Itaka Arena | Bose Professional

About the Project

Delivering Outstanding Sound at One of Europe’s Best-Sounding Stadiums

How a world-class stadium in Poland became one of Europe’s best-sounding venues — thanks to ArenaMatch, pinpoint installation, and a cross-team collaboration that raised the bar for intelligibility and fan experience.

When the city of Opole set out to build a new stadium for Odra Opole football club, they envisioned more than just a modern sports facility — they aimed to create a cultural landmark, community gathering space, and high-performance venue for concerts, events, and international matches. The result is Itaka Arena — a state-of-the-art facility with striking architecture, sustainable infrastructure, and a sound system that’s already drawing attention across Europe.

Completed in March 2025, the 11,600-seat stadium was designed to host everything from league matches and concerts to festivals, family events, and more. That flexibility demanded a sound system that could deliver power, clarity, and control across every use case. That’s where Bose Professional came in.

A New Standard for Stadium Design in Poland

The Itaka Arena replaces the aging Odra Opole stadium built in 1930, which had become outdated and impractical despite multiple upgrades. Construction of the new facility began after a design tender in 2020 and a contract awarded to Mirbud SA in 2021 — the same firm behind several prominent Polish stadiums.

Designed by 90 Architekci of Warsaw, the new structure is both functional and beautiful. Its translucent, Teflon-coated fiberglass façade wraps around a steel frame and is illuminated by 456 RGB lights that shift colors to match club events, national holidays, or concerts. Inside, fans enjoy covered stands, modern food kiosks, excellent accessibility for people with disabilities, and thoughtful amenities like a dedicated family section, heated VIP areas, and a press room configured for automated operation.

The Bose Professional Solution

But perhaps most impressively, Itaka Arena was engineered as a zero-energy facility, powered by a 280 kWp photovoltaic installation. The design also includes ecological heat pumps, cogeneration units, and a rainwater harvesting system for irrigation.

“We have strived to make this stadium truly ecological, modern, and affordable to operate, while also being of the highest quality and durability,” said Patryk Stasiak, President of the Management Board of the Municipal Plant in Opole.

The Audio Challenge: Power, Intelligibility, and Versatility

With nearly 12,000 spectators, a multi-zone structure, and a mandate for sustainability and performance, Itaka Arena needed a sound system that could do more than just cover the pitch. It needed to create an immersive audio experience for fans, deliver clarity for speech and announcements, and provide musical impact for concerts and ceremonies.

Bose Professional was selected to meet that challenge. The core of the system centers on ArenaMatch AM40 modules, purpose-built for large outdoor venues. The stadium became the first in Central Europe to install this system — joining the ranks of elite facilities like Sunderland A.F.C., PSV Eindhoven, and Juventus.

Working in close partnership, AV Projekt (system design), Commercial Audio (coordination and commissioning), and Ragtime (installation and LED screen integration) executed a multi-year deployment. Tomasz Nowicki of Commercial Audio served as project lead and designer for the interior sound system.

“At Bose Professional, the design and production of loudspeakers take a very long time because they are thoroughly tested,” said Jarek Repeć from Bose Professional. “We put them in a freezer at -30 degrees Celsius and in an oven at +70 degrees Celsius, and they have to perform under these conditions. Our standards also stipulate 500 hours of play in various conditions, without any change in parameters.”

Precision Installation and Rigorous Tuning

A total of 24 ArenaMatch AM40 modules were deployed in clusters around the stadium: five clusters along each long side, three on each short side, and one in each corner. Due to budgetary constraints, the initial design was adjusted to use fewer clusters — which meant each one had to be placed with extraordinary accuracy. Speakers were installed within 0.5 meters horizontal accuracy and 0.5 degrees of angular precision.

“Installing the speakers themselves, which provide sound for the stands, was also a considerable challenge,” said Nowicki. “The initial design involved more arrays and loudspeakers, but to stay within the budget, it was necessary to reduce their number. Consequently, all clusters had to be positioned with truly surgical precision.”

