SPIE renovates the lighting and sound system of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, France

Saint-Denis, 5 September 2023 – SPIE CityNetworks, a subsidiary of SPIE France and the partner for regional performance that specialises in energy and digital networks, city services, transport and mobility, has upgraded to the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, France. Thanks to the solutions deployed by SPIE CityNetworks, the Saint-Etienne stadium can reduce its environmental impact and transform the spectator experience during sports competitions.

As the seventh largest stadium in France, with a capacity of 42,000 spectators, the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium regularly hosts international competitions.

SPIE CityNetworks, which belongs to the SPIE group, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, was selected in July 2022 by the Métropole de Saint-Etienne for the renovation of the stadium’s sound system and lighting, as well as metal structures and walkways needed for the movement of personnel for maintenance operations.

SPIE CityNetworks has deployed comprehensive and innovative solutions for these upgrades:

• for the lighting aspect: the creation of BIM (Building Information Modelling, a 3D design technology) plans, the supply and installation of 252 LED floodlights for the lighting of the playing area and 60 RGBW1 floodlights, making it possible to create dynamic colour effects, and the implementation of DMX2 management to monitor every aspect of the lighting.
• for the sound system: the performance of sizing studies, acoustic readings, the creation of BIM plans, the installation and connection of 29 amplifiers and 148 loudspeakers, and the renovation of the sound recording system.

Following the completion of this project done by a consortium, which was carried out in collaboration with the lighting designer, Cobalt, in particular, the spectators’ experience has been significantly improved thanks to the possibility of using lighting effects, the integration of sound shows and improved acoustics. The solutions implemented by SPIE CityNetworks have enabled the stadium to reduce its energy consumption by 25% since the beginning of 2023 and therefore its environmental impact.

“The expertise that SPIE CityNetworks has deployed in the upgrade of Geoffroy Guichard stadium has been both wide ranging and innovative. In particular, we have used BIM, which is rare on projects of this kind,” comments Damien Venet, Smart City Development Manager at SPIE CityNetworks. “We are pleased to have succeeded in completing this complex project in a short time and without the stadium experiencing any interruption to its events schedule. This project is also a perfect illustration of SPIE’s commitment to the energy transition”