Movistar Arena

Context

The Team

A New Era of Sound for Movistar Arena

Located in O’Higgins Park in Santiago, Chile, Movistar Arena is a multi-purpose venue and one of the largest and busiest arenas in South America. Originally constructed in 1956, the structure was left unfinished for 50 years before it was completed and opened to the public in 2006. In 2008, Movistar Chile acquired the venue’s naming rights and added 5,000 seats, increasing the capacity to 16,500. Movistar Arena has since become a major destination for top artists, selling over 1.4 million tickets in 2024 alone, making it the fourth-busiest arena in the world in terms of ticket sales.

The Challenge

Movistar Arena’s dome shape and acoustically reflective surfaces presented unique and significant acoustic challenges. Due to the building’s historic status, government policies prohibit any modifications to the original structure, which limits the options for acoustic treatment. With a high demand for shows, the arena needed a sound system that could overcome these challenges and deliver premium sound experiences for a wide range of events, from concerts to sporting events. Movistar Arena had been renting L-Acoustics systems since 2019, and based on the recommendation of their exclusive audio vendor, Bsound, the arena decided to invest in its own permanent system. The goal was not just a simple loudspeaker upgrade, but to achieve better SPL control while maintaining the integrity of the sound and providing excellent coverage throughout the venue.

The Solution

To address the specific acoustic challenges, a specialized system design was created by L-Acoustics Application Engineer Alex Soto in collaboration with Francisco Jaramillo from local distributor VGL and consultant Salvador Castañeda. Bsound’s audio team then refined the configuration to meet their needs. The final design successfully tackled the difficulty of controlling low-end frequencies by implementing a flown cardioid subwoofer setup. This innovative approach integrated the main and out-fill arrays with subs flown directly behind them at equal distances, allowing for directional control of the low-end and a significant improvement to the overall system response, while working in harmony with the arena’s unique architectural character. The L-Acoustics K2 system was chosen for its versatility, including its Panflex directivity, adjustable rigging, and lightweight design, which allows it to be easily reconfigured for various setups, such as half-arena or 360-degree configurations. Furthermore, the system utilizes a Milan-AVB signal path for its stability and practicality, ensuring the audio signal remains digital and avoids losses over long distances.

The Result

The new L-Acoustics K2 system has been a resounding success since its installation. The first artist to perform on the new rig was Anuel AA, who sold out four shows. Since then, the venue has hosted a wide array of artists, including Lenny Kravitz, Toto, Dream Theater, Tool, and Sting. The system’s performance has earned praise from both visiting artists and audiences alike. The system’s flexibility has also proven invaluable for the multi-purpose venue, which hosts a variety of events, ranging from rock and roll shows to tennis matches and circuses. The use of Milan-AVB networking has been highly reliable, with no need for redundancy in over 100 shows to date.

Project photos