MEMPHIS, Tennessee – February 2025 – Memphis, Tennessee is the birthplace of the blues, so fan expectations for sound are high in this “Music City.” It’s fitting then that fans of the NBA Memphis Grizzlies and the NCAA Division I men’s basketball of the University of Memphis are now enjoying impactful and engaging sound from an L-Acoustics Kara IIi system at FedExForum. Designed by consultancy WJHW and installed by integrator Solotech, the 19,000-capacity multipurpose arena’s new audio rig first went live on October 26th for the Grizzlies versus Orlando Magic game, and has also recently been used by key visiting music artists, including Billy Strings, Jhené Aiko, Justin Timberlake, and Maxwell.

“The original system from 2004 couldn’t meet current requirements for music playback expected by todays fans,” explains WJHW Principal Mark Graham, who led the system design. “The arena’s new rigging infrastructure covering two-thirds of the venue floor required an audio design that could deliver powerful performance within a compact footprint. Kara IIi meets these requirements perfectly.”

FedExForum’s new L-Acoustics professional sound system features eight arrays of 15 Kara IIi each, powered by LA7.16i amplified controllers, with two KS28 subs per hang powered by LA12X. In addition, two dozen coaxial X12 enclosures are used as delays for the upper-deck seating on the north and south ends, with eight larger X15 installed directly under the scoreboard as court-fills.

“L-Acoustics has elevated the experience for fans at FedExForum with world-class sound,” says Seth Tackett, Senior Director, Arena Operations. “Whether it is watching the Grizzlies or Tigers, or attending one of our many concerts or shows, guests of FedExForum are experiencing connections to our events like never before and we could not be more thrilled about it.”

The 800,000-plus-square-foot arena’s interior celebrates Memphis’ musical heritage, with artwork featuring locals like Justin Timberlake, B.B. King, and Elvis Presley. Even the venue’s dining spaces reflect this theme, including the Opus Restaurant and the Blue Note Lounge.

“Kara IIi sounds fantastic across various music genres,” adds Graham. “Its consistent coverage, both vertically and horizontally, combined with consistent speech intelligibility make it ideal for this installation.” And the system has one more ace up its sleeve: it’s a perfect fit for the arena’s new rigging system. “Combined with the great support from L-Acoustics, this system is the right choice for FedExForum,” he concludes.

For more details on FedExForum, visit www.fedexforum.com. WJHW and Solotech can be found online at www.wjhw.com and www.solotech.com, respectively.

About L-Acoustics
L-Acoustics has been shaping the future of sound since 1984 through trailblazing innovation. Our European-designed and manufactured solutions deliver premium sound experiences from the most intimate immersive spaces to the largest stages. L-Acoustics is the #1 brand chosen by the world’s largest music festivals and installed in over 13,000 premium venues from music halls, theaters, and sports entertainment to wellness, hospitality, homes and yachts.

Our team of 1,000 employees, including 20% in design, research, and development, conceives the industry’s most award-winning and transformative sound reinforcement technologies, including the modern line source array V-DOSC, L-ISA immersive hyperreal solutions, and the eco-conscious, performance-leading L-Series. These technologies have led to the company being honored with a Decibels d’Or and featured in Fast Company’s most innovative companies.

With major hubs in Paris, Los Angeles, London, and Singapore, and a network of trained service providers present in 80 countries, our technologies power the most demanding live events and memorable sound experiences: from Adele’s Las Vegas residency to the world’s largest sports events, from the Zaha Hadid-designed Guangzhou Opera House to the Philharmonie de Paris Concert Hall.