Nestled in Kingsland, Auckland—just minutes from Eden Park—Full-Time Sports Bar & Eatery set out to redefine the modern sports bar experience. As a joint venture between the New Zealand Warriors and Hancocks Wines & Spirits, the venue was envisioned as a sophisticated, community-driven destination where fans, friends, and families could come together to celebrate their love for sport and racing.
To bring this flagship concept to life, Full-Time partnered with AV integrator Skopik, interior design studio CTRL Space, and technology distributor Jands to deliver a seamless, high-performance AV system that enhances the viewing experience while blending effortlessly into the venue’s carefully crafted architectural design.
Key Players
Full-Time Sports Bar & Eatery: New Zealand’s premier sports bar, located in Kingsland, Auckland. Aiming to enhance fan engagement through high-quality AV integration while maintaining a stylish, welcoming atmosphere.
Skopik: Skopik is a locally owned technology integration company with over 25 years of experience delivering smart, seamless AV, electrical, and automation solutions across residential and commercial projects. Known for their problem-solving approach and quality workmanship, they bring together cutting-edge tech with user-friendly design to create reliable, future-ready systems.
Jands: Since 1970, Jands has been at the forefront of distributing world-class audio, video, lighting, and broadcasting technologies across Australia and New Zealand.
Electro-Voice: With over 90 years of innovation, Electro-Voice has been at the forefront of designing and engineering leading-edge sound reinforcement solutions. Their products empower performers, exceed the expectations of audio professionals, and elevate audience experiences.
Dynacord: High-performance amplification and digital audio matrix solutions designed for flexible, reliable sound system control.
Blustream: Manufacturer of professional AV distribution products, offering powerful, scalable solutions for video routing and control.
The Challenge
The venue’s layout spans five distinct zones, each equipped with multiple screens—including four large-scale video walls and seven individual televisions—designed to showcase various live sports feeds simultaneously. Creating an immersive and intuitive fan experience across such a complex environment required seamless AV control, zoned audio distribution, and rock-solid reliability.
Alongside technical demands, the venue’s interior—featuring exposed timber beams, retractable roof courtyards, and elegant bar areas—required a discreet technology solution. The AV installation needed to enhance the experience without disrupting the design language established by the architects and interior designers.
“As a venue, our vision was to create New Zealand’s go-to premium sports destination, where every guest can feel part of the action no matter where they sit,” said Shane Don, General Manager at Full-Time Sports Bar. “We needed a technology solution that could match that ambition—delivering clear sound, flexible control, and seamless integration without compromising the venue’s design. To have the ability to show multiple sports in different areas and zone out that area to the sport that is being played is a game changer.”
“The client’s aim was for the best sports bar in New Zealand, which naturally meant our number one priority was to provide a premium audio-visual solution with advanced features—while ensuring the system was still intuitive and simple enough for staff to operate,” said Jeffrey Sundrum, AV Service & Installations Manager at Skopik.
The Solution
Jands worked closely with Skopik and the venue’s construction team to deliver an audio-visual solution that balanced performance, flexibility, and aesthetics. Using EASE modelling and CAD designs, the team mapped optimal speaker locations, wiring runs, and interface points to suit both function and form.
To support the venue’s high number of displays, a Blustream UHD Video over IP distribution system was installed—matrixing 24 sources across the entire screen network. Content is dynamically managed via iPad control, allowing staff to switch between feeds and zones effortlessly.
For audio, Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X surface-mount speakers were installed throughout the venue, strategically mounted to the sides of the timber beams using U-brackets and angled downward for even coverage. Two hidden EVC-1122VI speakers serve as the main front-of-house solution, providing powerful, full-range output across the venue. Their specially designed horn ensures even front-to-back coverage, critical for an immersive experience regardless of where patrons are seated.
In the main bar area, three EVID-S10.1D subwoofers were installed to reinforce low-end response and enhance the foreground impact of the main EVC speakers. Together, they deliver a rich, full-bodied sound signature that elevates the live sports atmosphere.
The venue also features scene-based control modes accessible via iPad. Staff can easily switch between high-impact “event” settings that increase the level of the front-of-house speakers and bass during key matches, and a relaxed “dining” mode designed to maintain clear, even background coverage—perfect for casual catch-ups and conversations while games play on.
In outdoor areas, the IP65 marine-grade version of the EVID-S5.2X was used to ensure durability under the venue’s retractable roof. The system is powered by Dynacord V600:4 and C2800 amplifiers and centrally managed via a Dynacord MXE5 matrix processor, enabling zone-specific configuration and real-time audio adjustments.
“Partnering with Jands on this project allowed us to deliver a truly exceptional outcome,” said Jeffrey Sundrum, Skopik. “Their support with product selection, design modelling, and technical expertise ensured that every challenge was met head-on. The result speaks for itself—a sports bar that sounds as impressive as it looks.”
A Furman power conditioner was also included to protect all components from power surges and ensure a clean, reliable power supply to the entire AV system.
The Collaborative Effort
“Working on this project has been an honour, especially as we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate closely with Skopik, the architects, and the venue to achieve a shared goal: to create an outstanding sports bar in Auckland that we can all take pride in,” said Justin Marechal, Account Development Manager at Jands NZ. “Everyone involved in this project approached challenges as a team, and every obstacle was met with a collaborative spirit. Skopik was fantastic throughout the process, and during the installation, no request was too difficult to fulfil.”
“The professionalism and level of support from the Jands team throughout the project was second to none. This stood out more than anything else,” said Jeffrey Sundrum, reflecting on the collaboration. Echoing this sentiment, Shane Don added: “The training and after-hours attention is second to none—always available to help and guide.”
“Since the venue’s opening, we have continued to support both Skopik and Full-Time Bar, and we look forward to maintaining this relationship for many years to come. If this were a sports match, we would be the winning team—with the brands and support we needed to achieve our goal,” concluded Justin Marechal.
