Meyer Sound Audio Upgrade a Winner at UC Berkeley’s California Memorial Stadium

California Memorial Stadium at the University of California, Berkeley, has completed a comprehensive audio upgrade featuring a new Meyer Sound ULTRA family system. The design elevates the game-day experience for fans, athletes, and the broader campus community while continuing a long partnership between Cal Athletics and Meyer Sound.

Opened in 1923, California Memorial Stadium is a Berkeley landmark and one of college football’s most scenic venues, framed by the Berkeley Hills and overlooking San Francisco Bay. The stadium was rededicated in 2012 following a major seismic retrofit that preserved its historic facade while modernizing its infrastructure for future generations of fans.

The new sound system, designed with the MAPP 3D system design and prediction tool and supplied by Sound Image, a Clair Global brand, replaces an earlier Meyer Sound installation with a fully modernized distributed system built around ULTRA family loudspeakers and 750‑LFC low-frequency control elements. The result is more consistent coverage, greater low-end impact, and a more immersive experience across all seating tiers. “We’ve partnered with Meyer Sound for many years, going back well before the 2012 seismic retrofit of the stadium,” says Kurt Sakasegawa, building systems manager for Cal Athletics. “This new system builds on that foundation and really raises the bar for clarity and power.”

The upgrade also introduces Milan-based networked audio infrastructure, ensuring lossless digital signal transport, precise synchronization, and scalable flexibility for future expansion. “The Milan network makes things easy to manage, and we’re getting the best possible signal straight from source to loudspeaker,” he adds. “It ticks a lot of boxes for us in terms of flexibility, expansion, and reliability.”

The configuration comprises 20 ULTRA‑X80, 27 ULTRA‑X82, two ULTRA‑X20, 21 ULTRA‑X23, and 13 ULTRA‑X40 point source loudspeakers supported by eight USW‑210P compact narrow subwoofers and 20 750-LFC and two 2100‑LFC low-frequency control elements, all managed by Galileo GALAXY 408 and 816 Network Platforms. The design delivers uniform coverage across all seating areas while maintaining tight pattern control to minimize spill into the surrounding Berkeley neighborhood—a long-standing priority for the venue’s operations team.

The system design incorporates thoughtful refinements to support both spectator and on-field experiences. A pair of loudspeakers previously dedicated to the student section were re-oriented toward the field, providing focused sound reinforcement for players during practices and pre-game warmups. The change enhances on-field energy without compromising clarity in the stands. To extend that experience, two 2100-LFC low-frequency control elements add extra punch and presence for players during practices and warmups.

A second system installation phase, completing the press box area, is scheduled before the 2026 football season.

Coaches and players have commented on the increased energy and presence the new system delivers on the field. “With Meyer Sound, we have enhanced our audio system to continue to invest in an elevated game-day experience for our fans at California Memorial Stadium,” says California Football General Manager Ron Rivera.

Kenny Lauer, Meyer Sound’s global head, experience and strategic innovation, frames the upgrade as part of a growing awareness of how sound shapes live events. “In sports, sound isn’t background—it’s the emotional engine of the experience,” he says. “At Memorial Stadium, you can feel how great sound connects fans and athletes in the same moment. It’s not just about volume; it’s about presence, emotion, and memory. That connection is what keeps people coming back.”

For Cal, the project represents both continuity and renewal—extending a trusted partnership while setting a new standard for sound at the historic stadium. “We’ve worked with Meyer Sound for years, and this project continues that partnership,” says Casey W. Cox, associate athletic director of facilities. “It’s rewarding to see the stadium evolve while preserving that connection.”