A New Benchmark for Sports & Live Events @ZSC Lions
Founded in 1930, the ZSC Lions are one of Switzerland’s most storied ice hockey teams. In spring 2024, they celebrated their tenth Swiss Championship title, adding another chapter to their rich legacy.
With the opening of the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich-Altstetten in autumn 2022, the Lions set a new benchmark for sports and live event experiences in Europe. The arena, with a capacity of around 12,000 spectators, serves not only as the home of the Lions but also as a cutting-edge multipurpose venue for concerts, corporate events, and large-scale gatherings.
The project’s mission was to deliver an audiovisual system that meets the highest international standards – one that captivates the passionate fan base, supports professional TV broadcasts and detailed game analysis, and remains flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of events and advertising opportunities.
Our Solution
Commissioned by the general contractor Bild + Ton AG, AVC-Systems AG handled the complete planning, delivery, installation, and commissioning of the entire video control room and graphics system – including comprehensive operator training and on-site technical support throughout the launch phase.
Installation Highlights
XPression Tessera Graphics System – Powers Europe’s largest LED cube as well as the stadium’s surrounding LED boards with nine Full-HD outputs, allowing pixel-perfect control of every single LED.
Ultrix Routing System – Serves as the central signal hub with built-in frame synchronization. The control room can seamlessly produce its own content (via Mira Replay) while also accessing all camera feeds from the OB van.
Mira Replay – A 12-channel replay system designed for maximum flexibility. While the production team creates live replays for the LED cube or livestreams, a second system is dedicated to the coaching staff for real-time game analysis.
Carbonite Ultra Production Switcher – Handles complex multi-screen layouts, such as animations that “travel” across all four sides of the LED cube.
Custom Ross DashBoard Interface – A central, intuitive control interface that unifies graphics, routing, lighting, Crestron integration, and switching – enabling highly efficient, streamlined operation.
The Result
Just in time for the grand opening – with a sold-out arena and special guests from the club’s history – the system was fully operational. Spectators experienced a visual spectacle at the highest technical level, transforming the arena into an immersive environment, celebrated by fans during games and events such as the CHL victory in 2024.
The ZSC Lions’ media team, supported by AVC’s training, benefits from a reliable, high-performance, and intuitive control room infrastructure, which also provides sponsors with optimal visibility. Sabrina Fraticelli, Team Lead Technical Venue Operations, emphasized:
“We are currently using only 15% of the capabilities that the Ross solutions offer – I’m excited to see where we will be in five or ten years.”
AVC-Systems AG is proud to have successfully delivered this prestigious project together with the ZSC Lions and Ross Video. We thank them for their trust and look forward to many more spectacular games – in one of Europe’s most advanced arenas.
