MEMBER PROFILE
Flames heat up fans
By
Jan 18, 2007 - 11:36:51 AM

By Andrew Lippe

The Pengrowth Saddledome, home to the NHL’s Calgary Flames prides itself on hockey tradition. “We are one of the only buildings in the league that tries to do a full hockey telecast,” said Carlo Petrini Broadcast, Director, and Producer, at Pengrowth Saddledome. “We show every penalty, every goal replay, people are surprised by how much we do.”

To enhance their video production the Saddledome added a new Daktronics ProStar LED centerhung scoreboard. The scoreboard has four main video screens and eight additional full-color LED displays used to display scores, and game stats.

“The new video boards are widescreen, 16 by 9, and they have a lot more video capabilities,” said Petrini. Each of the eight displays measures approximately 8-feet high by 10-feet 6-inches wide and allows more output to be produced. “We can show multiple hockey games at once during our intermission periods.”

The new system is controlled by the proven Venus 7000 controller, V-Link video processor and All Sport scoring controller. Daktronics also has two large LED displays that are mounted on the fascia of the seating bowl.

Six Sony 16x9 cameras with HD capability, five POV cameras, numerous Sennheiser and Shure mics, one EVS System, and a Grass Valley server make up the Saddledome’s in game production.  An MVP truck is used for live telecasts and 3D graphics are created in house and delivered onto the large LED screens using 3D Studio max. “Harris Inscriber does the fonts for our in game graphics,” said Petrini.

Petrini and the team also utilize a variety of home editors including Axio, Media 100, Avid DS, and Leitch Velocity systems.  “To play old animation elements we have a DPS playback system,” said Petrini. Production all comes together with the Echolab production switcher.

Many times during games crowd shots are often blasted onto the video screens and on the TV sets at home. Petrini said that their focus remains on the hockey action but pleasing the fans remains a huge component of the hockey experience.  “Videos must maintain a dramatic tone and build an excitement for fans,” said Petrini.

To enhance that excitement videos are often accompanied by a musical theme. “Music is the hardest part; the right song seems to be dwindling.”

Another special feature to the arena is their fireball display located on the sides of the scoreboard and on the ice during player entrances. Their fireballs are propane injected fire cannons set off huge gigantic fireballs operated by a plunger switch up in press box.



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