Rose Bowl Soundscaping

The festival’s four stages will have the sound designed specifically for the stadium and the surrounding areas to find a balance between the quality fans expect and a volume that won’t rattle the neighbors’ teeth, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

“We’re going to spend the time to come up with system designs that will fit the venue as opposed to a touring show that comes in and that hasn’t necessarily designed their system for the Rose Bowl,” David Revel, president of Technical Multimedia Design, told the Tribune.

The city suspends its noise ordinance for the Rose Bowl’s musical performances, but Rose Bowl Operating Company uses Revel’s company to try to keep too much of the sound from itreaching the homes near the stadium. Where touring acts bring their own sound equipment and staff, the plan for the Rose Bowl sound will be long-term.

“One of the reasons we pursued a music and arts festival is the dynamic shifts with regard to who designs, owns and operates the sound system,” Pasadena Councilman Victor Gordo, who chairs the RBOC’s board, told the Tribune.

“AEG has assured us they’re going to employ the best sound technology to meet the needs of the attendees and to mitigate the impacts on the neighborhood. We will trust, but verify, by having our own sound professional, who will work with AEG to ensure that occurs.”

The Rose Bowl’s 10-year contract with AEG includes a three-year clause where either party can back out if the festival isn’t successful or if it’s too disruptive. Unlike the Air + Style Snowboard and Music Festival or Beyoncé, there are repercussions if everything doesn’t work out. That provides incentive to perfect the sound design, because fans won’t return if they can’t hear the music and neighbors will raise their torches and pitchforks if they can hear too much.

“Because it’s long term, there’s going to be very strong motivation from everybody to just try to have this managed as best as it possibly can be,” Darryl Dunn, the RBOC’s GM, told the paper.

Both Dunn and Revel believe the design will evolve and change each year based on feedback from attendees and the community. AEG must provide a sound management plan to the city 120 days before the festival’s June 2017 debut. The festival is initially projected to draw as many as 90,000 people for its premiere of a two-day format before expanding to three days in following years, according to the Tribune.