Wharfedale Pro installs audio system at Manchester’s AO Arena

Wharfedale Pro has supplied a new sound reinforcement system for the AO Arena in Manchester, the new home of the Manchester Storm ice hockey team. The installation, managed by DizzyFish, aims to provide consistent audio coverage across both the upper and lower seating tiers for sporting events and concerts.

The system features WLA-115 line array elements and WLA-118SUB subwoofers distributed across eight suspended arrays. These arrays are positioned approximately 29 meters above the playing surface between structural beams. To power the system, seven Wharfedale Pro DP-4100F amplifiers were utilized. To prevent signal interference near high-power electrical infrastructure in the roof space, fiber-optic signal lines were used between the venue’s mixing system and the amplifiers.

The Manchester Storm returned to the AO Arena for the 2026/27 season, marking their first appearance at the venue in over two decades. The permanent installation is designed to support match announcements, player introductions, and music without interfering with the arena’s other live entertainment productions.