Sports

American Airlines Arena, Home of NBA's Miami Heat, Gets High-Definition Upgrade from Sony Electronics
XDCAM HD Camcorders and Decks, HD Displays, New Visual Display and Digital Signage Software Are Highlights of Re-designed "Showcase" Destination

When the Miami Heat opened the 2009-10 basketball season Wednesday, fans at AmericanAirlines Arena were treated to a state-of-the-art visual and interactive experience through new high-definition video production and software technology from Sony Electronics.

The arena's HD upgrade features a Sony HD broadcast control room; and more than 550 flat-panel BRAVIA® high-definition LCD televisions and professional monitors in the luxury suites, lounges, concourses, restaurants and administrative offices.

The arena is using XDCAM® HD PDW-700 optical camcorders and the XDCAM EX PMW-EX3 compact camcorder. The XDCAM optical camcorders will be used as "live" cameras" for home games, recording crowd shots, player and coaches interviews and other footage for in-game playback, as well as pre-game ceremonies, halftime events and a mix of pre-produced material. XDCAM PDW-HD1500 decks will also be used for video recording and mastering.

The HD upgrade at AmericanAirlines Arena is Sony's latest HD effort in the professional and collegiate sports markets, joining a long list of current and newly built stadiums and ballparks that have enhanced their production values and fan experiences through Sony HD innovation, including Yankee Stadium, Cowboys Stadium and the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, among others.

"The Miami Heat organization is well-known for incorporating a high level of visual and audio elements into their arena productions," said Steve Stubelt, director of Sony Electronics' Solutions Group. "Our HD technology is a perfect match for creating and delivering that type of content, whether it's to the LED boards or to the suites."

Additionally, the arena's new HD control room has Sony HDC-1400 studio cameras, an MVS-8000G production switcher and a range of LUMA® LCD professional monitors. The Sony equipment will be used to capture and produce video for playback during games on the stadium's LED screens and the HD displays throughout the park.

The Sony displays will be used to show game content and other Heat-produced video and advertising elements, to guests in luxury suites and in other areas throughout the arena.

"For fans, enjoying the action on the court is now just one part of their arena experience," said Stubelt. "Our goal is to help organizations create an enjoyable and fully immersive entertainment experience, whether they're in their seats, at the concession stands or anywhere in between. The Sony HD hardware and software delivers powerful benefits for a team's production capabilities, fans and also for sponsors and other partners."

In addition, the AmericanAirlines Arena project marks the U.S. unveiling of Sony's new ZIRIS web-based software system. This suite of hardware and software technology allows the arena to create high-impact visual displays and flexible, centrally controlled digital signage systems.

The ZIRIS technology is web-based to allow for easy control and management. Using the processing power of Sony's Cell technology, it is designed to make high-impact visual statements in heavily trafficked areas such as arenas and stadiums, as well as lobbies, retail windows, museums and more. Multimedia presentations of virtually any size can be created on an unlimited number of screens, in a variety of configurations, from free-standing banks of monitors to video walls.