About the Project
BBVA Stadium is beginning a new chapter by upgrading its audio experience with Bose Professional
In Monterrey, one of Latin America’s most admired stadiums upgraded its audio system without replacing the existing equipment — a Bose Professional solution designed to last for many years.
Inspired by the industrial heritage of the city of Monterrey — particularly its beer production and steel manufacturing — the BBVA Stadium stands out for its innovative aluminum façade, which facilitates airflow through its ingenious “gills”, and for its views of Cerro de la Silla, one of the symbols of this city in northern Mexico. Designed by the international firm Populous, in collaboration with the Mexican firm VFO, this sports venue prioritizes the comfort and visibility of its 53,500 spectators.
Opened in 2015 and popularly known as the “Steel Giant,” it is owned by Club de Futbol Monterrey. The stadium, which has won multiple awards for its architecture and is considered one of the most modern in Latin America, is home to the Rayadas and Rayados teams (women’s and men’s professional teams), which compete in local and international tournaments, and also hosts events and concerts by top-tier artists.
Since its inauguration, BBVA Stadium has offered a high-quality sound experience thanks to a system featuring Bose Professional technology. This original solution, developed by the Mexican company Audio & Comfort, allowed the audience to enjoy the match experience while hearing announcements and music with complete clarity.
“Over more than 10 years of operation, the audio system has demonstrated very solid and reliable performance,” notes Roberto Treviño, Chief Technology Officer at Club de Futbol Monterrey and head of the BBVA Stadium’s technological infrastructure. “Its durability and reliability clearly demonstrate the quality of the system installed at the time.”
But fan expectations are rising. The experience of watching the game at the stadium is evolving, and international organizations are updating their standards to offer the best possible spectacle. When the BBVA Stadium was designated as one of the venues for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Club de Futbol Monterrey decided it was time to take the next step — not to replace the technology that was working satisfactorily, but to take it even further.
The challenge: to enhance, not replace
As part of the process to become a host venue for soccer’s premier competition, the stadium was visited by FIFA consultants, who identified areas needing improvement to meet new standards in various technological areas, such as public access control, Wi-Fi connectivity, and audio.
For the audio system, new standards require superior acoustic performance in all areas, including balanced frequency response, consistent sound pressure levels, and enhanced low-frequency impact.
The original sound system, consisting of 883 loudspeakers, performed satisfactorily for a decade. In particular, the 104 RoomMatch DeltaQ loudspeakers were distributed across 14 line array clusters suspended from the ceiling and powered by PowerMatch amplifiers over a CobraNet-based network. However, improvements were needed in two areas: enhancing the low frequencies with greater power and depth, and eliminating the “acoustic shadow” effect that compromised coverage of several rows of seats throughout the lower grandstand.
The Technology Department at Club de Futbol Monterrey, led by engineer Roberto Treviño, assigned the project to Audio & Comfort, the original audio system integrator. Their in-depth knowledge and ongoing maintenance of the system made them the natural choice.
Jorge López Berrueta, director of Audio & Comfort, explained that “our relationship with Club de Futbol Monterrey is essential because we understand the heart of the project. No one knows the sound system better than we do. We began this relationship sixteen years ago, and we’ve been here ever since.”
Working alongside the stadium’s technical team, Audio & Comfort specialists Alejandro Palacios — a veteran engineer who oversaw the system’s initial implementation — and design engineer Eduardo Monroy conducted an initial assessment that led them to conclude the strategy should focus on strengthening and complementing the existing system. Given its excellent condition, the priority would be to optimize its performance by incorporating new solutions from Bose Professional. Furthermore, this decision would build on the investment made by the Club de Futbol Monterrey back in 2015.
The starting point: an existing 3D model
The team was bolstered by specialists from Bose Professional. Julián Castro, the sales manager in Mexico, would coordinate customer service, while Lina Villa and Alexander Danielewicz would contribute their engineering expertise.
Having the stadium’s original 3D model in Modeler, Bose Professional’s acoustic prediction software, was a significant advantage. All surfaces, including the roof, seats, aisles, stairways, and pitch, were already modeled.
Bose Professional engineers worked on the existing virtual model to determine which electroacoustic components and configurations would be suitable for both bass reinforcement in the main system and coverage in the lower grandstand ring. Modeler allowed them to simulate the impact of these new elements to accurately predict coverage, sound pressure level (SPL), frequency response, and intelligibility, including the Speech Transmission Index (STI).
