Home of the England national rugby union team has just received a state-of-the-art sound system. Clair Global Integration (CGI) was the company chosen to design and install a brand-new bowl sound system installation for the famous stadium. With the upgrades, Twickenham Stadium is entering a new era of concert audio capabilities.

Home of English Rugby

In 1907, the rugby officials recognised that having their own stadium could bring significant economic benefits. The union has bought up land in the borough of Twickenham where cabbage was previously grown, and in 1908 later the first stands were already standing. By 1920, the facility could held 20,000 spectators. The venue has undergone seven major upgrades in its history.

The result today is a facility that seats 82,000 spectators in three-tier covered stands. This made Twickenham the second largest sports venue in England and the fourth largest in Europe in 2006. It is unrivalled among rugby stadiums. The stand, modernised in 2006, houses the rugby federation's headquarters and a museum dedicated to the sport. A four-star hotel has also appeared. The rugby stadium continued its modernisation in 2018 with the upgrade of the east stand. The new stand offers match day hospitality as well as six floors of event space.

© Tom Bradnock (cc: by-nc-nd)

From the start, the venue has been rich in history - as well as a whole lot of international matches in various competitions, it is also where the fan culture developed. The song Swing Low, Sweet Chariot began to be sung by fans at this very venue. Since 1988, it has not only become the anthem of English rugby supporters but has also woven itself into the fabric of a unique fan culture. Beyond the spirited atmosphere of the stadium, some fans have found additional ways to engage with their passion for rugby, including through sports betting. Sports betting adds an element of anticipation and strategy to the excitement of watching your favorite sports, allowing you to engage actively with the outcomes and performances of teams and players. Seeking alternatives, fans can explore sports betting not on Gamstop network, which promotes responsible gambling through self-exclusion from UK-based sites.

As well as being used for sport, Twickenham has also hosted a number of major concerts, and now new audio capabilities will further cement the stadium's position as a leading arena for events.

CGI responsible for Twickenham upgrades

Clair Global Integration has been selected to create a future-proof public address installation at the stadium using JBL Professional VLA loudspeakers. Implementing state-of-the-art audio enhancements, the project was led by a highly experienced UK-based team.

Designed by CGI's UK director Eddie Thomas and deputy director Tom Williams, the project was executed by Jake Miller, Steve Watson and John Hardy, who delivered this one-of-a-kind installation with their collective and in-depth knowledge of high-end stadium sound. Starting with the original groundworks designed by Vanguardia's environmental and technology consultants, Buro Happold brands, CGI built on this initial delivery by installing 16 arrays flown from the stadium roof. Each hang comprising of 12 JBL VLA-C2100 cabinets and 3 JBL VLA-C125 sub-bass loudspeakers.

© Patrick Hendriksen

CGI has also installed a diversely routed and fire-resistant fibre network backbone. It provides essential infrastructure and is Sports Ground Safety Authority Green Guide approved, the UK Government-funded guidance on spectator safety at sports grounds. This results in best practices for design, planning, safety, management, and operation.

Twickenham Stadium executive director Mark Lynch said: The end result is exceptional with audio clarity throughout the entire bowl and a huge step forward in the overall fan experience for everyone attending Twickenham Stadium. At Twickenham Stadium we strive to continually improve the fan experience and one area that needed to be addressed was our outdated bowl sound system. The brief was simple: create a consistent, high quality audio experience for every fan in every seat, ensuring that the system meets the requirements for all major sports and music events in our iconic 82,000-capacity venue.