Cypress, TX
Cy-Fair ISD’s Ken Pridgeon Stadium serves as a central hub for athletic and community events. In early 2021, during the Deep Freeze that swept through Texas, a sprinkler pipe in the stadium’s press box burst, pouring water directly onto the AV rack and destroying the audio and video equipment.
“During the deep freeze here in Texas, we lost the whole video system and audio system. We had just a few months to recover to be operational before football again.”
— Sean Ramsey, Assistant Director of Production Services at Cy Fair ISD
With football season approaching and the 12 schools relying on Ken Pridgeon Stadium for games and graduations, Cy-Fair ISD needed a trusted AV partner to replace and upgrade the entire system very quickly. Ford AV was ready to meet their needs.
Recovering from the Deep Freeze
When temperatures plummeted and water lines froze, the stadium’s AV rack suffered catastrophic damage.
Ford still possessed complete documentation of the wiring schematics, equipment lists, and programming details from the original AV installation in 2018.
“The system had been installed by Ford AV several years prior, so we did have good documentation. Until we started the work, we didn’t know what we could reuse and what we would have to replace.”
— David Shriver, Ford AV
Testing of wiring and equipment was required before a plan could be devised. Engineers collaborated with Cy-Fair ISD’s facilities team and the insurance adjusters to inventory damaged gear and create a scope of work to meet technical and budgetary requirements.
Every damaged amplifier, rack, and console needed to be replaced. Additionally, a more robust and customizable system was needed to withstand Texas weather and meet the unique needs of 12 high schools.
Engineering the New Audio Landscape
The goal of the new sound system was to focus audio energy squarely on the spectator seating, amplifying crowd announcements and music without bleeding into adjacent neighborhoods. Custom-engineered stadium speakers were strategically placed along each sideline and behind the end zones, with carefully calculated dispersion angles.
Behind those stadium speakers, new rack-mounted amplifiers and digital sound consoles replaced the old gear. These consoles allowed remote mixing from the broadcast booth.
To accommodate 12 high schools, a flexible routing matrix that could instantly switch to school-specific audio mixes was installed. Each school can dial in a custom mix, selecting different instrument levels or using personalized equalization presets.
“Ford allowed us to be creative and customize our systems. We really do appreciate Ford coming in and providing the equipment and manpower to get that swapped out.”
— Sean Ramsey, Assistant Director of Production Services at Cy Fair ISD
Restoring and Upgrading Video Production Capabilities
Replacing the stadium’s video system was equally critical. Two full-featured broadcast booths, one dedicated to video production and the other to sound mixing, were installed. Each booth was outfitted with switchers, multi-format cameras, and intercom systems to help operators with coordination.
In addition to the press box, the stadium lounge was outfitted with new video displays and a zoned audio system. The lounge features multiple overhead screens where spectators can watch the game live on high-definition displays. Speakers positioned in the lounge provide the same high-quality mix sent to the broadcast booths.
Delivering Lasting Value for Cy-Fair ISD
Today, Ken Pridgeon Stadium boasts a robust, custom AV system rebuilt in just a few months. Its upgraded sound design minimizes neighborhood noise while delivering stadium-quality audio to the fans. The two broadcast booths support live-streamed games, complete with instant replay and on-screen graphics. The lounge’s video displays and zoned audio ensure that VIP guests never miss a moment of the action. Because every cable run and device setting during the rebuild was documented, future maintenance and scalability are built into the system’s design.
Ford AV has deployed custom solutions and stadium AV upgrades across the U.S. Let our experts help make sure your next technology solution is a success.
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