Based on these simulations, the solution to reinforce the main system was to incorporate a series of ShowMatch subwoofer arrays, while ArenaMatch Utility loudspeakers would be required to improve coverage in the lower grandstand.
Modeler also calculated the mechanical loads from the subwoofer arrays on the stadium roof and defined the necessary mounting hardware for the loudspeakers.
Using the Auditioner auralization tool, the team acoustically simulated the enhanced system’s performance. This allowed technicians and executives to evaluate and validate the solution before approving the investment. “Stadium management was delighted with that auralization,” recalls Alexander Danielewicz.
Low-Frequency Reinforcement, Coverage, and Innovation
To inject more energy into the grandstand and achieve the low-frequency response required by the new standard set by the international football’s leading organization, 80 ShowMatch SMS118 subwoofers with DeltaQ technology were installed, distributed across 14 clusters suspended from the stadium ceiling.
By alternating their placement with the RoomMatch loudspeaker arrays in the original system, a perfect, controlled acoustic blend was achieved throughout the space, precisely matching the required frequency response curve and delivering greater power to enrich the sound experience.
DeltaQ technology enables each module to provide consistent coverage across a wide frequency range, directing sound precisely to the audience and ensuring uniformity throughout the venue.
The seating rows in the lower ring stands, located beneath the ceiling of the suite area balcony, suffered from an “acoustic shadow” effect due to this physical obstruction. The sound from the RoomMatch line arrays did not provide the desired coverage, and at times the audience could hear background noise from the stadium’s air-conditioning systems.
The solution was found in the ArenaMatch Utility loudspeakers, which offer great versatility, power, and coverage. In total, 72 ArenaMatch Utility AMU 208 loudspeakers were installed on the ceiling separating the lower grandstand from the suites.
Selected for their extraordinary sound pressure performance — with a maximum SPL of 126 dB — and their consistent coverage of 90° vertically and 60° horizontally, the AMU 208s deliver audio with clarity and precision to every corner of the stands without obstructing any spectator’s view.
With IP55 certification and a three-layer stainless steel grille, these loudspeakers guarantee full weather resistance to the extreme climate of Monterrey.
The sound reinforcement system, including ShowMatch subwoofers and ArenaMatch Utility loudspeakers, is powered by 27 PowerShareX PSX4804D amplifiers, providing high power, efficiency, and advanced network monitoring.
System management was upgraded with two ControlSpace EX-1280 processors in a full-redundancy setup to ensure reliability.
Audio distribution was upgraded to the Dante protocol, which operates alongside the original CobraNet network with precise latency compensation. This ensures synchronization and prepares the stadium for future expansion.
In the words of Roberto Treviño: “The transition to Dante connectivity, along with the acquisition of the new amplifiers, has provided the audio system with superior flexibility, reliability, and control capabilities. Given technological advancements, it is essential to adapt to these innovations, which not only simplify day-to-day management but also facilitate future system expansions.”
A Rigorous Fine-Tuning Process
The final adjustment and fine-tuning involved technical experts from BBVA Stadium, engineers from Audio & Comfort, and Bose Professional specialists, including Ian Epstein from the United States team.
The team conducted a rigorous fine-tuning process over three days, capturing nearly 200 measurement points with a digital wireless microphone system.
The first step was a thorough verification of hardware, routing, firmware, IP addressing, and signal flow across the audio system. Next, all loudspeakers and subwoofers, including those in the lower ring, were adjusted and tested throughout the stadium.
Finally, extensive listening tests were conducted using announcers’ voices, various musical genres, and multimedia content.
“Measuring multiple reference points in various areas of the stadium allowed us to understand the actual acoustic behavior in such a challenging environment, where reflections and echoes often cause difficulties,” explains Roberto Treviño. “That’s why it’s essential to rely on the precision provided by the software to accurately determine the location of each component and optimize the acoustic conditions.”
Intelligibility in the Field
A solution that was not originally considered in the new project emerged during one of the visits to review the system design. A field monitoring system needed to be installed to fulfill two main functions. The first was to allow players to clearly hear the main referee’s voice when communicating decisions after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR) system regarding a doubtful play.
The second goal was to ensure that, during pre-game, halftime, or other events, people on the field could clearly hear the audio broadcast to the stands.
During a break in analysis sessions with Auditioner, Alexander Danielewicz and Eduardo Monroy sketched the initial technical solution on a paper napkin. “After the napkin sketch, we created a 3D model in Modeler, and then that solution was installed in the stadium,” Danielewicz recounts, highlighting the project’s positive atmosphere.
