Situated in the picturesque Coachella Valley of Palm Desert, California, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden is a premier destination for tennis enthusiasts. Known for its 29 regulation tennis courts, the facility’s crown jewel is Stadium 1, which boasts a seating capacity of 16,100, making it the second-largest tennis-specific stadium in the world. This venue is the proud host of the annual BNP Paribas Open, a prestigious two-week professional tennis tournament. Under the ownership of Oracle’s founder, Larry Ellison, Indian Wells is committed to continuous improvement, recently completing a significant renovation of Stadium 1. This renovation included a state-of-the-art audio system upgrade featuring cutting-edge products from Bosch brands, RTS, and Electro-Voice. The project was managed by Technicomm Industries, a local firm with a longstanding relationship with Indian Wells.
Steve Burgess, project manager for Technicomm, explains, “The decision to refurbish the main stadium last year aimed to modernize the intercom system. We needed a system that could integrate with our site-wide Dante audio network, and RTS was one of the few brands capable of this.”
After a demonstration arranged by regional RTS representative Jeff Shorsher, Indian Wells and Technicomm determined that the RTS system was the ideal choice. Its integration with the existing Dante matrix system offered significant flexibility, enhancing both internal and external communications. Additionally, it addressed the issue of equipment clutter in the broadcast booths.
Burgess notes, “Over time, the small booths accumulated various communication devices, including radios, cell phones, and computers. By integrating everything into a Dante network, the RTS system met all our needs and significantly reduced the equipment in the booth, much to everyone’s satisfaction.”
The intercom system is built around an RTS ADAM-M digital matrix, utilizing OMNEO IP technology for networking. The facility is equipped with 15 RTS DKP-4016 desktop keypanels and one rack-mount RTS KP-5032 keypanel, each featuring a gooseneck microphone.
Enhanced Capabilities and Flexibility
Burgess highlights the advancements, “The programmability of the RTS intercom system has significantly enhanced our capabilities. We can route multiple Dante audio streams into the system and customize each keypanel to the operator’s needs. We even integrated the audio stream for the Hawk-Eye line judging system, a major advantage for the broadcast team.”
The Hawk-Eye system, essential for tracking ball trajectories and resolving disputed calls, previously required an external mixer for audio input from court effects and umpire microphones.
“With the RTS keypanels on a Dante network, we now use the keypanel speaker as the playback device,” Burgess explains. “We simply drag the source channels to the destination in our Dante controller, and it’s done. It’s straightforward, user-friendly, and sounds excellent. This setup also eliminated a lot of equipment from the broadcast booth, which was another of our goals.”
Public Address System Upgrade
The public address system upgrade was another crucial component of the Indian Wells renovation. When Technicomm discovered that Electro-Voice was part of the Bosch family, they included it in a multi-brand comparison. Dave Brown, Quantum’s EV representative, assisted with product selection and provided evaluation samples.
Burgess recalls, “We conducted a loudspeaker demo with six companies, and the EV products stood out for their sound quality and aesthetics. The EVID ceiling speakers were the clear choice for their superior sound quality.”
Sixty EVID PC 6.2 premium ceiling speakers were installed in premium areas, including Larry Ellison’s private suite, other viewing suites, the champions’ lobby, and the fitness center. For wall-mount indoor/outdoor applications, the EVID 4.2 was selected for its weather-resistant design, attractive styling, and exceptional sound quality.
Challenges and Support
The installation posed significant challenges due to delays in the physical construction of Stadium 1. “We joked about needing more Bosch power tools because we were working up until February 5th, with the tournament starting the next day,” Burgess shares. “We connected and tested everything outside the audio cage before deployment. Jeff Shorsher and Calvin Ogawa from RTS provided invaluable support, programming the system on-site and ensuring seamless integration with the broadcast system. Their support was crucial to the project’s success.”
While the audio and intercom upgrades focused on Stadium 1 and the BNP Paribas Open, the facility is used year-round for various events, including music and arts festivals, major concerts, and high school graduations.
Burgess concludes, “By incorporating RTS intercoms and EV loudspeakers into the existing Dante-based system, Indian Wells now has the flexibility to accommodate any event, with scalability for future expansions. Given the history of enhancements at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, we anticipate ongoing improvements for years to come.”