Sony Professional and Hampshire Cricket team up to transform the Rose Bowl Stadium

Basingstoke, 22nd April 2010 - The Rose Bowl, home of Hampshire Cricket, today announced a technology association with Sony Professional that could make it the most technologically advanced cricket stadium in Europe. As part of The Rose Bowl’s £48 million redevelopment to set new standards for high-quality spectator entertainment, Sony Professional has agreed to deliver a state-of-the-art, HD audio-visual solution that will optimise the entertainment experience throughout the entire venue. This will include two new spectator stands, the extensive conference, banqueting and exhibition spaces, as well as the proposed 175-bedroom hotel, spa and conferencing facility. Sony Professional will manage the entire project, which should be completed with the opening of the new hotel, scheduled for late 2011.

"..we are developing new and innovative ways to entertain, inspire and inform our fans..."Glenn Delve, Managing Director, Rose Bowl Plc

The Rose Bowl stadium in Hampshire

 

The Rose Bowl will be the latest High Definition (HD) capable stadium in Europe after Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates Stadium, and other recent stadium solutions, all delivered and developed by Sony Professional. By embracing HD, Hampshire will be providing an advanced audio-visual experience for up to 25,000 visitors, for match days or up to 35,000 for concert events and will further its commitment to providing the highest quality viewing experience for millions of sports fans around the world.

As part of this groundbreaking technology association, Sony Professional is working closely with The Rose Bowl to deliver an extensive range of products and solutions that will take supporters closer to the action and create an immersive, informative entertainment experience for its visitors. This is the first phase in the creation of a full HDTV production facility, which will enable The Rose Bowl to generate live content for the network of Sony digital signage screens and large outdoor screens before, during and after the game. This will include:

• Digital Signage: 150 HD screens will be sited in the general concourse, Club Level areas and executive boxes. The Rose Bowl’s Commercial and Operations teams can utilize Sony’s HD software to bring high quality tailored messages to targeted audiences, allowing The Rose Bowl to control and manage every aspect of its screen-based communications network
• Live content production facility and HD production gallery, which can feed content to the large screen displays, the general concourse, Club Level areas and executive box screens
• For the general concourse, Club Level areas and executive box screens, HD content can be streamed to each digital signage display over the stadium network infrastructure.
• The Hotel is also planned to be equipped with hotel HDTV complete with a dedicated channel enabled to screen matches and concerts held at The Rose Bowl in real-time
• Latest HD CCTV technology will provide surveillance across the venue and visitor areas

The Rose Bowl stadium as seen from above

 

Glenn Delve, Managing Director at Rose Bowl Plc explained why the agreement will help Hampshire to bring a new entertainment experience to its fans: “Our vision for The Rose Bowl was for it to become the first ‘Model’ Test Match ground and an entertainment venue that has the potential to truly revolutionise the way supporters engage with the game. With Sony Professional we are developing new and innovative ways to entertain, inspire and inform our fans and visitors, setting new standards for customer experience throughout the venue.”

Jonathan White, Director B2B, Sony Professional, commented: “This association puts Hampshire firmly at the cutting-edge of innovation within the entertainment sector and Sony Professional is excited to be working with the club to make The Rose Bowl one of the most technologically advanced stadiums in Europe. By making a considerable investment in HD, Hampshire is taking a lead role in the audiovisual revolution and will be able to bring highly tailored messages, exceptional quality footage and a new level of entertainment to its many fans.”