AMAHORO STADIUM, RWANDA

An iconic venue, renovated to host top-level events

Located in Kigali, the Amahoro Stadium is Rwanda’s main sports venue and one of the most iconic in East Africa. Inaugurated in 1986, its name means “Stadium of Peace.”

Between 2022 and 2024, the stadium was completely renovated, doubling its capacity from 25,000 to 45,508 spectators and becoming the largest and most modern venue in the country. A second tier of stands and a new roof were built. Accessibility improvements were made, and a decorative façade featuring traditional Rwandan patterns was installed. In addition, advanced technologies were incorporated to meet international standards for sports and cultural events.

Amahoro Stadium hosts matches of Rwanda’s national football team as well as games of local clubs such as APR FC and Rayon Sports FC. It has also been the venue for international events, including the final of the African Nations Championship in 2016. With its modernization, the stadium is now prepared to host high-level competitions and major cultural events.

As part of this ambitious renovation, the stadium’s management also decided to upgrade and enhance its sound systems to meet international standards and deliver a high-quality audio experience for attendees. To carry out this project, they relied on GALA AVL, a company specialized in the design and integration of professional audio, video, and lighting solutions for performance venues and live events.

An urban, multifunctional facility exposed to extreme weather

One of the first challenges posed by the project was its location. Situated just a short distance from downtown Kigali in a densely urbanized area, Amahoro Stadium required a highly controlled acoustic design to prevent sound dispersion and avoid disturbing nearby residential zones. On top of that, the technical requirements set by FIFA’s international standards demanded precise sound pressure levels and high speech intelligibility to ensure that announcements could be clearly heard by both spectators in the stands and players on the field.

The complexity of the project increased due to the stadium’s multifunctional nature, with each area having very different acoustic and technical needs. From the main stadium to the Petit Hall, the press room, meeting rooms, and conference hall, the system needed to adapt to widely varying contexts, each with different volumes, materials, and uses.

During the installation phase, the region’s typical weather conditions—with frequent heavy rains and dust storms—posed an additional challenge for the technical team, especially when working at height. But beyond these occasional conditions, Rwanda’s climate is notably harsh, requiring the installation of robust and reliable sound systems capable of withstanding the test of time in such a demanding environment.

Furthermore, the stadium lacked technical rooms near the roof, making it impossible to install amplifiers close to the loudspeakers. This limitation presented a significant issue that could affect system performance if not properly addressed.

WR series, a byword for durability

To meet these challenges, the design and installation team proposed a comprehensive solution carefully adapted to the stadium and each of its spaces. In the main area, 76 WR-6415-CX systems were installed, chosen for their durability in extreme environments. Given the region’s frequent heavy rains and dust storms, it was essential to have loudspeakers capable of maintaining optimal performance over time, even under the harsh weather conditions typical of much of the African continent.

One of the major challenges was the inability to place amplifiers near the loudspeakers due to the lack of nearby technical rooms. To prevent performance loss, the entire system cabling was redesigned. All amplifiers were centralized in the control room, and to compensate for the distance, over 20,000 meters of high-quality cable were used—approximately four times the usual amount for a setup of this kind. Additionally, each loudspeaker was assigned a dedicated amplifier channel, resulting in the use of 43 amplifiers from the HA-4000 and HA-2700 series, ensuring maximum control and efficiency.

Beyond the stadium, the sound system was extended to other areas of the complex, each with specific needs. In the Petit Hall, intended for institutional events and smaller-scale functions, 14 VANTEC-12 systems were installed, supported by four VANTEC-18 subwoofers and eight amplifiers from the HA-2700 and HA-1500 series. In the press room, ARTEC-310 systems were installed along with HA-900 amplifiers and INTEGRAL-MC01 microphones. Meanwhile, the meeting room, conference hall, and boardroom were all equipped with ARCO-24-T systems, also accompanied by INTEGRAL-MC01 microphones.

A robust and precise system ready for every major event

The renovation of Amahoro Stadium has transformed this iconic venue into a landmark of sport and culture in East Africa. Since its official reopening on July 1, 2024, the stadium has hosted major events such as the African Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship, qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and the derby between APR FC and Rayon Sports FC, which drew 45,000 spectators.

The implementation of a robust sound system adapted to local climate conditions has been key to ensuring a high-quality audio experience at all these events. Thanks to the collaboration with GALA AVL, an acoustic solution was achieved that meets the highest international standards, establishing Amahoro Stadium as a venue ready to host large-scale sporting and cultural events.