17 Jan Why the Six Nations should sound great

The 2025 Six Nations tournament kicks off at the end of the month which could see around one million rugby fans flocking to stadia.

There will be many among them who have hearing loss and might struggle to hear ticket office staff, order their drinks or merchandise, and may not hear announcements or the half time entertainment.

Assistive listening technology can make all the difference to fans, throughout a noisy stadium, whether that’s for the Six Nations, Premier League games or any other major sporting fixtures.

A sound welcome

Window intercom systems make ordering tickets at secure windows, clear and stress-free.  With a microphone on either side of the glass, plus a speaker for fans and a headset for staff, both can hear each other despite the barrier.  Our systems encompass in-built hearing loop technology that gives hearing aid users sound direct to their devices, cutting out background noise.  It also makes venues compliant with accessibility legislation.

They are installed at Twickenham, the home of rugby, as well as hundreds of other sporting venues worldwide.

Chicken wings?  Or was that onion rings?

Hearing loops are also key at the bar and merchandise areas.  With the chatter of thousands of fans and music being played, buying a beer or snacks could be a frustrating and time-consuming experience.  The loop system includes a microphone on the counter that picks up the staff member’s voice, and an amplifier or ‘driver’ that then transmits the sound to a receiving T-coil in a user’s hearing aid.  Such clarity of sound can be transformational for fans and do much for a venue’s reputation.

Hearing at half time

With the likes of Rag ‘n’ Bone man taking to the pitch at half time, entertainment after the referee’s whistle has blown is growing.  But it’s not the show it should be if you can’t hear it.  There are a number of assistive listening technologies that are designed for large spaces like sports stadia that make performances clear and enjoyable.

The Boszik Arena in Budapest has used a Contacta RF system to bring clarity of sound to fans in its family area.

Safety first

Safety at sports arenas has improved immeasurably in recent years but fans with hearing loss need to be able to hear instructions and announcements.  Assistive listening technology is not just a ‘nice to have’ feature but an essential part of a communication system.

Our expert engineers can design and install an assistive listening system that makes every aspect of sport accessible to fans with hearing loss.

And that includes watching from the comfort of the sofa.