'The sheer scale of the new digital infrastructure is impressive': The O2 Belfast completes major transformation with 500sqm LED upgrade
The arena has installed a 200-metre LED ribbon and four large-format scoreboards as part of a major investment in its digital infrastructure and customer experience
The O2 Belfast has completed a major digital infrastructure upgrade in partnership with Merson Digital, installing more than 500sqm of high-brightness LED technology as part of continued investment in the arena.
The project has introduced a new digital system across the up to 11,200-capacity venue, creating a significantly larger and more flexible platform for live entertainment, sport, advertising and fan engagement.
At the centre of the transformation is a 200-metre-long LED ribbon, measuring 1.5 metres high, which encircles the arena bowl.
The ribbon is complemented by four large-format corner scoreboards, each measuring 10 metres by 5.5 metres, creating a connected digital canvas of more than 500sqm throughout the venue.
The displays use 3.9mm pixel pitch high-brightness Yaham LED technology, allowing content to be clearly viewed from across the arena.
The upgrade is designed to give event organisers and promoters greater scope to integrate digital content, branding, messaging and visual effects into live events.
It will also have a particular impact on Belfast Giants home games, with Merson Digital delivering a multi-sports scoreboard solution integrated with the Navori content management system.
The system allows game information to be combined with dynamic content, fan engagement, commercial partner activations and in-arena entertainment across both the LED ribbon and scoreboards.
Craig Barrington, associate director of estates and facilities at The Odyssey Trust, said the project represented a significant step forward in what the venue could offer customers.
He explained: “The experience our customers have when they come through the doors is central to how we continue to develop The O2 Belfast, and this project represents a significant step forward in what we can deliver inside the venue.
“The sheer scale of the new digital infrastructure is impressive, but what matters most is what it enables us to do. We now have considerably greater scope to use the technology and content to add to the atmosphere and connect audiences with what is happening around them. It also gives us a platform that is much more adaptable, with every event having different requirements. Having more than 500sqm of high-quality digital inventory allows us to work creatively with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure that our customers have the best experience every time.”
The project builds on Merson Digital's growing presence in the live venue and experiential sectors.
The company has delivered more than 500 projects across more than 30 countries and manages more than 32,000 connected devices globally.
Its portfolio includes a major digital signage and audiovisual transformation at Manchester's AO Arena, as well as work at first direct bank arena in Leeds.
Merson Digital has also delivered projects for major international sports and lifestyle brands including the NBA, Nike, Under Armour and Sports Direct.
Josh Bunce, chief executive officer of Merson Digital, added: “The O2 Belfast is an iconic venue, and a project that Merson Digital is incredibly proud to be a part of. With a venue that moves between live entertainment and multiple sports, The Odyssey Trust needed a solution that could move with it.
"Our challenge was to bring more than 500sqm of LED, the venue’s CMS, and a multi-sport scoreboard together into one integrated system that was simple to manage and flexible enough for everything the venue hosts. It was a complex brief, but exactly the kind of challenge our team enjoys solving. A brilliant partnership with The Odyssey Trust and a huge credit to everyone involved.”
The completion of the summer-long project in time for the return of arena events and ice hockey games forms part of continued investment within the arena and the wider site at The O2 Belfast, supporting The Odyssey Trust’s digital-first ambition to enhance customer experience and ensure the venue continues to evolve alongside expectations within live entertainment and beyond.