Sports Arenas
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL, USA
Context
The Team
Distributor
An L-Acoustics Professional Sound System Heats Up the Miami Kaseya Center
Located in the heart of Downtown Miami’s Entertainment District, Kaseya Center is a premier sports and entertainment venue that serves as the home court for the NBA’s Miami HEAT. Situated on Biscayne Bay’s waterfront, the arena is a hub of activity, hosting over 80 non-basketball events annually, from high-profile concerts to national conferences. The HEAT Group, the organization behind the franchise, is continuously committed to enhancing the venue through cutting-edge technology and renovations, with the latest upgrade focusing on a state-of-the-art audio system to elevate the fan experience.
The Challenge
The primary objective for the Miami HEAT was to achieve exceptional audio intelligibility for every fan, ensuring all content delivered in the arena was heard clearly. This included everything from in-game announcements and music to the sounds of the on-court action. The project presented a significant logistical hurdle: integrating a high-performance audio system within an extremely tight payload footprint, with no margin to add weight. The team needed a solution that could meet these demanding specifications without compromising on sound quality or the venue’s structural integrity.
The Solution
To address this challenge, the Miami HEAT partnered with L-Acoustics and Solotech Systems Integration to install a new L-Acoustics K Series and A Series professional sound system. The new system was designed to deliver powerful sound and impressive bass, reflecting Miami’s dynamic culture. The installation, completed over the summer, involved a comprehensive setup of L-Acoustics K2 line arrays flown around the central display, complemented by KS28 subwoofers for deep low-frequency extension. A15i Focus and Wide enclosures cover the upper bowl seating, all powered by a combination of LA7.16i and LA12X amplified controllers. This tailored solution successfully met the weight constraints while delivering a sonically consistent and impactful experience to every seat.
The Result
The new L-Acoustics sound system has transformed the Kaseya Center, taking the fan experience to an entirely new level. The system’s sonic signature ensures every patron receives a consistently musical sound experience. This upgrade, driven by the team’s priority on fan engagement, has not only enhanced the basketball games but also increased the venue’s appeal for non-basketball events. The system’s clarity and performance are now in perfect balance with Miami’s vibrant music culture and the critical requirements for speech intelligibility, providing a win-win situation for both the team and the fans.
Project photos
The selection of L-Acoustics as our preferred sound reinforcement partner was guided by two primary principles. First, the pursuit of exceptional audio intelligibility – ensuring that every fan and patron can clearly hear and enjoy all forms of content delivered in our arena. Second, the challenge of integrating a high-performance audio system within an extremely tight payload footprint. With no margin to add weight, L-Acoustics rose to the occasion, transforming seemingly insurmountable constraints into tailored solutions that meet our demanding specifications.
Blake Engman
Senior Engineer and Director of Broadcast Services for the Miami HEAT
Tech Brief
- Main Arrays: Eight arrays of ten K2 enclosures each, flown around the central display.
- Subwoofers: Four hangs of four KS28 subwoofers, time-aligned with the main PA. Ground stacks of four additional KS28 subs per side at each end of the court.
- Delay Arrays: 32 delay arrays with a total of 75 A15i Focus and Wide enclosures for upper bowl coverage.
- Amplified Controllers: 20 L-Acoustics LA7.16i for the K2 and A15i, and four LA12X for the subs.
