How the University of Oklahoma Made Its Football Stadium Better Than the NFL

OU also saved a bundle by going with RF and from its already-in-place coax cables.

“Instead of spending money to put everything over Ethernet, it’s efficient to send HD channels over RF and coax,” Engstrom says. “The least expensive way is to do the channels through RF because it’s inexpensive to have it travelling. You can send hundreds of systems through the RF program, and you don’t need any special interfaces, amplifiers, hubs, etc. It’s a fast, low-cost way to distribute video.”

Engstrom also says the Crestron panels are making the system easier to handle, and are solving previous problems with the suites’ T.V.s.

“Something they [OU] mentioned was all the suites are separated by glass, and the big problem was, if somebody changed channels on a T.V. in the suites, T.V.s would start changing left and right because the infrared would travel through the glass to other T.V.s,” he says. “That’s why they put a Crestron system in, so they could change the channel from the wall and control T.V.s in each suite, and manage their channels and volume through touch panels.”

Installing hybrid A/V systems like this is trending in higher education stadiums, and involve much more efficient solutions than some NFL stadiums, Engstrom says.

“It’s interesting where colleges are going now,” he says. “[Some stadiums like] the Dallas Cowboys’ don’t. Oklahoma went beyond the services that professional NFL stadiums provide.”

Since fans pay big bucks to physically attend OU football games, they want to have constant access to the game, score, replays and more, even if they’re headed to the concession stand.

Engstrom says this is where hybrid A/V installations come into play.

“[They need to be able to] go buy a coke and still see the game,” he says. “Otherwise, they won’t go.”

For other colleges looking to upgrade their stadium’s A/V technology, Nix says to make sure all i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed before pulling the trigger.

That way, the college can identify its A/V wants, and ensure the integrator meets their needs.

“Make sure you do your homework, make sure you use a company that has the technical expertise to pull it off,” Nix says. “Make sure you know what you’re trying to accomplish and that everybody knows what your expectations are at the end of the project.”