Gloucester's Kingsholm ground is quite literally famous worldwide for its atmosphere and the Club's Board of Directors are committed to an ongoing programme of improvements to the supporters' experience that has seen them invest millions of pounds in facilities.
The most notable of these improvements was, of course, the building of the Mira Showers Grandstand in 2007.
The Club recognised that the previous sound system was not fit for purpose, nor was it up to the standard of the other facilities in the ground.
The brief to Converge was to provide a new system that would ensure that even on matchdays where the ground is full to its 16,500 capacity, announcements could be heard by everybody in the ground.
Converge also needed to take account of the fact that the ground is now used all year round, with events as diverse as conferences and weddings through to pop concerts with the likes of The Wanted and Tom Jones.
Converge's experience and excellent reputation in the field of fixed installations, and their role as the club's IT partner, made them the obvious choice to be charged with responsibility for the design and installation of the system.
Converge Networks chosen product provider for the equipment for the project was Electro-Voice.
Electro-Voice is one of the world's leading providers of fixed installation sound equipment for sporting stadiums, conference centres and concert halls.
"As with any project we enter into, we considered a wide variety of potential suppliers for this project.
"There was a fierce competition in which a large variety of different systems with different specifications were considered", recalls Converge Networks' Operations Manager Kevin Slater.
"At the end of the day, the Club's Management, guided by us, opted for the Electro-Voice system that represented the best option in terms not only of sound quality and reliability but also value for money".
The most awkward challenge was the physical installation of the loudspeakers in the 20-metre-high roof above the grandstands.
In the Mira Showers Stand, 16 Zx1i loudspeakers directed towards the playing field are mounted on the vertical beams that carry the roof.
The north stand, affectionately known and revered as 'The Shed', is served by 14 EVID 6.2T loudspeakers.
Eight EVID 6.2T loudspeakers serve the West Terrace, and these, too, are directed towards the pitch.
The result is crystal clear sound with a high level of intelligibility wherever you are in the ground.
The system is driven by one PA 2400T and one CPS4.10 power amplifier. Control and supervision of the loudspeakers as well as equalization are provided by a Dx46 sound system processor controlled using IRIS-Net software.
Announcements and commentary from the touchline are captured and transmitted by an RE-2 wireless system from Electro-Voice.
The performance delivered by the newly installed sound system has been warmly welcomed by both club officials and supporters alike.
Acting Managing Director for Gloucester Rugby, Chris Ferguson explained why the club has invested in the technology.
"Gloucester Rugby fans are renowned for their passion and their knowledge of the game.
"At the Club we are determined to provide the supporters with the experience which they deserve and we saw the sound system as being key to this.
"For us, Converge were an obvious choice and we are delighted with the end product which is befitting of a leading Premiership Club".
Kevin Slater of Converge Networks commented:
"The feedback from spectators has been great. A very small number complained that it was almost too clear - nostalgic almost for the erratic performance of the old system, which left many unable to hear announcements.
"The overwhelming majority are full of praise for the new sound reinforcement system and have not been slow to voice their approval via social networks like Twitter and in their blogs."
