Racecourse PA Design at Cheltenham
When the Jockey Club called for a full-scale audio rethink at Cheltenham Racecourse (one of their flagship venues), Audiotek answered. The Course needed more than just an upgrade; it needed a system wide transformation. It needed to deliver crystal-clear sound to thousands, across indoor suites, outdoor grandstands, and emergency zones.
From June to October 2025, Audiotek rolled out a radical new racecourse PA design. The result: stadium-scale performance, rider-to-room clarity, and rock-solid redundancy ready for race day.
Project Challenges at Cheltenham Racecourse
Racecourses aren’t built for sound; they’re built for spectacle. Which makes getting audio right a tall order.
- Heritage Meets Hardware: Cheltenham’s grandstand is an older building. Running fireproof fibre and upgraded cabling through it was a logistical feat.
- Emergency-Grade Design: The new PA isn’t just for atmosphere; it’s integrated with emergency paging protocols across the entire site.
- Coordination with Consultants: Audiotek worked directly with Jockey Club consultants and L-Acoustics to model, test, and optimise every audio zone.
Project Scope
Two core projects delivered as one seamless upgrade:
Project One: Sitewide QSC Q-SYS Control
- Full-fibre infrastructure upgrade across the racecourse.
- Fireproof cabling to every internal room.
- Centralised Q-SYS control with paging from event control and mix position.
- Redundant routing and scalable zone control via QSC Core processors.
Project Two: Grandstand PA Overhaul
- Brand-new L-Acoustics A15i speaker array on custom brackets.
- 54 x X8i fills for clarity in under-balcony and edge zones.
- All speakers powered by LA7.16i amps, each one individually tuned.
- System-wide use of L-Acoustics FIR filters for optimised coverage.
Design Tools & Technical Expertise
Nothing was left to chance.
- Acoustic simulations conducted with Ross and Kyle from L-Acoustics.
- Fire-rated cabling routed throughout the site.
- Custom brackets and amp room planning for discreet yet accessible hardware installs.
- Paging and zone control mapped to support live events and emergency use.
Key Innovations at Cheltenham Racecourse
- Every Speaker Counts: Individual amplification per unit allows granular tuning for speech and emergency paging.
- Fibre-First Design: A new backbone of fireproof fibre ensures speed, safety, and future expansion.
- Dual-Use Infrastructure: High-performance audio for race day; critical coverage for emergency comms.
Installation & Execution
Timeline: June to October 2025
- Live testing ahead of first race event on 25 October
- Collaborated with Lucid Creates for hardware integration.
- Installed with zero downtime during prep season.
Project Quotes
“This was full stadium PA design, balancing crowd atmosphere with emergency clarity. Every speaker, bracket and fibre strand mattered.” — Ash Attwood, Senior Engineer, Audiotek
Educational Insights
This project showcases:
- Acoustic Modelling in Complex Venues: Predictive tuning in large, open-air and mixed-use zones.
- Designing for Dual-Purpose AV: Systems that handle both entertainment and emergency scenarios.
- Working Within Heritage Structures: Retrofitting modern systems into legacy architecture without compromise.
Conclusion
The Cheltenham Racecourse new PA system isn’t just loud, it’s smart, robust, and ready for anything. By combining QSC’s Q-SYS control with L-Acoustics audio performance, Audiotek delivered a racecourse PA design that sets the new standard for stadiums.
If your venue needs to deliver both clarity and crowd energy (across any zone, in any condition) Audiotek has you covered.
Let’s talk.
