In the heart of Shanghai, a new venue is redefining the equestrian experience.

The Shanghai International Equestrian Center was inaugurated as the host venue for the prestigious Longines Global Equestrian Championship in Shanghai, bringing world-class competition to an increasingly enthusiastic audience in China.

To meet international standards, the venue required not only top-notch facilities, but also an advanced sound system capable of delivering clear and immersive sound throughout its expansive space.

Unlike traditional sports stadiums, where volume often takes precedence over everything, equestrian venues demand a delicate balance between clarity and subtlety. The sound system had to broadcast commentary, music, and event announcements clearly while ensuring that the natural sounds of the sport – the rhythmic gallop of the horses, the riders' cues, and the energy of the audience – remained an integral part of the experience.The Shanghai International Equestrian Center identified three key objectives for the new system:

• Uniform coverage both on the competition arena and in the stands.
• High intelligibility for both speech and music in an outdoor environment.
• Seamless integration with modern digital infrastructure for precise control and adjustment.

To meet these challenges, the Shanghai International Equestrian Center partnered with Bose Professional to develop an audio system tailored to the unique needs of equestrian events.

Bose Professional's solution

Bose Professional engineers designed a system centered around the ArenaMatch speakers, chosen for their outdoor durability with an IP55 rating and their ability to deliver clear and uniform coverage.

The system features 54 ArenaMatch modules — including the AM40, AM20, and AM10 — arranged in 12 groups to ensure consistent sound distribution in both the audience area and the competition zone. The system is powered by 16 PowerMatch PM8500N amplifiers, with two backup units to guarantee redundancy. The ControlSpace EX-1280C processors manage the digital signal processing, while the Dante network enables efficient signal distribution between the control room and the amplifier racks.A venue of this scale required a careful planning to optimize the placement of the speakers and avoid acoustic issues. Bose Professional engineers used 3D Modeler® software to simulate how the sound would behave in the space. They further refined the design, allowing engineers to preview the system's performance before installation. This approach ensured that each speaker was positioned to achieve maximum clarity and natural sound reproduction.

With the new Bose Professional system installed, the Shanghai International Equestrian Center delivered a truly immersive audio experience for the recent Longines Global Equestrian Championship. Spectators praised the clarity and consistency of the sound, which enhanced the competition without overshadowing its natural elements. The system's ability to provide uniform coverage and precise speech intelligibility is undoubtedly a positive sign for future events at the venue.

By partnering with Bose Professional, the Shanghai International Equestrian Center successfully implemented a reliable and well-integrated sound system that meets both the technical demands of international competitions and the expectations of modern audiences.