Absen LED panels created a 17-ton LED cube that forms the imposing centrepiece of France’s second-largest indoor arena, the 12,000-seat LDLC Arena in Lyon, the home venue for LDLC ASVEL basketball team. It will also transform into a 16,000-seater venue for shows by artists such as Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Eric Clapton, Shaka Ponk and the Jonas Brothers.
The giant cube was designed, manufactured and installed by French event production company Alabama Média. The four 3.9mm Absen LED panels each measure 8m × 4.5m, and the cube is fully motorised and retractable, courtesy of eight GIS D8+ electric chain hoists boasting a 2.5 tons load capacity each, which raise and lower the cube to accommodate different configurations for the venue.
As well as the gigantic cube, a secondary independent LED ring, consisting of four 6m × 1m Absen PL3.9 V10 LED panels, at its base completes the structure. The cube can additionally be lowered to the ground and partially dismantled to lighten the load for larger productions and allow for the rigging of other equipment, which also enables the LED panels to be used elsewhere in various configurations for events and concerts.
“Alabama is renowned in France for the quality of its service and its professionalism,” said François Aubert, technical manager, LDLC Arena. “So this was a perfect marriage between two companies committed to excellence. The fact that Alabama is more of an events company actually helped a lot, and its ability to adapt to any scenario was a massive plus.”
According to Aubert, the idea for the mammoth LED set-up originally came from retired NBA legend and the majority owner of the LDLC ASVEL basketball team, Tony Parker, who “envisioned an American-style venue, which influenced our decision to incorporate iconic features such as the large LED cube and balcony seating,” said Aubert. Drawing on decades of rental-staging expertise, Alabama “played a pivotal role” in bringing this vision to fruition, he added.
Alabama set about designing an LED configuration that would be flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of event types. “Modularity was key; the ability to move the LED cube to the roof, or stage, really adds versatility to our events,” confirmed Aubert.
“When we first discussed it with Alabama, our aim was clear: we wanted something that would make everyone entering the arena say, ‘Wow!’” said Pierre Duprat, director, LDLC, “and seeing it now, it’s exactly what we envisioned.”
Alabama also installed 200 linear metres of Absen 4mm LED fascia between the lower and upper sections of the stands and two Absen 3.9mm LED scoring screens measuring 6m × 3.5m to relay real-time information to spectators, as well as supplying 37 metres of FIBA-certified Absen 4mm LED perimeter banner screens to be used at the edge of the court during games.
In addition to the LED, Alabama supplied and integrated all video equipment for the broadcast control room, including servers, production and live video broadcast tools. The front-of-house set-up, which is configured for capturing and broadcasting live events, includes a Tricaster 2 Elite video mixer with 2-Stripe control surface, a 3Play 3P1 from Vizrt, and a Lightware MX2-8×8-DH-8DPio-A full 4K matrix switcher.
With DisplayPort 1.2 input and output ports, the MX2 Series matrix secures AV signal switching, delivering uncompressed 4K UHD@60Hz RGB 4:4:4 video with no latency.
Finally, Alabama supplied electrical panels and cabling, as well as the racks in the control room. Both Alabama and sister company Novelty AURA are regularly called in to provide technical service, including lighting equipment for events in both the main arena and CUBE, the venue’s 2,000 sq m VIP room.
Alabama Média’s technical project manager, Xavier Aucagne, says he was able to harness the company’s extensive experience working with touring productions in France and across Europe to deliver an all-in-one video package for LDLC Arena, one of its first major integration projects. “From the initial concept to the final installation, every aspect demanded precision and expertise,” Aucagne said.
The video element is also going down well with the public, according to Duprat, who summed up the fan reaction: “We often hear them say, ‘Have you seen the size of these screens!’, before reaching for their phones to take pictures. It never fails. That’s exactly the experience we wanted to provide to visitors who love live events and it’s been a huge success.”
Tony Parker, a Hall of Fame player and four-time NBA champion and entrepreneur said: “This is the culmination of the incredible project I initiated in 2014. The LDLC is going to be one of the most beautiful venues in the world. Today, a basketball match is a spectacle. As soon as the spectators enter this hall, they will see the difference.”