The loudspeakers are bi-amped using twelve PowerShareX PSX4804D amplifiers, distributed across four rack locations in the stadium’s corners. Each rack includes networked Cisco CBS switches connected via a pure point-to-point Dante fiber-optic ring that also links the main console, press room, VIP areas, OB vans, and central audio processor.

The system is managed by two ControlSpace EX-1280 processors, configured with full redundancy. If one fails, the second seamlessly takes over. This ensures uninterrupted coverage and maximum uptime — a necessity for both match-day performance and emergency notification compliance.

At the heart of the control system is a Yamaha TF-1 console in the announcer’s booth. A second console, the Yamaha TF-3, and a Tio 1608-D2 Dante stage box provide additional flexibility for mobile and press applications.

Audio That Adapts to Every Event

The tuning process was led by Dawid Roszczyk of Bose Professional Polska and stadium audio veteran Moreno Zampieri from Bose Professional Italy. Their goal: deliver clear, even sound to every seat in the stadium. That meant not just targeting a “sweet spot,” but treating the entire stadium as the sweet spot.

“The biggest challenge was undoubtedly that we couldn’t tune the system to a single sweet spot,” said Roszczyk. “We wanted everyone, from the first to the last row, to have the same experience and enjoy the same sound quality.”

Using multiple microphones and over 120 measurement points, the team tuned each zone for maximum clarity. Speech transmission index (SPI) scores reached 0.58 to 0.65 across the venue — an outstanding result for an open-air environment.

For field monitoring and event performances, eight ArenaMatch AM40 loudspeakers were mounted to face the pitch — four on each side — enabling players, performers, and ceremony participants to hear in real time.

“Creating a monitor system for the pitch helped eliminate the need for extensive in-ear systems or floor wedges,” said Nowicki. “It simplifies production and ensures everyone hears key announcements.”

Communication That Covers Every Zone

The interior sound systems feature DesignMax DM3P pendant loudspeakers, offering consistent voicing and discreet aesthetics in the VIP rooms and press facilities.

The press room uses three gooseneck microphones and an automixer built into the EX-1280 processor. Users can control volume via wall panel or mobile app — no AV tech required.

A Clear-Com Arcadia intercom system powers communications throughout the stadium. FreeSpeak II belt packs and antennas provide reliable coverage from locker rooms to broadcast trucks. The Sonifex commentator desks integrate seamlessly with the system, allowing talent to communicate clearly with production crews.

A Sound System Worthy of the Spectacle

The opening ceremony in March 2025 was a spectacular debut for the new system. Despite initial skepticism from artist crews, who considered bringing in external concert arrays, the in-house system impressed even the most seasoned engineers.

“Almost every sound engineer who arrived with individual artists wondered whether it was really a good idea to play a concert using the stadium system,” said Nowicki. “But after the first sounds of the rehearsal, a broad smile spread across each of their faces. They unanimously admitted they had been wrong.”

During typical match days, the system delivers crystal-clear commentary and immersive crowd engagement. In the event of a concert or festival, select loudspeaker zones can be deactivated to prevent reflections from empty seats. And in emergencies, the voice alarm system overrides seamlessly to deliver safety announcements.

More Than a Stadium: A Model for the Future

The Itaka Arena in Opole has quickly become a point of pride for the city and a model for stadium design across Poland. Its integrated, intelligent sound system ensures that no matter the event — from high-stakes matches to celebratory concerts — every moment is heard with power, precision, and clarity.

“This stadium truly changes everything in terms of the facilities available to Odra Opole footballers, but also for the entire city and region,” said Stasiak. “It’s a facility that can’t be compared to our old stadium.”

And thanks to the Bose Professional team and its regional partners, the stadium is already inspiring inquiries from other venues looking to replicate its success.

System Highlights: