Challenge

The selected PA would provide sound reinforcement for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the DJ who greeted guests with energy and verve as early as 6 a.m. each day of the Ryder Cup. The stage had limited rigging capabilities for flown subwoofers, and a broadcast booth stage left also required flexible rigging of any side hangs there. The PA would have to offer exemplary coverage and intelligibility to the thousands of guests converging in the immense area reserved for fans between the 1st tee box and 18th green.

Solution

Clair Global deployed a Cohesion PA that featured fourteen CO12 on the main hangs, hung from cantilevers far upstage, and an additional dozen CO12 on the stage right side hang. The stage left side hang was replaced with two field carts of four CO12 each to provide coverage while accommodating the broadcast booth in that space. On either side of the stage, three CP218 II+ in cardioid configuration provided ample low end support. CF14 provided fill for the fans standing close to the stage, and CM14 monitors offered foldback to those on stage for the video and playback elements.

Result

Fans were dispersed in a vast area nearly 270° around the ceremony stage with upwards of 500 feet of distance between the stage and the grandstands. “The only way to do this was with a true, touring rock and roll PA,” said Jim Dorroh, Technical Director. The CO12 arrays provided clear, full-range audio, and the subwoofers offered consistent SPL for Ryder Cup content. The PA performed well outdoors and in challenging environments including high winds and inclement weather over several of the days of the week-long competition.

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