The Disconnect

Cowtown Coliseum is a historic 2,400+ seat arena located in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. Built in 1908 as the Grand Coliseum, it is renowned as the site of the world’s first indoor rodeo in 1918, establishing Fort Worth’s enduring “Cowtown” identity. Over the decades, the venue has hosted legendary performances by Elvis Presley, speeches by Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Jimmy Carter, and high-profile events like Professional Bull Riders (PBR) competitions.

 

As the Coliseum continued to expand its role hosting year-round rodeos, concerts, bull riding competitions, and community events, leadership recognized that the aging sound system no longer met the expectations of today’s fans. The challenge was to implement a modern upgrade that delivered consistent clarity and impact for every type of performance while preserving the Coliseum’s historic character.

 

Testimonial

“When we made the decision to replace the sound system, we went through an exhaustive 6-month bidding process.  We wanted to make sure that the company and system we used would be a choice that would reflect our needs as well as be unobtrusive enough to not impact the character and history of the building.  I had hoped for a major difference in the sound and was amazed.  CSD created a custom sound system that is unbelievable.  The same level and quality of sound in every seat of the building, and I tried them all lol.  Since the first day of the switch over to the new system we have had tremendous feedback from out guest on how clear and rich the sound is now for our events.”

 

— Tim Long, General Manager, Cowtown Coliseum

 

The Science

CSD engineered and installed a fully modernized Meyer Sound point-source & distributed ecosystem tailored for the unique acoustics and diverse applications of the historic arena. Leveraging advanced 3D predictive modeling, the design replaced an uneven pair of line-array clusters with smaller, powerful loudspeakers distributed throughout the venue. This ensures uniform coverage and a clear, consistent sound for every single guest across all seating areas. The system also provided usable, high-fidelity audio on the arena floor and in the back chute staging areas, allowing staff and performers to hear the show for the first time ever, which is a vital enhancement for operational capabilities and safety.

 

Beyond coverage, advanced system controls allow Cowtown to quickly reconfigure the sound to match the wide variety of programming often presented in a single night, from a traditional rodeo to bull riding, then a live concert and a dance. Each configuration is fully time-aligned to ensure maximum speech intelligibility and musical impact, giving fans an outstanding experience no matter the event.

 

The Art

The solution balanced cutting-edge performance with profound respect for Cowtown’s Mission Revival architecture. Equipment was integrated with intentional design to enhance the event experience without disrupting the venue’s historic aesthetic.

 

The result is a modernized arena that honors its legacy while delivering a sound system built for ultimate flexibility. Fans now enjoy an audio experience that matches the intensity and energy of every performance. Crucially, the staff now has the tools to execute shows with faster turnarounds, a higher level of sound reproduction, and the ability to continue raising the bar without needing to augment the house system.