured into one large display or angled sideways to face different sections of audience
• Arena Main LED screen is 4mm @ 19.3’ x 34.2’ with aspect ratio 1536 x 2688
• Arena secondary screens (2) are 4mm @ 13.2’x 2625.2’ each with aspect ratio 1024 x 2048

LAN Gaming Center

• 60 LAN Gaming stations – each with 1G links to access switches with 40G links to core
• 12 Arena Gaming stations with 10G fiber links to access switch and 40G links to core
• IPTV system for signage, FB menus, CATV channels, and Broadcast production feeds
• 74 Monitors in Venue under the control via UCView CMS Signage Software

Production Studio with a Combined Technical Operations Center / Control Room: Technology allows for live broadcasts from anywhere in the building, routed through the control room. A glass wall was integrated as part of the design to show off the space to visitors during production for a more immersive view experience.

• Full broadcast production facility using traditional and NDI signal flow
• Full broadcast cabling package throughout
• Full DMX control of Exhibit Hall entertainment lighting
• Floor Monitors, Cameras, Audio for Broadcast/Production
• Broadcast truck parking with TVRP and truck power / Connections to transmission companies (The Switch, CenturyLink, AT&T, etc.) provided at the TV Truck Dock

Network / Wi-Fi

• 5G Cellular DAS, high-density Wi-Fi. Broadcast network with NDI transport
• Physical network is 40G redundant links from core to edge
• Dark single mode fiber throughout facility for portable gaming show rig deployment
• Dark Cat6 cabling between IDF and gaming areas
• IDF and MDF space and power allocations for portable gaming show rig deployment
• High density Wi-Fi throughout with perimeter coverage

Structured Cabling 

• Single mode fiber and Category 6A Cabling plant
• Additional dark single mode fiber throughout facility for portable gaming show rig deployment
• Additional dark Cat6A cabling between IDFs and gaming areas for portable gaming show rig deployment

Audio Systems

• Rider-friendly arena sound system
• High-power JBL Cinema 7.1 surround sound loudspeaker system within the arena
• Distributed audio throughout the facility covering Arena Lobbies and Concessions, Food Hall, Gaming Center, SAMSAT, Entrances and Entrance Lobbies

Entertainment Lighting Systems

• Full Entertainment Lighting Systems: House Lighting, Production Lighting, Spotlights