Oracle Park: A Game-Changing Audio Experience

ORACLE PARK

San Francisco, USA

Oracle Park, home to the San Francisco Giants, has long been considered one of the most iconic and beautiful baseball stadiums in Major League Baseball. Nestled alongside the stunning San Francisco Bay, the stadium offers breathtaking views, unforgettable baseball moments, and now, a newly upgraded audio system that is redefining the fan experience. Thanks to a collaboration between Diversified, Powersoft, and Fulcrum Acoustic, Oracle Park’s audio system is now setting a new standard for stadium sound design and performance.

A Longstanding Partnership for Excellence

The partnership between Diversified, a global leader in technology solutions, and the San Francisco Giants spans over two decades. As Bill Schlough, Chief Information Officer for the Giants, put it: “As we enter our 25th season at Oracle Park, this upgrade truly elevates the complete ballpark experience for our fans.”

Diversified’s involvement with the Giants has been extensive, contributing to various key technological implementations, including the ballpark’s video replay control room and distributed TV network. This strong relationship has culminated in yet another milestone, transforming the audio experience for fans attending games and events at Oracle Park.

When Oracle Park’s original audio system launched in 2000, it was heralded as one of the best in the league. Distributed sound systems were a new concept, and the Giants led the charge with an innovative setup that offered superior clarity. Fast forward to 2024, and the Giants recognized the need for an upgrade to maintain their leadership in providing an exceptional fan experience. The answer? A modern audio system designed to deliver both clear voice announcements and high-fidelity music.

A Collaborative Approach to Modernization

The audio system upgrade was a carefully orchestrated project, involving thorough planning and collaboration between the Giants, Diversified, Powersoft, and Fulcrum Acoustic. Diversified, taking a consultative and analytics-based approach, identified key operational goals and technical challenges. The project required a balance between reusing the existing infrastructure—thus minimizing costs—and deploying state-of-the-art solutions that would deliver enhanced performance.

By leveraging their deep network of industry partners, Diversified utilized Powersoft for the amplification and processing aspects of the audio system. Powersoft’s amplifiers—specifically the X4 and Quattrocanali series—were chosen for their cross-functionality, energy efficiency, reliability, and seamless integration with the stadium’s existing Q-Sys control system.

The Power Behind the Sound: Powersoft

Powersoft amplifiers played a crucial role in the success of the new sound system at Oracle Park. The installation included 36 Powersoft Quattrocanali 4804 DSP+D and 12 Quattrocanali 8804 DSP+D amplifiers, paired with Powersoft’s X4 model for additional power and flexibility. These amplifiers not only provided the necessary power to drive the Fulcrum Acoustic speaker system but also delivered key advantages in terms of efficiency, integration, and control.

One of the standout features of Powersoft’s amplifiers is their Smart Rails Management (SRM) technology, which drastically reduces power consumption and minimizes the need for external cooling systems. This aligns with the Giants’ sustainability goals and results in significant cost savings.

Rick Woida, Powersoft’s Senior Sales Engineer – Large Venues, said: “We pride ourselves in designing and building top-notch Class-D amplification with a strong focus on efficiency and sustainability.”

The amplifiers are equipped with DSP (Digital Signal Processing) and Dante networking capabilities, allowing for seamless integration with the stadium’s Q-Sys control system. The DSP function enables precise control over the audio signal, optimizing sound quality in real-time, while the Dante functionality allows for smooth digital audio distribution over the stadium’s network.

By incorporating state-of-the-art DSP and networking capabilities, the Giants now benefit from a scalable, future-ready system that can adapt to changing needs over time. Additionally, Powersoft amplifiers provide a built-in redundancy that ensures uninterrupted operation. In the event of a digital failure, the amplifiers can automatically switch to analog inputs, guaranteeing continuous performance—a critical feature in high-stakes environments like a Major League Baseball stadium.

As Justo Gutierrez, Director of Engineering for Diversified, explained: “They reboot quickly if there is a power outage: you turn it back on, and within ten seconds, they can start making sound again.”

Powersoft has been absolutely integral in reducing operational expenses, all while improving sound clarity and providing a more engaging audio experience for fans.

Fulcrum Acoustic: Delivering the Sound

The speaker system, provided by Fulcrum Acoustic, was another critical component of the project. Known for their advanced acoustic technology, Fulcrum speakers were selected for their ability to deliver both clarity and impact, especially in a large open environment like a baseball stadium.

To achieve the desired results, Diversified and Fulcrum Acoustic worked closely together to ensure that the speaker placement and configuration maximized coverage and performance. By reusing some of the existing speaker locations and upgrading to new Fulcrum models, the team was able to create a more immersive soundscape that delivers crystal-clear audio throughout the ballpark.

A Game-Changing Fan Experience

The combination of Powersoft amplifiers and Fulcrum Acoustic speakers has resulted in a significant improvement in sound quality at Oracle Park. Fans are now treated to a richer, more engaging audio experience. This is especially noticeable in the stadium’s public areas, such as the exclusive Gotham Club and private meeting rooms, where the acoustic environment has been fine-tuned for optimal clarity and impact.

“Having our amplifiers be a part of such an iconic stadium for MLB is an honor,” commented Rick Woida, Powersoft’s Senior Sales Engineer – Large Venues. “The team at Diversified were great to work with and I am happy to have supported them in their design decisions and deployment of this installation.”

Jeff Dykhouse, Senior Design Engineer at Diversified, summed up the project: “We have done numerous stadiums and arenas, but this is a top-tier installation in a top-tier location – it’s San Francisco, the Giants, and Major League Baseball.”

The Giants’ CIO, Bill Schlough, echoed this sentiment, adding that while fans may not immediately notice the changes, they will undoubtedly “feel it”—a testament to the power of great sound design.

A Future-Ready Solution

The audio system upgrade at Oracle Park represents not just an investment in technology but a commitment to enhancing the overall fan experience. The collaboration between the Giants, Diversified, Powersoft, and Fulcrum Acoustic has resulted in a future-ready audio system that not only meets the needs of today but is scalable for future developments.

Oracle Park is now equipped with cutting-edge audio technology that reflects the Giants’ forward-thinking approach to fan engagement, sustainability, and technological innovation. From the energy-efficient amplifiers to the high-fidelity speaker system, the new audio system at Oracle Park is more than just an upgrade—it’s a game changer.