Wharfedale Pro WLA-115 line array elements and WLA-118SUB subwoofers have been installed in eight suspended arrays at Manchester’s AO Arena, home of the Manchester Storm ice hockey team. The system is powered by seven Wharfedale Pro DP-4100F amplifiers and is designed to give consistent coverage across both the upper and lower seating tiers, for uses from match announcements and player introductions to music and goal celebrations.
The arrays hang between the venue’s structural beams about 29m above the playing surface, where limits on loudspeaker placement and the steeply tiered seating made even coverage a challenge. The hybrid curvature design of the WLA-1 Series allowed installation specialist DizzyFish to set the curvature of each array individually, directing sound from the highest tiers down towards spectators at ice level.
The amplifiers sit in the roof space, close to high-power electrical infrastructure, where conventional copper signal cabling risked interference. DizzyFish ran fibre-optic signal lines between the venue’s mixing system and the amplifiers to help maintain signal integrity.
The arena also hosts major concerts, live entertainment and other sporting events, so the system had to be a permanent installation that would not interfere with other productions. DizzyFish had previously installed Wharfedale Pro loudspeakers at Manchester Storm’s former home, and the club’s experience of that system played a part in the decision to stay with the brand at the larger venue.
Manchester Storm compete in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) and returned to the AO Arena for the 2026/27 season, their first appearance at the venue in more than two decades.
Mark Noakes, director of operations at Manchester Storm IHC, said: “Delivering an unforgettable game-night atmosphere is all about creating excitement, energy, and an incredible experience for every fan. From the opening face-off to the final buzzer, outstanding sound quality plays a vital role in bringing the arena to life. Wharfedale Pro speakers represent the kind of powerful, clear, and immersive audio experience that can elevate match-night entertainment, player introductions, goal celebrations, and music throughout the venue.”
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