Press Release
Wuppertal July 12, 2024
Riedel Communications Powers ATK Versacom's Live Production at International Esports Championship
“Working on a high-profile international esports championship was a fun and exciting challenge. The complexity and scale of the event required a robust and flexible communication system, and as always, Riedel's solutions delivered exactly what we needed,” said Juan Gallardo, Director of Technical Operations at ATK Versacom. “By creating a high-density wireless environment that supported seamless communication across all production elements, we were successful in coordinating the efforts of our local and international teams, broadcasters, and the game's producer. We are proud to have successfully executed such a prestigious global event and look forward to continuing our partnership with Riedel on other important occasions.”
First held in 2011, the annual international championship has evolved into a highly prestigious event on the esports calendar. The acclaimed multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game event drew fans from around the world to Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena, where competing teams this season fought for the title of world champion and a share of a massive multimillion-dollar prize pool.
This year's tournament marked a significant achievement in live event production thanks to the innovative use of Riedel's state-of-the-art technology. As the production support specialist, ATK Versacom deployed an extensive Riedel setup, including 90 Bolero wireless beltpacks (26 operating on 2.4 GHz and the rest on 1.9 GHz DECT), an Artist-1024 digital matrix intercom frame with 256 ports, approximately 30 SmartPanels and legacy 1000 Series panels, up to 25 antennas for 1.9 GHz, and 20 antennas for 2.4 GHz. This equipment was installed and operational for both the semifinals at the Seattle Convention Center and the finals at the Climate Pledge Arena, enabling a quick breakdown and reassembly between venues. For additional flexibility, Riedel’s network- and IP-based system enabled ATK Versacom to run a cable or use the house fiber, adding a switch and then installing the panels, antennas, and beltpacks as needed.
ATK Versacom was able to integrate the Bolero 1.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz systems into the Artist-1024 matrix seamlessly, enabling communication across different frequency bands without direct interaction. This setup allowed ATK Versacom to create a high-density wireless communication network capable of supporting up to 90 beltpacks simultaneously, overcoming the typical DECT limitation of 50 beltpacks. Moreover, the integration facilitated communication in at least four different languages — including Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish — and included Dante. The adaptable system seamlessly integrated with third-party interfaces to establish connections with broadcasters across different countries, thus ensuring seamless global transmission.
"The complexity of this international championship highlights the power and flexibility of Riedel's solutions to meet the unique communication demands of live global esports events,” said Patti Gunnell, Vice President, Key Accounts – Western U.S. at Riedel Communications. “While our 2.4 GHz Bolero system was originally designed for countries outside the U.S., its ability to assist in creating high-density wireless systems proves invaluable when pushing the limits of the DECT band. Once again, the combination of Riedel’s Artist and Bolero proves vital in allowing this prestigious esports tournament to connect participants from around the world effortlessly. We are thrilled to support ATK Versacom in taking on this ambitious challenge and delivering a truly global experience for this passionate community."
