As part of a major refurbishment, Macquarie Ice Rink — located inside Macquarie Centre — has undergone a significant upgrade to improve production capabilities, enhance the spectator experience, and future-proof the venue for next level sporting events.
To deliver the venue’s new rigging and sound infrastructure, Digital Screen Displays engaged The P.A. People to design and install a system tailored to the rink’s structural and operational requirements.
“When we were engaged by Macquarie Ice Rink to deliver the jumbotron style – 4 sided LED screen and PA system, there was only ever one choice for us” commented Greg Potter, Digital Screen Displays Managing Director. “Having worked with The P.A People for many decades we knew bringing them in would deliver an on time and on budget complete system. Their ability to turn a concept into a reality is second to none. This was a very complex design and engineering was very problematic, having The P.A People by our side, meant that we were able to pivot and still deliver on time when the client needed us to”.
THE CHALLENGE
The venue required modern overhead rigging and sound reinforcement capable of supporting:
Ice hockey competitions
Commentary and announcements
Music playback and DJ sessions
A centre-hung LED “Jumbotron” display
However, the project came with significant requirements:
Strict roof load limitations and engineering requirements
Integration into an existing structure undergoing broader upgrades
The need to support multiple suspended elements from a single flying system
Maintaining operational flexibility for both sport and entertainment use
In addition, the venue’s existing sound system — a legacy Bose 802 installation dating back to the early 1980s — had reached end-of-life and required full replacement.
THE SOLUTION
In conjunction with Digital Screen Displays, The P.A. People delivered a complete rigging and audio package designed specifically around Digital Screen Displays LED screens, the venue’s structural capacity and multi-use requirements.
Motorised Rigging Infrastructure
A new motorised truss system was installed, comprising:
- Four Moveket PROstage 500 D8Plus electric chain hoists (500 kg capacity)
Pendant control for individual hoist operation
Custom control integration
Associated rigging connected to strengthened existing roof structure
A Global Truss F34 300mm box truss system was selected to provide a versatile flying solution capable of supporting both audio arrays and a large centre-hung LED display.
A custom lifting frame was also engineered by The P.A. People to support four LED screens forming the centre-hung display supplied by Digital Screen Displays.
Arena-Ready Sound System
To deliver powerful, intelligible coverage across the ice surface and spectator areas, the venue was upgraded to a modern Bose Professional ArenaMatch sound system:
- 8 × ArenaMatch AM40 DeltaQ array loudspeakers
1 × PSX4804D amplifier
1 × ESP880A engineered sound processor
1 × ControlSpace CC-64 control centre
These systems from Bose Professional were carefully specified to maximise performance while remaining within the structural loading limits of the building. The loudspeaker arrays are flown near the new truss system, delivering clear and consistent coverage across the rink and spectator areas.
THE OUTCOME
The upgrade has significantly modernised the venue’s presentation capabilities and improved the spectator experience.
Key outcomes include:
- A safe and compliant overhead rigging system designed to engineering standards
High-performance arena sound coverage
Infrastructure ready for large-scale LED screen integration
Increased flexibility for general use, sporting competitions, commentary and custom events
By carefully balancing engineering constraints with performance requirements, The P.A. People delivered a solution that brings the ice rink into the modern era, supporting the next generation of ice sports and entertainment.
