Barclays Center hires ‘sound concierge’ to fix acoustics issues

Officials at the Barclays Center in New York have acquired the services of a "sound concierge" following complaints from artists about the stadium’s acoustics.

According to the Atlantic Yards Report blog, the action was taken in response to feedback from musicians saying that the Center wasn’t loud enough. However, local residents have also spoken out about the noise levels being too high.

Almost 2,000 acoustic panels have been put in place at the Brooklyn venue as well, at a cost of $500,000, to dampen the bass.

"It turns out the way the arena was built, there was distortion in the upper bowl of the arena, which was causing artists to say It doesn’t sound right, turn up the volume," Ashley Cotton, chief of staff for the Barclays Center’s developer Forest City Ratner, said at a recent Atlantic Yards Quality of Life Committee meeting.

Cotton added that artist contracts will now include "compliance with the city’s sound code."

Photo credit: Ray Stubblebine

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