Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, one of the Middle East’s most high-profile multi-purpose entertainment venues, has just completed a major sound system upgrade using the latest loudspeaker system technologies from d&b audiotechnik. Including the full-bandwidth directivity of the GSL, KSL, XSL and SL-SUB products from the SL-Series, plus the latest Compact Cardioid Line Array (CCL), the finished system delivers clean and consistent sound across the entire 17,000-capacity venue.
“At Coca-Cola Arena, we aim for five-star quality in every detail of the audience and artist experience. Choosing d&b audiotechnik was about more than technology – it was about partnering with a brand that our team and our technical experts truly trust,” said Mark Jan Kar, General Manager of the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai and SVP of Entertainment, Content, and Programming for Legends Global (MENA).
The d&b team was led by Brad Maiden, General Manager of the Middle East office in Dubai and included Steve Jones, Head of Education & Application Support (EMEA). They worked closely with the Arena’s sound crew and representatives from Coca-Cola Arena and Legends Global to refine the system design, then brought in one of the world’s most respected live sound engineers, Marc Carolan (Muse), to fine-tune the installation.
Carolan commented, ”I’m very familiar with GSL and KSL systems in arenas, but being part of a permanent installation and having the time to really listen and refine things – without my production manager shouting at me – has been great. Steve and the whole team have done a fantastic job. The system is world-class.”
Of the new CCL, Jones says, “Despite its compact size, it still delivers cardioid control down to the lowest frequencies, which is remarkable. It slots in perfectly with the larger SL-Series cabinets, meaning we can provide effective cardioid solutions for any space, maintaining intelligibility and clarity from front to back.”
The new solution, aimed at giving the venue’s audiences the best possible sound experience while being rider-friendly, is designed with multiple levels of coverage that can be activated or deactivated as needed by the multipurpose venue, enabling flexible control for any type of event. The main system was finessed using d&b’s ArrayProcessing software. On the control side, a complete Milan network is implemented.
“Consistent coverage is critical. I’ve been a long-time d&b user, and I know I can rely on their systems to deliver coverage as promised. Tonality is equally important. What I love about GSL in particular is that it isn’t just a technical tool – it feels like a musical instrument. It has a very natural, musical quality that allows the art to really shine,” said Carolan.
