Avicii Arena is one of Europe’s most iconic venues—an architectural marvel and the largest spherical building on the continent. Towering 85 meters high and spanning 110 meters in diameter, the steel, concrete, and glass globe encloses more than 600,000 cubic meters of space, with seating for up to 14,000 for sports. As part of a comprehensive renovation, the arena now features a landmark Meyer Sound Constellation acoustic system.
The system was designed by Meyer Sound’s John Pellowe, project director for Constellation, and Ana Lorente, senior acoustic engineer, in collaboration with Anders Jørgensen and the installation team at Danish AV integrator and consultancy firm Stouenborg, based on the original concept from acoustician Adam Foxwell and Sebastian Holm from Efterklang.
“This is not a typical Constellation system,” Jørgensen says. “We call it an audience enhancement system. It’s designed to create the feeling of being embraced by the crowd—so spectators can actually hear each other, even across such a vast space.” For sporting events, Constellation’s realtime processing ensures that crowd noise, chants, and music are evenly redistributed throughout the arena to elevate the emotional connection.
The retrofits, based on an array of 12 Meyer Sound ULTRA-X40 and 72 ULTRA X42 compact point source loudspeakers and 72 shotgun microphones, are all precisely angled and suspended from a custom-built acoustic ceiling. “The ceiling is shaped like a Pringle potato chip—bent in two directions,” says Jørgensen. “That introduced challenges for how we could mount, aim, and space the speakers and microphones.” The new acoustic ceiling, designed by Efterklang, dramatically improves the reverberation time of the venue and is a key in allowing the Constellation system to work as designed. Everything is driven by Meyer Sound Galileo GALAXY network platforms and the NADIA integrated digital audio platform.
The entire system is segmented into 12 distinct zones, enabling precise spatial control. “We’re redistributing the excitement,” says Pellowe. “If the north end of the arena starts a chant or cheer, the system can carry that energy across the entire venue. It’s about creating a more unified and visceral experience.” Spacemap Go functionality is built into the system, allowing access to immersive effects without adding complexity.
“We wanted to create a space that delivers more than just sound—it brings people together,” says Mats Viker, CEO of Stockholm Globe Arena Fastigheter AB, the venue’s owner. “Whether fans are cheering a goal or on the edge of their seats in overtime, Constellation makes every moment feel shared.”
