DCU Center completes $2.2M sound system upgrade with help of local firms

A stadium jumbotron with speakers next to it, all suspended from an arena ceiling

Photo | Courtesy of DCU Center The DCU Center has a new sound system, following an upgrade worth $2.2 million.

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Worcester’s DCU Center has a newly upgraded sound system, following a $2.2-million renovation involving two Central Massachusetts companies.

The full sound system overhaul involved the installation of modern equipment and software to provide richer and clearer audio to all seating levels at the 14,000-seat arena, according to a press release issued by Los Angeles-based ASM Global, the operator of the DCU Center.

Franklin-based Eastern Acoustic Works teamed up with Texas-based engineering consultant WJHW, Inc. to design the new system, while Worcester-based Ostrow Electric worked with Connecticut-based Metropolitan Interactive to install it.

Sandy Dunn

“This project reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for every guest who walks through our doors,” Sandy Dunn, general manager of the DCU Center for ASM Global, said in the press release. “Partnering with respected Massachusetts-based companies like EAW and Ostrow Electric allowed us to not only enhance our capabilities but also invest in the local economy. The result is a sound system that truly matches the caliber of events we’re proud to host here in Worcester.”

The upgrade comes as part of a series of improvements made at the venue, including the $7-million installation of new seats as part of a 2023 upgrade.

“The DCU Center is a cornerstone of this region’s entertainment, and we’re proud to deliver a system that matches its scale and significance,” TJ Smith, president of Eastern Acoustic Works, said in the press release. “This project means even more to us because it’s in our backyard, just down the road from our new headquarters in Franklin. We’re thrilled to help create an unforgettable experience for every audience member.”

In the years after the DCU first opened in 1982, the venue attracted a number of high-profile acts who sought out the venue as a better alternative to the since-demolished Boston Garden, which was known for its poor acoustics, bad concert sightlines, and lack of air conditioning, according to the Worcester Telegram. Acts such as The Who, Boston, Neil Diamond, and Van Halen played at the venue in the 1980s.

While musicians now have the newer TD Garden in Boston and a variety of other venues to choose from in Massachusetts, acts like Iron Maiden, Evanescence, bluegrass artist Billy Strings, and rapper Tyler, the Creator have held concerts at the DCU Center since 2020.

An April study organized by the DCU Center and Digital Federal Credit Union found the venue has been responsible for about $204 million in direct spending since 2016. ASM Global’s contract to run the City-owned venue was extended for 10 years in October.

Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.