International. As the Official Sound Technology Provider for the Ascot Racecourse, Bose Professional technology was part of the exciting Royal Ascot, the ultimate horse racing event held annually at this legendary racecourse near London.
The audio solution, whose installation project was announced and began with a first stage in May 2019, is truly customized and consists of almost a thousand surface- and ceiling-mount speakers distributed throughout the racecourse, the promenade and other public areas, which include 250 private boxes, more than in any other venue in Europe.
Founded with a tradition of over 300 years old, the races were first held in 1711 at the request of Queen Anne in the Berkshire countryside, approximately 9 km from Windsor Castle. With more than 600,000 visitors each year during the usual 26 days of racing, Ascot Racecourse reinvented what's known as the world-class racing day experience, and leveraged the innovative audio technology and expertise of Bose Professional.
"Bose's innovation has allowed us to take people on a unique journey," said Craig Staddon, Head of Sales at Ascot. "Since we started working with Bose, our guests are constantly telling us that audio has added another dimension to racing. It just makes the experience at the racecourse more intense."
The Ascot Racecourse distinguished Bose Professional as the first manufacturer to receive the title of Official Technology Supplier, in this case in the Sound category, which speaks to the trust that the racecourse authorities placed in the company for the audio system renewal project. In turn, Bose Professional worked with the experienced AV integration company SSE Audio.
The complete audio system consists of a series of ArenaMatch AM10, AM20 and AM40 speakers as the basis of the system, since they are ideal for outdoor use and facilitate the acoustic design of the solution to direct the sound towards the public areas, without contaminating the track, distracting or even scaring the horses. It also integrates the Panaray MA12EX modular column speakers, ArenaMatch Utility AMU108 and AMU208, and a variety of FreeSpace speakers throughout the enclosure. The solution is based on a network of PowerMatch PM8500N power amplifiers using Dante cards.
The architecture of the venue, the audio needs according to the variety of spaces and the requirement to respect the line of sight of the spectators sitting in the stands was a good test for the Bose speaker range and the technical capability of SSE Audio.
"Ascot has very specific needs. The most important moment of the experience of a race at Ascot is concentrated in just 11 or 12 minutes; however, the audience remains on the premises of the racecourse for six hours or more," shares George Vaughan, Ascot's Chief Technology Officer. "For us, audio is a fundamental element that goes beyond the simple demands of comments. It's about everything from the voice of the official announcer informing the public about the day's programme, describing the details of the race and offering data on upcoming events to the distribution of the music that keeps our guests entertained throughout their stay at the Ascot Racecourse. And, with Bose, his experience is ideal."
The Royal Ascot 2021 took place from June 15 to 19 of this year and constituted the return of the public to this equestrian event, after being held behind closed doors in its 2020 edition.
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