Riedel MediorNet And Artist Intercom Integrated At Scotiabank Arena

Riedel Communications has announced that Scotiabank Arena has implemented Riedel MediorNet decentralised routing as part of the venue's reimagination, with the help of system integrator Matrix Video Communications Corp.

(MVCC). MediorNet provides much-needed flexibility and reduces setup time when production teams switch from hockey mode to basketball mode in the arena, or one of hundreds of other events throughout the year. Similarly, the arena’s new Riedel intercom ecosystem, consisting of a Riedel Artist intercom system, Riedel Bolero Wireless Beltpacks, and Riedel SmartPanels, greatly simplifies communications.

Scotiabank Arena was built for NHL and NBA games, but it also hosts an average of 100 concerts and hundreds of other events annually. Regarded as one of the top arenas in North America, the venue is similar to a broadcast facility in that it has a central equipment and control room, and the production team uses broadcast methodologies. But instead of having a fixed studio, it can have many "studios" anywhere in the building. As such, the workflows, sources, and destinations are constantly changing. The arena’s operating team wanted to be able to place the router close to the action.

The design team had already been considering Artist and Bolero due to their reputation as best-in-class solutions, making them a perfect fit for a facility of this caliber. During discussions about the routing system, Dave Caulwell from Riedel introduced the MicroN UHD system, likening it to a "core router... but exploded." This concept quickly struck a chord, as it meant the system wasn’t confined to a single location. Instead, wherever a Riedel UHD box was positioned, the sources and destinations could be accessed from that point.

Selecting the right technology for Scotiabank Arena’s needs was a collaborative effort between the venue, Riedel, and systems integration company MVCC. After testing a variety of SDI and IP systems, Scotiabank Arena chose MediorNet MicroN UHD TDM routers to replace its 12-year-old routing system, which required extra cards, frames, or throwdown equipment and time-consuming configuration to ship sources to destinations or vice versa. MediorNet’s distributed nature makes it possible to put a router wherever it is needed. Also, because the venue remained open during the retrofit, the addition of 19 MediorNet MicroN UHDs would provide maximum flexibility with minimal effort and no disruptions. Systems integrator MVCC played a large role in bringing this innovative system to Canada. With expert commissioning, thorough end-user training, and the router’s advanced engineering, MVCC and Riedel delivered a system that was fully operational from day one, without surprises.

The design team took the idea of "a router … exploded" to heart, prompting them to rethink traditional setups and create areas within their facility where routers would not normally be placed, such as in closets, under the stands, and within their truck interconnect group. This was possible because only a few dozen sources or destinations were needed in each location. By doing this, they were able to plug additional MicroN UHD nodes directly into the main MediorNet TDM system, making them available throughout the facility.

With MediorNet and the SmartPanels, it is easy to switch between basketball and hockey setups. Whenever the need arises to reconfigure the venue, all router settings, multiviewer settings, and truck inputs can be reset with just one button click.

Besides the MediorNet MicroN UHD system, a Riedel Artist intercom system and Riedel Bolero wireless intercom were also installed in the arena, both of which provide clear communications while allowing frequent reconfiguration to accommodate ever-changing use cases. The Bolero wireless system offers exceptional quality and eliminates any background noise, providing clean, solid sound throughout the venue, as well as in ad-hoc areas where standalone operations are required.

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