Samsung Serves LED at Ken Rosewall Arena
Samsung LED displays bring fans closer to the action at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena.
30 October 2023
Ken Rosewall Arena (KRA), located within Sydney Olympic Park, stands as a testament to innovation and adaptability. Originally built for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this multipurpose venue recently underwent a $50m upgrade to enhance its standing as a world-class sports and entertainment stadium, and home for international tennis and netball in Sydney.
The upgrade included a unique, custom-built fabric roof over the entire arena, allowing play to continue regardless of the weather conditions. Tennis NSW wanted the newly closed-in arena to maintain the sense of being an outdoor venue, which is achieved through translucent PTFE fabric that allows controlled natural light into the indoor venue. The four-metre perimeter doors open to reveal the skyline – visible from centre court and the stands, reinforcing the sense of being in an open-roofed venue.
To complete the upgrade and ultimately transform the venue, KRA was in need of incredible picture quality and durability – as such, Samsung was engaged as its display partner. The brand was set with the challenge of making the KRA suitable for year-round use, as well as creating an immersive atmosphere for fans that would elevate their experience. Samsung delivered a cutting-edge LED display solution to transform the site into an iconic venue for international sporting moments.
BRINGING FANS CLOSER
In making the transformation to a covered outdoor arena, the challenge was to find a display solution that could withstand a variety of lighting conditions, endure outdoor elements, and deliver vibrant imagery to captivate large crowds. Samsung’s LED display innovations were the answer.
Prior to the upgrade, KRA had a more traditional stationary display solution located only in the corners of the stadium. It was not adaptable to different events and lacked the ability to create an immersive experience for fans. Samsung’s LED display technology revolutionised the arena by providing a dynamic, flexible, and cost-effective solution.
SAMSUNG LED… ACE
Samsung delivered a display solution that ticked all the boxes: durable, capable of withstanding water, dust, and outdoor elements, and reconfigurable. This adaptability made it a game-changer for KRA.
The multi-purpose custom display can serve as a video-replay screen for professional sporting matches, and can be packed down and set up outside the arena to create a fan zone. The LED solution can also be reconfigured into a traditional gondola, or a split screen across both parts of the arena.
The project was completed in December 2019, just in time for the inaugural ATP Cup (now United Cup) in January 2020. The LED displays played a crucial role in enhancing fan engagement through features like Hawkeye replay, bringing spectators right into the heart of the action which is not possible without state-of-the-art AV solutions.
The technology has also driven significant returns on investment for KRA. It has increased fan engagement, enhanced visual experiences, and improved the KRA’s growing reputation as a world-class venue for a variety of events.
FUTURE SUCCESS
Samsung’s LED display solutions have elevated the Ken Rosewall Arena’s status as a premier sporting and entertainment venue. Alongside tennis, the venue is the home of the NSW Swifts and Giants Netball teams in the national Super Netball competition, as well as successfully hosting Pulse Alive and similar performing arts, cultural and music events.
The project has also shown the path to success for other venues, which may prove particularly important given the growing number of international sporting events taking place in Australia’s over the coming years, from the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
With growing awareness and uptake of LED display technology in sports, fans now come to expect immersive, unforgettable experiences that bring the thrill of live sports to life. Resulting in opportunities for display technologies to not only elevate major sporting moments, but to also play a crucial role in shaping the future of sports entertainment.
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