Cheltenham Racecourse, the home of jump racing and one of the world’s most prestigious equestrian venues, has upgraded its professional sound system with a new L-Acoustics installation, designed and implemented by Audiotek in collaboration with technical service provider Racetech.
The upgrade replaces parts of the old PA system with a cutting-edge, fully monitored solution that delivers impeccable speech intelligibility for live commentary, background music, race-day announcements, and emergency or evacuation messages—essential for maintaining both excitement and safety for up to 75,000 spectators across the venue.
This three-year project was commissioned by The Jockey Club, which owns and operates Cheltenham Racecourse along with 14 other racecourses across the UK. Audiotek was selected following a competitive tender process managed by audio consultant Stuart Strachan (RaceTech), who set strict performance criteria for the new system based on the British Standard BS 7827.
Cheltenham is one of the jewels in The Jockey Club’s portfolio, and it was important that the new system matched the heritage and prestige of the venue while meeting modern performance and compliance standards. The focus was on clarity—ensuring every word of live commentary is heard precisely, explains Chris Kmiec, Project Manager at Audiotek.
“The crowd at Cheltenham is one of the loudest in racing—the famous Cheltenham Roar at the start of the Festival is legendary—so it was vital to choose a system that would work in harmony with, not against, the atmosphere of the crowd”, adds Strachan.
Meeting BS 7827 standards with L-Acoustics technology
The replacement of Cheltenham’s ageing sound system was driven by the need to comply with BS 7827, the British Standard code of practice for the design and operation of emergency sound systems in stadiums and large public venues. This standard ensures that spoken messages remain intelligible throughout the venue during both normal operation and emergencies, defining specific requirements for speech intelligibility and sound pressure levels.
The previous installation no longer met these modern standards, particularly in maintaining clarity during live race commentary—an essential part of the race-day experience.
The architectural and environmental characteristics of the site added further complexity. Cheltenham’s grandstand, built in the 1970s, features open façades, balconies, and variable crowd densities, requiring precise control of coverage and sound pressure level uniformity. Weather resistance was also crucial, as the system needed to operate safely and consistently in outdoor conditions.
“The goal was not just compliance, but to enhance the spectator experience”, explains Kmiec. “Horse racing commentary is continuous and dynamic; every word has to cut through the crowd without sounding harsh or fatiguing. We needed a solution that delivered power, precision, and clarity in equal measure”.
Design optimisation using Soundvision
To meet these challenges, Audiotek and RaceTech used Soundvision by L-Acoustics as the primary design tool, alongside EASE. Working with L-Acoustics UK application engineers Ross Brett and Kyle Durno, the team carried out multiple design iterations to achieve even coverage and full compliance with the BS 7827 standard.
Predictive modelling allowed Audiotek to simulate sound pressure level (SPL) distribution, speech intelligibility, and mechanical constraints across the betting ring and grandstand façade, while FIR filter optimisation fine-tuned tonal balance between different audience zones.
Soundvision gave us the confidence to predict how speech would project across the betting ring and the grandstand tiers. We were able to test scenarios virtually before installation, verify results on-site, and ensure both acoustic and mechanical precision. It’s an invaluable tool for projects of this scale, says Kmiec.
“The accuracy of the acoustic modelling data was what really made the L-Acoustics proposal stand out during the tender process. The correlation between Soundvision, EASE, and the data I measured on-site during the product demo was exact, giving me confidence as a consultant to recommend the system to my clients at The Jockey Club. When a significant investment is made, it’s essential that the system performs to the highest standards”, adds Strachan.
System architecture: A15i, X8i and LA7.16i
The final design features A15i arrays covering the 40 metres from the front of the grandstand to the running rail, encompassing the main spectator area. They were configured in groups of three or four cabinets, combining Focus and Wide variants. A total of 54 X8i loudspeakers cover the tiered seating and walkways, also serving as front-fill between the main arrays.
Each loudspeaker location was precisely defined in Soundvision and mechanically verified for compatibility with the existing grandstand structure. Custom brackets were engineered to integrate discreetly into the façade, maintaining a low visual profile while ensuring weather protection and long-term stability.
The system is powered by six LA7.16i amplified controllers, chosen for their reliability, power density, and integrated monitoring capabilities. The advanced DSP and network control via Network Manager allow Cheltenham’s technical team to monitor the system remotely, ensuring operational confidence on event days.
“The LA7.16i has all the necessary features for a life safety system: dual network audio and control, analogue backup, speaker line monitoring, fault reporting, and seamless integration with the Q-SYS DSP. It’s clear that the L-Acoustics team has carefully considered the needs of sports venues”, says Strachan.
“Designing to BS 7827 added complexity, but it also played to the strengths of the L-Acoustics ecosystem”, adds Kmiec. “With Soundvision and LA Network Manager, we were able to design, deploy, and monitor with total precision. The final result is discreet, powerful, and perfectly fit for purpose”.
Proven performance and festival-ready
“During the tender process, the L-Acoustics proposal was the one I was most excited to turn on”, says Strachan. That enthusiasm proved justified when the new system debuted successfully during Cheltenham’s October race meeting, known as The Showcase, immediately improving speech clarity and audience engagement across the venue.
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“Feedback has been excellent from both the Cheltenham team and spectators”, continues Strachan. “As sound engineers, we’re usually happy if no one notices we’re there, but in this case, the audience is actively praising the sound quality”.
Looking ahead, the installation prepares the venue for the world-famous Cheltenham Festival, held in March and hosting up to 280,000 racing fans over four days. Beyond the sporting events, the flexible, networked infrastructure also supports live shows, hospitality, and AV integration throughout the venue.
“Cheltenham now benefits from a future-proof sound system that enhances both functionality and guest experience”, says Gemma Steve, Regional Head of Operations at Cheltenham Racecourse.
The Audiotek team delivered the installation with impressive speed and efficiency within a tight timeframe, and the support from L-Acoustics has been fantastic. Kyle and Ross did an excellent job with the system design. Above all, the product sounds incredible. The A15i fills a true market gap as a high-end constant curvature array, delivering outstanding output at a very competitive price, adds Strachan.
Images
- LA_Cheltenham_racecourse_1 – Cheltenham Racecourse has upgraded its professional sound system with a new L-Acoustics installation designed and implemented by Audiotek in collaboration with technical provider Racetech.
- LA_Cheltenham_racecourse_2 – The L-Acoustics sound system is a cutting-edge, fully monitored solution providing impeccable speech intelligibility for live commentary, background music, announcements, and emergency messaging.
- LA_Cheltenham_racecourse_3 – The L-Acoustics sound design ensures every word of live commentary is heard with total precision.
- LA_Cheltenham_racecourse_4 – Fifty-four L-Acoustics X8i loudspeakers cover the grandstand seating and walkways, also serving as front-fill between the main arrays.
- LA_Cheltenham_racecourse_05.jpg – L-Acoustics A15i arrays cover the 40 metres from the front of the grandstand to the running rail, serving the main spectator area.
- LA_Cheltenham_racecourse_6 – Each loudspeaker location was precisely defined using L-Acoustics Soundvision software and mechanically verified for compatibility with the existing grandstand structure.
