Major Audio-Visual Overhaul at University of Pittsburgh Led by Metinteractive

The Pimped-out Pitt Center: A Game-changing Pro AV Upgrade

Stepping foot in the three-tiered, sprawling 141,000-square-foot William H. Pitt Center, you'll find the turf for Sacred Heart University's men's and women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and fencing teams. This facility underwent an epic Pro AV overhaul, thanks to the helping hand of Metinteractive. Coinciding with the SHU Pioneers' leap from the Northeast Conference to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), this renovation sparks a growing national presence and media following.

A year prior, Metinteractive played a part in elevating sports engagement tech at the Martire Family Arena, the epicenter of Sacred Heart's NCAA Division I hockey programs, nationally ranked figure skating squad, and men's club ice hockey, besides ladies' club hockey. The Pitt Center renovations follow suit, unveiling a 2,000-seat arena boasting an innovative broadcast control center and three mammoth video boards. To sweeten the deal, a mezzanine for VIP seating, premium sound systems, and lighting add to the fan experience. Beyond sports, the venue serves as a social hub for the SHU community, hosting concerts, charity events, lectures, and convocations.

*[AI and the Future of Sports]*

"Every renovation on the radar is geared toward boosting fan engagement," stated Rich Gold, CTO and engineering guru at Metinteractive. "For a project of this scope, it was right up our alley. We knew the players, making it easier to keep everyone on the same page and lower stress levels."

"The Pitt Center posed certain challenges, particularly when it came to designing a comprehensive system that was also compatible with the physical constraints introduced during the remodeling," noted Rhys Dawson, Metinteractive's project lead. "Diverse experiences gained from tackling a multitude of projects allowed us to exercise greater flexibility when crafting tailor-made solutions for our clients."

Metinteractive took charge of the arena's PA system, constructed the broadcast control room, and a separate audio control room. They split the sound components into distinct arrangements on the sidelines' scoring tables to manage sounds for the pre-game show, announcers, and video feeds for the Daktronics displays. Metinteractive took care of all the AV, broadcast, and Daktronics wiring, set up junction box TVs around the arena walls, and installed fiber optic cables and Daktronics screens.

*[The Giants of Sound Upgrade]*

Unleashing the power of Daktronics, several DVN products, including a 74x8-foot ribbon-like display, two 18x9-foot displays at opposite corners, and hundreds of advertising, video, scoring, and statistical content screens, were integrated into the Pitt Center. Live video, ads, scores, and statistics now beam on these screens. Daktronics control equipment powers some of the content, new shot clocks, and scoring systems.

Prior to construction, lengthy chats between Rich and John Mette, Senior Project Manager at Daktronics, ensued to brainstorm techniques for handling the cabling, the control equipment locations, and control room design.

"I was particularly enthralled by Metinteractive's broad yet intricate approach to the project," Mette mentioned, "A rare feat to find companies excelling in both the broad and specific aspects."

No-frills audio equipment adorned the Pitt Center, featuring d&b Audiotechnik C7-TOP speakers, d&b subs, and 30D amplifiers. The arena sound digital mixing console is an Allen & Heath SQ5, with an SQ6 installed in the broadcast control room. All the sound transmissions are Dante, and Shure microphones handle a range of tasks. ULX-D digital wireless mics, shotguns overhead, lavs in the padding behind the nets, and boundary mics on the floor capture every squeak from the sneakers. Clear-Com digital and wireless intercoms facilitate communication.

The broadcast control room boasts a Ross Video Ultrix router and Carbonite production switcher, similar gear to that found in the Martire arena's hockey control room. "We aimed to provide operators with a familiar working environment," Gold explained. "The university has a graduate sports broadcasting program, enabling students to gain hands-on experience and manage events."

Six Hitachi broadcast cameras include one with an ABonAir wireless system for additional video signal transmission. Two Panasonic PTZ cameras are mounted on each basketball backboard, with four more affixed in ceiling trusses for a high-angle perspective, primarily for the DVSport replay system used by the referees.

Future renovations to the football facility on campus may integrate all the control rooms, creating a streamlined setup for sports broadcasting.

Besides Gold and Dawson, Barry Grossman, another broadcast engineer at Metinteractive, contributed significantly to the Ross broadcast system setup and handover.

According to Daktronics' Mette, "Metinteractive's extensive role in the audio-visual transformation was truly commendable. Gold was nothing short of chill and composed, even under unexpected circumstances."

The overhauled Pitt Center, home to Sacred Heart University's teams, showcases products like smart-home devices and gadgets in its mezzanine for VIP seating.
Metinteractive, the company behind the Pro AV upgrade, has also worked on enhancing the technology in the Martire Family Arena, especially in the NCAA Division I hockey programs.
The upgraded Pitt Center features finance-worthy investments in innovative features, such as three mammoth video boards and an innovative broadcast control center.
The renovations have transformed the Pitt Center into a venue for events like concerts, charity events, and lectures, making it a significant part of the home-and-garden industry in the local community.
The DVN products integrated into the Pitt Center by Metinteractive include outdoor-living displays like a 74x8-foot ribbon-like screen and two 18x9-foot displays, immersing spectators in the action.
With the help of technology companies like d&b Audiotechnik, Allen & Heath, Shure, and Clear-Com, Metinteractive has ensured top-notch sound quality in the renovated Pitt Center.
As part of the renovation, Metinteractive has set up personal-growth opportunities for students by creating a learning environment in the university's graduate sports broadcasting program.
The football facility on campus may undergo further renovations to incorporate a manufacturing process involving all the control rooms, enhancing the sports industry's technology.
In the upgraded Pitt Center, education-and-self-development continues through the application of the latest AV, broadcast, and Daktronics technology in lectures and convocations.
The Pitt Center's broadcast control room, boasting cutting-edge equipment like the Ross Video Ultrix router and Carbonite production switcher, allows for efficient learning and the organization of shopping events like sports games and concerts.

Major Audio-Visual Overhaul at University of Pittsburgh Led by Metinteractive