Four monitoring points, each with two ArenaMatch AM10 DeltaQ loudspeakers, were installed along the sideline near the benches. Their highly directional coverage (10° vertical by 60° horizontal) focuses sound on the field, ensuring players hear VAR announcements without interfering with the stands or obstructing fans’ views.
The result: a reinforced, future-ready sound system
The upgraded system began operating in the first quarter of 2026, so it was tested under real-world conditions during matches featuring Club de Fútbol Monterrey teams and in the tournament where the national teams of Bolivia, Suriname, and Iraq competed for one of the final spots in the 2026 World Cup. The system passed the final evaluation by the international football organization.
Thanks to this upgrade, the stadium now offers exceptional acoustic response in every seat. The system ensures that every attendee enjoys consistent sound quality and power, whether in the front-row seats or in the upper levels of the venue. The goal is for all attendees, without exception, to experience the same immersive sensation and optimal performance delivered by the audio system.
The ShowMatch SMS118 subwoofers revitalized the stadium’s atmosphere, adding depth and rhythmic energy to the percussion that energizes spectators before kickoff and during halftime.
For Club de Fútbol Monterrey, a key benefit was that nothing needed to be replaced. Eleven years of investment in the original system were preserved and integrated into a more comprehensive, future-ready solution.
“For Audio & Comfort, it was a very interesting challenge, but it also meant that the attention and service provided over all these years by my colleague Alejandro Palacios have built the trust necessary for the stadium team to feel they have our company’s full support,” added Eduardo Monroy.
“It’s a powerful validation of our design philosophy. It also demonstrates that the initial investment Club de Futbol Monterrey made more than a decade ago in the original RoomMatch line array system was the right decision,” noted Julián Castro of Bose Professional.
BBVA Stadium now has a sound system that honors its heritage and meets future demands.
The audio system upgrade was part of a series of major improvements at the stadium, including a high-density Wi-Fi network for over 30,000 users, modernized access control, VIP suite renovation, and advanced turf maintenance.
“All of these initiatives are part of a comprehensive vision aimed at enhancing the experience of our fans, which is the primary motivation for both Club de Fútbol Monterrey and Estadio BBVA,” Roberto Treviño concluded proudly.
2015 Original System Components:
- (104) RoomMatch SMS118 subwoofers (14 clusters)
- (728) FreeSpace (DS16F, DS16SE, DS100SE, DS100F) loudspeakers
- (19) FreeSpace 3 loudspeakers
- (2) MA12 loudspeakers
- (27) PowerMatch PM8500N amplifiers
2025 New System Components:
Integrator
Audio & Comfort is a Mexican company specializing in audiovisual systems integration, with more than 30 years of experience in Bose Professional technology. It was one of the first companies in Mexico to market and install Bose Professional systems in all types of venues. It has been present at BBVA Stadium since its construction and has been the audio system provider from day one. Thanks to their service and the excellent results achieved over more than a decade, the stadium has once again placed its trust in Audio & Comfort to lead this system upgrade project.
- CEO: Jorge López Berrueta
- Project Engineer (both phases): Alejandro Palacios
- Design Engineer: Eduardo Monroy
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Featured Components
ArenaMatch Line Array with DeltaQ
ArenaMatch loudspeakers featuring DeltaQ technology provide modular, variable sound coverage, allowing precise control of horizontal and vertical dispersion. This flexibility makes it possible to direct sound precisely where the audience sits, delivering clear speech and consistent coverage in large, complex stadium environments.
ShowMatch subwoofers
ShowMatch SMS118 subwoofers are designed primarily to integrate with DeltaQ array loudspeakers and extend low-frequency response down to 29 Hz. The SMS118 enclosure width and integrated rigging allows fast integration in arrays with ShowMatch full-range modules using optional array frames and accessories. The portable-rated Baltic birch enclosure may also be used for ground-stack applications and includes an integrated mounting-pole adapter for use with other mid/high loudspeakers.
PowerShareX Power Amplifiers
PowerShareX amplifiers dynamically allocate power across outputs as needed, providing the flexibility and headroom required for large-scale venues. This approach simplifies system design while ensuring consistent performance across hundreds of loudspeakers.
Modeler Acoustic Simulation Software
Modeler software enables detailed acoustic modeling and system design in a virtual environment. By simulating speaker angles, positions, and heights before installation, system designers can optimize coverage through iterative refinement
