- Diversified Systems installed new JBL speakers to the four clusters inside the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.NEWARK, NJ-When the New Jersey Devils moved to their new home at the Prudential Center, the entire media infrastructure had to be designed and built fresh. New technology, working with a variety of contactors, and an extremely aggressive timeline presented Diversified Systems with a wide variety of challenges.
- "The time frame itself was a challenge." recounts Ray Herschell, VP of NJ Operations for Diversified. "It would have been best to have a full year in there." But delays in construction meant the project was condensed, and Diversified had half that time, six months for a project that included every major media system in the arena.
- There was no room for failure. Bon Jovi was scheduled for an October date, which created a "line in the sand" deadline. "You do what you have to do" to meet those kinds of expectations, Herschell said.
- In those six months, Diversified had to design the entire infrastructure – Broadcast cabling, SMATV, Broadcast replay center, AV cabling, PA, and a new audio system for the arena, utilizing new technology from JBL.
- The speaker selection was crucial for the arena. Diversified designed the arena with totally new clusters. "We used all JBL speakers for all the four clusters. They're fitted with large PD700 and PD5000s. There's about 20 speakers on each cluster, different horn sizes and subs. They're roughly 15 feet in height and weigh like six tons a piece. As far as quality, you can't go wrong with JBL," Herschell enthused.
- Flexible control was key as well. Crown Amps were combined with CobraNet to make the complex levels of control simple to manipulate. Peavy's Media Matrix co-ordinated all the signals from the mainframe. "With echo cancellation in such a large venue, it's important every seat in the house gets the right signal." Reflected Herschell. "The program involved is particularly intense in an arena because you have so many different signals and they all have to be distributed perfectly."
- Diversified deployed a new interactive system in the many of the guest suites throughout the Prudential Center. Designed from the ground up by Diversified, this system uses an interactive touch screen, allowing guests to check stats, view replays, look at league information via custom web pages, check the calendar of events, as well as order food, drink and merchandise.
- In short, if it had to do with media, Diversified was involved with design and implementation. There were miles and miles of cabling, and over tens of thousands connections designed and completed, with little time and no room for error.
- And in the end, on that October night, when Bon Jovi stepped out on stage, the facility was ready, a testament to good design, exceptional project management, and the power of technology.
Slap Shot
