UK-based integrator, Tateside, has delivered a unique audiovisual experience at BLOODsports in Covent Garden, London.
Created by the team behind MEATliquor, the BLOODsports bar features a full menu based on classic MEATliquor dishes and broadcasts live sports day and night, with late-night horror movies that blend with the bar;s classic horror bar décor, including a carpet inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s cult classic, The Shining.
Tateside were brought on board with the project from the very beginning, due in part to the five year relationship that Tateside and MEATliquor have enjoyed.
Jack Cornish, technical director, Tateside, explains: “You don’t find many sports bars around these days, and with its prime location in Covent Garden, it was an exciting project to be involved in.”
The bar features a main bar area, as well as a games room and snug area and private room for events or larger parties without any walled separation. The bathrooms also feature screens for continued entertainment.
The open nature of the bar made audio zoning a top priority, ensuring that multiple sports can be broadcast simultaneously without audio bleeding between areas. The audio required a distributed system where different areas of the venue could listen to different audio feeds, built with a mix of audio brands including Martin Audio CDD loudspeakers and XE212 subs in the main bar with Audac ceiling speakers throughout, and Void Acoustics products in the bar’s private VIP area.
BLOODsports’ desire to live stream sport in the bar required a solid video system, embodied by a total of 28 screens to cover every viewing angle in the venue, built into the system design from day one. Tateside worked closely with the client and Hisense’s UK distributor to secure 28 Hisense screens varying in size from 32-in up to 75-in.
For the backend of the video system, Tateside supplied a VoIP system using a Blustream IP300 series transmitter and receiver, supporting 4K video at 60Hz, optimised for live sports. Eight different video sources are integrated, including Sky boxes, streaming services, a DVD player for vintage horror films, and a signage player which is used for displaying drinks promotions.
Dante-enabled Powersoft amplifiers were selected for audio distribution, with Netgear PoE+ switches handling networked AV traffic. The system is controlled via Q-SYS through a touchpanel and iPad for user control over audio sources, screen content and karaoke playback from a karaoke system sourced by the Tateside team.
Video and digital signage distribution is handled via the digital signage platform, embed, allowing for remote management and content scheduling.
“One of the most interesting and on-brand features of BLOODsports was an LED ticker tape, which we installed above the bar,” adds Cornish, “We commissioned a custom 9-metre by 250mm ticker-style LED, which is used for displaying slogans, drinks promos and sports stats.”
Tateside will continue to provide on-site support for BLOODsports via a dedicated maintenance service for any technical issues that are addressed within four hours.
Cornish closes: “Whilst the project is now signed off and the bar is open, our work with BLOODsports continues via our managed services agreement.
“This high level of support is crucial for a venue that relies so heavily on its AV infrastructure as part of the guest experience.”