Challenge

With total viewership for WWE Raw and WWE Smackdown, the world’s most-renowned and highest-rated wrestling programs tracking in the millions, and global total attendance at two million spectators, WWE requires excellent coverage and consistency in its audio system across a tour that rarely takes weeks off. The preferred PA should feature the versatility and production efficiency for rigging in a variety of venues across the country, as well as the coverage to reach seats in stadiums and arenas.

Solution

In open air venues, a square superstructure with a roof covers the ring, from which hang eight arrays of sixteen Cohesion CO10 alongside twenty-four Cohesion CP218 II+ subs flown six-high in each corner. The CO10 enclosures cover from 50–75’ to the edges of the stadium, and fill arrays of six-high CO8 ensure coverage for the area closest to the ring. The second option uses the same CO10 array configuration but from a circle truss over the ring and flown 80–100’ high. In this configuration, they wrap the CO10 arrays hard at the bottom and eliminate the fill arrays. On the circular truss, the mains are split by eight arrays of subs. Clair Global supplies the audio for these configurations.

Result

Coherence in vocals is significant for each show, as the system helps to emulate the excitement of bombastic speeches and music alike. The subwoofers bring the energy of each theatrical entrance, as well as carrying the physicality provided by the “thump mics” under the ring that pick up the sounds of the mat. Most significantly, the arrays provide ample coverage, even while flown above other production elements (often as high as 80–100’ in arenas), and do not obstruct sightlines. The PA is flexible enough to warrant multiple configurations that best fit the variety of venues that WWE visits across its global tour.