XFINITY East Plaza on the east side of American Airlines Arena — home of the NBA’s Miami Heat — is more than a place for fans to prep before a game or celebrate a victory afterwards. It serves as the newest entertainment venue in downtown Miami complete with performance stage and dynamic lighting rig from Elation Professional. Used to host pre-game, half time and post-game events, the 23,000 square foot outdoor space takes all the excitement of a Heat game and brings it outdoors. Heat fans are encouraged to arrive to games early to enjoy live music and entertainment, not to mention the stunning view of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline, all while enjoying a drink from the Bacardi-sponsored bar (Bacardi also hosts a concert series) and food from local vendors.
The multi-faceted space can also be customised to host special events, private parties or any other event. A 720 sq ft stage with back riser for DJ setups is outfitted with Elation SixPar Series PAR colour changers and Platinum Beam 5R Extreme beam effects. An elegant installation with a visually appealing design and eye-catching environment, the flexibility of the dynamic lighting system allows the space to serve as a pre or post game chill zone or dress as a club-like setting or concert environment.
The Elation gear is mounted on a custom Duratruss system while a 70,000 watt audio system ensures no one misses a beat. A large LED wall behind the stage also broadcasts live game feeds. Contractor for the sale, installation and service of the lighting, truss and stage was by A Lighting and Sound of Miami. “We chose Elation fixtures due to their impressive beams, speed and durability,” said Alan Rodriguez of A Lighting and Sound. “Having a local repair and distribution centre here in the Miami area was also a benefit that the client saw as a big factor in making the decision to go with Elation. Having a large demo room here locally certainly made my job easier.”
The Elation SixPar Series PAR colour changers and Platinum Beam 5R Extreme beam effects are located above the performance stage and used to provide dynamic colour wash. 35 SixPar 100 fixtures with 7x 12-watt LEDs are used to warm the truss in virtually any shade the occasion calls for. 35 SixPar 200 fixtures with 12 12-watt LEDs for extra punch are used for stage wash. The SixPar fixtures feature a six colour LED multi-chip meaning they can colour match the environment to any occasion, and they have plenty of brightness. Working with the SixPar fixtures and providing dynamic beam movement effects are 12 Platinum Beam 5R Extremes used for stage and aerial looks. The lighting system is under the control of an Elation-distributed HedgeHog 4X lighting console with DMX transmitted wirelessly via a pair of Elation EWDMXT wireless DMX transmitters.
The energy-efficient Elation LED lighting system also fits in with the Heat Group’s commitment to environmentally sound principles and practices. American Airlines Arena became the first sports and entertainment facility in the world to receive LEED Gold recertification as an international leader in operational sustainability and the low power SixPar solution with LED life rating of 100,000 hours complements that ethos. LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council’s leading rating system for designing, constructing and operating the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient, and highest performing buildings.
