Southlake, Texas
The City of Southlake Aria Amphitheatre is a premier outdoor venue serving as a hub for concerts, weddings, cultural showcases, and community events. Located at the heart of Southlake’s community center complex, the amphitheatre has long been a destination for live performances. Over time, the existing audio and lighting systems began to fall short of modern expectations. The City of Southlake sought a high-performance outdoor amphitheater audio system capable of delivering clear, immersive sound for both music and spoken word, while remaining intuitive enough for venue staff to operate. Ford AV designed, engineered, and installed a complete upgrade to the amphitheatre’s AV systems, including sound, lighting, and rigging infrastructure.
Modernizing the Amphitheatre Audio System
The amphitheatre’s previous AV system struggled with coverage, clarity, and power, especially for large outdoor events. Ford AV’s solution was a comprehensive redesign of the outdoor concert sound system. The team installed a Meyer Sound line array system with dual subwoofers and a center-fill speaker. This ensured optimal sound coverage across the venue, providing both high-fidelity music reproduction and clear speech intelligibility.
Front-of-house control was upgraded to a digital mixing console housed in a portable rolling case. This allows the venue to manage audio efficiently for a variety of performances and events. The lighting system provides stage back-fill and ensures performers are clearly illuminated.
Overcoming Rigging and Structural Challenges
Installing a nearly 2,000-pound Meyer Sound system in an existing outdoor amphitheatre AV system presented significant rigging and structural challenges. The previous system was much lighter, so the new installation required careful engineering to ensure safety and structural integrity. All rigging hardware, including struts, bolts, hang points, and brackets, was upgraded to stainless steel, chosen for its corrosion resistance, high tensile strength, and long-term durability in outdoor environments.
Outdoor AV rigging poses unique challenges due to exposure to wind, moisture, and vibration. Despite the added complexity, all rigging was completed successfully, meeting Ford AV’s high standards for safety and durability.
Delivering High-Performance Sound for Outdoor Events
The upgraded system transformed the Aria Amphitheatre into a venue capable of professional-grade outdoor performances. Musicians, sound engineers, and performers can now rely on the venue’s built-in Meyer Sound system for the first time. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with users praising the clarity, power, and reliability of the audio.
“The Meyer Sound system we installed is the most high-fidelity performance audio system I’ve personally engineered at Ford and a joy to work with. Seeing the City of Southlake’s patrons and visiting performers thrilled to use the system rather than relying on rentals was a unique and rewarding experience.”
— Ford AV Project Team
The upgraded amphitheatre AV system also allows the venue to host a diverse range of events. The combination of Meyer line arrays, dual subwoofers, wireless microphones, and advanced mixing and lighting control ensures every event is supported by a reliable, professional-grade AV system.
Proven Expertise in Outdoor Venue AV
Ford AV’s work at the City of Southlake Aria Amphitheatre highlights the company’s ability to deliver professional AV solutions for challenging outdoor environments. The project required careful planning, engineering, and problem-solving to overcome structural limitations, heavy rigging requirements, and supply chain challenges. The result is a venue with world-class sound and lighting systems, capable of hosting diverse events with consistent, high-quality performance. The City of Southlake can now rely on its upgraded Aria Amphitheatre to deliver an exceptional experience for performers and audiences alike.
Partner with America’s Leading AV Technology Company
- Decades of Experience – Over 50 years designing, installing, and integrating professional amphitheatres’ AV systems for performance venues, outdoor amphitheatres, and event spaces.
- Comprehensive Outdoor AV Solutions – From high-fidelity concert sound systems to wireless microphones, LED stage lighting, and portable mixing consoles.
- Custom Engineering and Rigging Expertise – Our team handles complex outdoor installations, ensuring all rigging, structural, and safety requirements are met with stainless steel hardware and precision engineering.
- Scalable, High-Performance Systems – Designed for venues of all sizes, from intimate outdoor theaters to large community amphitheatres, with flexibility for concerts, weddings, and live events.
- Proven Results – Trusted by municipalities, cultural centers, schools, and community organizations to deliver immersive, professional-grade sound and lighting.
Ready to elevate your outdoor venue with a high-performance amphitheatre AV system?
