Alamodome adds flexible L-Acoustics system to support multi-sport and event use

Background and context

The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, is a municipally owned venue known for its ability to host a wide range of events, from American football to basketball, ice sports, and large-scale ceremonies. With a capacity of up to 72,000, the building is regularly reconfigured to accommodate different sports and event formats.

That flexibility has put particular pressure on the venue’s sound reinforcement system. While a main L-Acoustics K2 PA was installed in 2017 to cover football and full-bowl configurations, the system was not optimized for events focused on a single court or smaller playing surface positioned at one end of the stadium.

In response to a growing calendar of basketball games, including the UIL State Basketball Finals, as well as university and high school graduations and other smaller floor events, the venue has now invested in an expanded, more adaptable loudspeaker setup.

Key announcement

Consultancy firm Salas O’Brien and integration company LD Systems have completed the installation of an additional L-Acoustics system at the Alamodome, built around K2 and A15i loudspeakers. The new system is configured as a dedicated center cluster for end-stage and court-sized layouts within one half of the domed bowl.

According to Salas O’Brien senior consultant Ryan Knox, the project focused on creating two independent but interoperable sound systems: the original full-bowl K2 rig and the new arena-style cluster. Both can be reconfigured depending on the room setup, while sharing the same control software, network infrastructure, and amplification platform.

The new deployment consists of 56 L-Acoustics K2 and 28 A15i Wide loudspeakers, driven by 31 LA12X and 12 LA4X amplified controllers. LD Systems’ integrated systems sales engineer Jordan Pierce notes that the design was intended to support a range of court-sized events, including basketball, volleyball, tennis, and similar formats, as well as ceremonies where only part of the stadium is in use.

Industry impact

For large multi-purpose venues, the Alamodome project illustrates a shift toward modular sound systems that can be redeployed as event requirements change. Rather than relying solely on a single fixed PA, the new configuration allows elements of the K2 inventory to be repositioned, including into stadium corners, to target specific seating areas when the floor plan is expanded.

This approach was tested when the venue was reconfigured for an NCAA event, with additional stands brought in and angles extended toward a central basketball court. In that scenario, the house K2 arrays were supplemented by the new arena-focused K2 elements flown beneath them to provide coverage across the enlarged main floor, including areas affected by large LED walls.

Sound design software played a central role. Salas O’Brien used L-Acoustics’ Soundvision modeling platform to determine optimal loudspeaker placement, particularly for upper-level seating and zones shadowed by video displays, where coverage can be challenging in large domed environments.

Why this matters

For the Alamodome, the upgraded audio infrastructure has both operational and financial implications. Senior audio technician Ben Sturgis notes that the venue previously rented PA systems for many non-standard configurations, such as the dozens of college and high school graduation ceremonies held each year.

With the expanded L-Acoustics inventory now in-house, the venue can deploy its own system for those events instead of bringing in external providers for a month-long rental each summer. That shift may reduce costs over time and gives event organizers a more consistent audio experience across different configurations.

More broadly, the project underscores how stadium operators are adapting to increasingly varied event calendars. By investing in flexible, software-driven sound systems, venues can reposition themselves to host both large-scale sports events and smaller productions more efficiently. Further information on L-Acoustics solutions is available on the manufacturer’s official website at l-acoustics.com.