The must-have AV setup for sports bar in the NYC Metro area
For New York sports fans, the 2026 Super Bowl feels oddly distant. We have the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks playing on the West Coast. It’s not in our backyard and it’s not one of our home teams. But New Yorkers will still be watching.
The game is set to attract roughly 127.7 million TV viewers worldwide, on par with the 2023 match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, according to Marca.com.
Many will be gathered at their favorite neighborhood sports bar or restaurant to watch the action on a much bigger screen than their NYC apartment can hold.
Commercial AV for Sports Bars: Your Behind-the-Scenes MVP
Besides the beer, the food, and the service, it’s the AV solutions that set your sports bar apart, especially for a game as big as the Super Bowl. You need:
- Audio systems that people can hear over a roaring crowd
- Crystal clear video on larger-than-life screens
- Easy control so your staff can focus on guests, not systems
Creating the Ideal Third Place for Fans
Today’s sports fans need a reason to leave their homes. Especially during one of the coldest, snowiest seasons on record in New York. Home televisions measuring 100 inches diagonal and larger are on sale at Costco for under $2,000.
But a sports bar or restaurant offers so much more than a home viewing party, including the ability for guests to relax, let someone else do the cooking, and bond with strangers and friends in a super high-energy environment.
A sports bar that offers multiple viewing angles, the ability to hear the game and your friends, and an overall better customer experience than anything fans can find at home is going to be the place to be on Sunday, February 8.
The 12th Man Concept
Given that the Seattle Seahawks are set for the Super Bowl, it’s worth mentioning a concept familiar to their fans.
The 12th Man Concept (now deemed “12s” by the Seattle Seahawks) started at Texas A&M University back in 1922, a testament to the college football team’s enthusiastic fans.
American football teams only field 11 players at a time. The 12th player refers to the fans. The 12th Man, or in Seattle, the 12s, refers to enthusiastic, in-stadium fans steering the course of a home game with their intense support.
The Seattle Seahawks, also renowned for their enthusiastic fan base at Lumen Field, retired the No. 12 jersey in 1984 to honor their fans. In 2011, Seattle fans cheering causes a minor earthquake, according to Yahoo News, and the team set the Guinness World Record twice for loudest crowd noise at an event.
Even if you don’t have many Seattle fans in your New York sports bar, the goal is for guests to feel as if they are a part of the game, as fully immersed as anyone at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara this year.
Your Sports Bar AV Systems
Every audio visual installation features some must-have, and many nice-to-have, components. The technology, screens, the sounds, and the overall atmosphere make your venue the place to be for Super Bowl Sunday.
When your staff knows the technology is rock-solid, they can focus on customer service.
Multiple Screens for an Immersive Game Day Experience
Video design is an art and a science. Some bar owners tell us they never want a customer to have to turn their head to see the game they want to see. A multi-screen sports bar setup can be tasteful and still provide the necessary viewing angles.
Size matters, too. Today’s video walls are more affordable than you might think and set the stage at your bar for something sports fans can’t experience at home.
The most important elements are the quality and the reliability of your sports bar video setup. Don’t skimp with a consumer grade TV setup in your commercial venue; they may not stand up to the nightly abuse or long hours.
And, of course, don’t hang the screens yourself using a wall mount from Best Buy. It’s not worth the risk. A professional audio visual integrator will design systems to fit your space, and hang them neatly, with no wires showing.
Sports Bar Sound System for Superior Coverage
The right audio systems can make or break the game day experience for your customers. Too many restaurant and bar owners consider it an afterthought, but high quality audio systems create a vibe your customers feel. Most people don’t notice the audio – unless it’s bad.
If they can’t hold a conversation and hear the game, people get frustrated. They might even be less inclined to order another drink at the bar.
On regular days, you want background music at the right level, too.
A few older studies found that louder music, with a faster tempo, caused patrons to drink more in less time.
Of course, you don’t want your guests consuming unsafe amounts of alcohol; that’s where moderation comes in. Unless you have a live band, you want the music to be loud enough to enjoy but low enough that people can have a conversation.
You need a system that can be driven loud and hard without feedback, providing crystal clear audio and even dispersion at every sound level.
Control At Your Fingertips
A Crestron control system allows the bartender or manager on duty to adjust audio levels, including volume and bass, depending on the time-of-day or how many people are in the space. They can also select specific scenes for special events with one touch or even a voice command.
A video matrix puts all the head-end components in an equipment rack, so you won’t have ugly boxes hanging from your walls. This all contributes to the professional, high-tech ambiance in your venue, and sends the signal that you value your guests and want to give them the best sports bar experience possible.
Do You Need an AV Expert Before the Big Game?
It’s a good idea to test your audio video distribution systems before Super Bowl Sunday, in case you need emergency service and support.
And if your systems don’t live up to your expectations this year? Dara AV is here for the sports bar technology upgrade you need in NYC, Staten Island, Brooklyn, PA, and beyond.
FAQs
How many TVs should a sports bar have?
The number of TVs in a sports bar depends on the space you have available, viewing angles, and even your budget for AV solutions. A professional NYC AV integrator can design / install a system that keeps your customers – and your bottom line – happy.
Where can I find sports bar AV service in NYC?
Whether you need emergency service or a full sports bar audio video system upgrade, Dara AV is here to help. Our experienced team has been serving the NY Tri-State area, including Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Long Island for nearly two decades. Reach out and see what Dara AV can do for you.
