Royal Antwerp Football Club

Using acoustic simulation software, the Pioneer Pro Audio team was able to measure the intelligibility of the system before a single box was installed. This gave the club’s management team the reassurance that announcements would be heard clearly by every fan in the Bosuilstadion.

The plan was to mostly use double clusters of the 15-inch XY-152 box throughout the stadium. The largest stand, where the most vocal supporters sit, would have the most speakers. And it needed them as it’s not only the biggest area to fi ll, but some parts are also exposed to the elements. “We used six clusters of two 152s, allowing 120-degree dispersion across that whole area per cluster array,” explains Barrand. “That allowed us to really push the levels out to the right areas dedicated to the hard-core fans.”

Due to health and safety laws, only accredited companies can install suspended speakers at a stadium in Belgium. The Pioneer Pro Audio team enlisted the help of local installers Kick, who were able to handle the job and get the work certified. “We lasered all the metalwork and made custom brackets for the clusters to comply with the law,” says Karel Geukens, who oversaw the process. “We also took great care to make sure things like the right types of bolts were used and safety chains were secured properly, and that nothing exceeded rules on maximum weights,” he adds.
And, although the XY Series speakers are moisture resistant as standard, Kick also made a custom weatherproof backing for each box to stop rainwater from entering at the terminal.

Recalling his reaction on hearing the finished system for the first time, RAFC’s Decuyper says: “It was a surprise, not only for myself, but also for the fans. They weren’t expecting such a quality, full sound.” And Van Hove remembers: “The bass was really intense and I could see people dancing in the main stand where all the business clients are. If you see people moving from one leg to another, that’s a good thing.”

But it’s not just the staff and supporters who’ve been impressed by the new system, says Decuyper. “In the past, DJs ignored us when we invited them to play here. Now they’re proud to be here because they know that the system works perfectly and that the fans will hear it loud and clear.”

With the new system in place, everyone in the crowd can hear announcements clearly, even above the loudest fans in the country. Van Hove describes the sound as, “warm, but also crisp and clear. You can hear everything”, but perhaps the biggest compliment comes from Decuyper when he says: “I think the team who created this system have the same goal. They want to deliver quality and that’s something you see in the team and that’s something you hear through the sound.”