The ČPP Aréna, located in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, was inaugurated in 1957 and has a capacity of 6,890 people. It is the home venue of Mountfield HK, one of the leading teams in the Czech ice hockey league, in a country where this sport is among the most popular.
Throughout its history, the arena has hosted top-level sporting events, as well as major concerts by national artists and trade fairs and exhibitions, making it a benchmark venue for sports and events in the region.
The installation and commissioning of the new sound system were carried out by Dance Floor AVL Solutions, a company specialized in professional audiovisual solutions with extensive experience in large-scale projects.
Challenge – Reflective ice and strong reverberation
The ČPP Aréna presented acoustic challenges typical of a large-capacity sports venue, with an ice rink that acts as a massive reflective surface and steeply tiered stands that generate multiple reflections and areas with difficult coverage.
During games, crowd noise levels are particularly high. Therefore, a system was required that could ensure good intelligibility of both music and announcements even at moments of maximum intensity. In addition, the arena hosts non-sporting events that require uniform coverage and consistent sound pressure levels across all areas, avoiding dead spots and ensuring that every spectator receives the same level of clarity and energy. All of this was combined with the need for a solution that would not interfere with sightlines or the daily operation of the venue—an essential requirement in a facility with constant use.
Solution – The HQ-212.95, key in sports environments
The installation was carried out by Dance Floor AVL Solutions, a company with extensive experience in sound projects for sports venues. At the ČPP Aréna, 24 HQ-212.95 systems were deployed, all installed on the ceiling to keep audience sightlines clear and fully free up the rink and walkways. The layout consisted of five clusters of two units on each of the side stands, one additional unit at each end, and two more systems positioned in the central ceiling area aimed toward the rink. This configuration made it possible to provide uniform coverage for both the stands and the areas close to the ice, ensuring that all attendees received a consistent sonic experience.
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The HQ-212.95 proved to be particularly well suited to this project thanks to its coaxial configuration and the design of its acoustic enclosure, which allow it to deliver a very solid low-frequency response.
This made it possible to dispense with subwoofers, thus avoiding the addition of unnecessary energy in an environment that is already naturally reverberant due to the geometry of the arena and the ice rink. To complete the installation, the technical team carried out a tuning and alignment process that ensured tonal coherence and uniformity across all areas, even during moments of maximum ambient noise at games.
The ČPP Aréna is a complex space, with an ice rink that reflects sound in all directions and fans who create a very intense atmosphere. We needed a system that could deliver clarity even when the venue is at its loudest. With the new HQ-212.95 systems, we have achieved much greater intelligibility in all areas. Coverage is more uniform, and both games and other events now benefit from a more balanced and precise sound, concludes Libor Klemenc, CEO of Dance Floor AVL Solutions.
