LYON, France – February 2024 – The newly inaugurated LDLC Arena in Lyon, boasting a 16,000 capacity, is a prominent addition to France’s event venues as the largest indoor arena outside Paris. In a city already known for its vibrant fusion of history, culture, and innovation, this new, Populous-designed venue symbolises the ambitious objective of the local government to offer a versatile space that can host large crowds for electrifying sports events and major concerts. LDLC Arena will serve as home to Lyon-Villeurbanne’s ASVEL basketball team while accommodating large-scale tournaments, exhibitions, and national and international tours. The venue opened in November with a concert from Lyon-born celebrity and comedian Florence Foresti, and it has already hosted concerts from the likes of Arctic Monkeys.
Given the stated mission of offering diverse events under one spectacular roof, the LDLC team turned to Marseille-based integration company Snef to design and install a professional concert-grade audio system capable of reinforcing any imaginable content. Snef has a solid history of successful collaboration on similar projects, including the professional sound system installed in Marseille’s multi-purpose Stade Vélodrome. At LDLC Arena, Snef was tasked with providing flexible yet uniform coverage, throughout the audience for any sport or entertainment. In addition, the sound system needed to be compact and adaptable to different arena layouts as the form and capacity of the space changed depending on the event.
“This project was a real adventure for Lyon,” explains Rodolphe Roellinger, National Technical Director at Snef. “They’ve never had a space capable of hosting such a wide range of events, each requiring an equally versatile and high-quality sound system.”
Snef designed a professional sound system based on L-Acoustics A Series and K Series, chosen for their ability to provide wide coverage without obstructing spectator views during matches, and their capacity to adapt to both intimate performances and international shows. The engineering team used Soundvision to map out coverage, choosing a combination of A Series and K Series for flexibility.
In the U-shaped venue, Snef designed a system of two hangs of 12 K3 with two central clusters of KS28 subwoofers at the top of the ‘U,’ which serve as a touring system for concerts. Six hangs of six A15i are placed three per side, with two further hangs of two A15i, front and back, which serve for smaller events or can be used as a delay for concerts. Six LA7.16i and two LA12X amplified controllers drive the whole system.
“We’re proud to have a superior sound system provided by L-Acoustics for this unique new venue,” says Roellinger. “With its acoustical precision and power, every event leaves an indelible imprint on the audience. The response has been resoundingly positive, with attendees lauding the astounding quality and crystal-clear clarity of the sound. Thanks to L-Acoustics, we’ve set a new standard for audio experiences in Lyon.”
About L-Acoustics
L-Acoustics is renowned for developing innovative sound systems and technologies that elevate the listening experience. Founded in France in 1984, L-Acoustics currently employs 800 team members worldwide, with headquarters in Paris, Los Angeles, London, and Singapore. Recognized for pioneering the line source array, L-Acoustics continues to shape the future of sound with solutions such as the L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology, which offers 3D multi-dimensional audio. L-Acoustics offers exceptional concert-grade sound systems and immersive sound spaces for residential and architectural environments. In recognition of introducing these ground-breaking creative technologies, L-Acoustics was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2020 and 2023.
L-Acoustics sound systems can be heard around the globe in venues like the Hollywood Bowl and the Philharmonie de Paris, at the world’s top-grossing festivals such as Coachella and Tomorrowland, international special events like the World Expo 2020 and World Cup 2022, and on tour with world-class artists such as Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Arctic Monkeys, and Jacky Cheung, and in the Las Vegas residencies of Katy Perry, Adele and more.
