Active floor vibration control for entertainment and leisure venues
Stabilise your venue’s foundations for world-class performance and crowd confidence
Stadia, arenas and entertainment venues are exposed to intense dynamic loads that push floor performance to its limits. Rhythmic crowd movement, amplified sound systems and long-span structures create a competitive environment where uncontrolled floor vibration becomes a direct threat to performance, experience, capacity and building value.
CALMFLOOR delivers the only out-of-the-box, low-carbon, multi-frequency active mass damper (AMD) and it requires no structural change or downtime. Every event runs on stable, compliant floors from the moment CALMFLOOR’s active mass damping system is activated.
High-energy crowds test the limits of structural performance
In modern stadia, high-energy crowds are part of the daily atmosphere, but they place significant dynamic load on venue architecture. Lightweight tiers, cantilevered stands and open concourses sit close to their natural frequencies, making them highly sensitive to synchronised crowd movement. Low-frequency audio, amplified bass and mechanical systems add further excitation – increasing the demand on already responsive structures.
Seismologists at the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network have documented multiple crowd-induced ground motion events from Lumen Field Stadium, Seattle. This demonstrates how synchronised crowd activity generates significant vibration demands that must be accounted for in venue performance strategies.
Multiple dynamic sources acting together
Crowd jumping operates at around 2 to 3 Hz, often matching long-span structural modes. Subwoofers, amplified instruments and retractable seating introduce further low-frequency input. These combined forces strike floors in a pattern that challenges stability, comfort and acoustics.
Vulnerable structural typologies
Modern stadia rely on efficient frames and long span decks to maximise capacity and hospitality zones. These structures have low natural frequencies and limited inherent damping. Non-structural elements such as seating systems, finishes and stage floors alter the dynamic behaviour, increasing the difficulty of accurate prediction during design.
These constraints often result in carbon-intensive reinforcement solutions when floor vibration issues emerge. CALMFLOOR avoids this by delivering targeted control without the need for additional steel or concrete.
Serviceability limits reached early
Perceptible sway, bouncing tiers, moving handrails and rattling fixtures undermine spectator confidence and disrupt the event experience long before structural strength is challenged. These serviceability breaches can penalise crowd enjoyment, trigger complaints and force operational intervention.
The structural and operational impacts of floor vibration
Floor vibration is recognised as a serviceability limit state in its own right. Historic incidents and near misses across international venues demonstrate that unmanaged dynamic loading can lead to unplanned retrofits, restricted use of stands and, in rare cases, structural failure.
Capacity and event programming are directly affected. High-energy fixtures, concerts and tournaments are often subject to precautionary restrictions such as closed decks, capped spectator numbers or reduced choreography. These measures minimise usable capacity and limit the scope of headline events, putting revenue, promotion opportunities and brand reputation at risk.
Repeated loading accelerates fatigue in key connections and increases the frequency of maintenance cycles. Over time, this affects frame integrity, raises inspection frequency and shortens service intervals for rigging, seating systems and other critical components.
Traditional mitigation methods rely on material-intensive strengthening, the addition of steel or concrete or columns,which increases embodied carbon and disrupts operations. Active vibration control offers a low-carbon, non-invasive alternative that supports whole-life performance and Net Zero targets.
Stability shapes the audience and performer experience
Audience comfort is central to the event experience. Even low-level floor vibration undermines the acoustic balance of the space, creating resonance that affects clarity for large spectator environments. Importantly, amplified vibrations affect perception of safety, distract spectators and disrupt movement across stands and concourses.
Performer and crew environments are also at risk. Stages, technical galleries, projection platforms and broadcast positions depend on controlled vibration to maintain acoustic precision, timing accuracy and consistent performance quality. Excessive movement transmitted through staging systems and production equipment, limits sound engineering options and affects live output.
These challenges call for precise, dependable active control. CALMFLOOR delivers it.
Delivering experience-defining stability
CALMFLOOR delivers targeted floor vibration control to stadiums, arenas and entertainment venues. Each 67kg (148 lbs) unit identifies and counteracts dynamic loads instantly, achieving up to 90% reduction across critical frequencies without the need for steel, concrete or traditional tuned mass dampers.
AMD units are installed in hours on the slab, within beam webs or in ceiling voids while floors remain fully operational throughout. There’s no structural intervention, no scaffolding and no change to event logistics.
Simulation-led design ensures the AMD units are placed precisely on the vibration-hotspots where they deliver the greatest advantage. The result is high-performance, vibration-controlled floors that support capacity, stability, compliance – and optimal performance.
Ideal for:
Football and multi-sport stadia
Indoor arenas and live entertainment venues
Concert halls and amplified music environments
Theatres and performing arts centres
Exhibition and leisure arenas
Visitor attractions and amphitheatre-style spaces
Hospitality decks, media platforms and executive boxes
World-class technology engineered for world-leading entertainment
CALMFLOOR stabilises floors during high-energy events, maintaining crowd confidence and preserving the electric atmosphere that defines world-class venues. It eliminates sway, improves acoustic consistency and ensures that performers, crews and spectators experience a seamless, stable environment.
By delivering instant, multi-frequency control, CALMFLOOR AMDs remove the operational constraints that unmanaged vibration creates. Venues avoid reduced capacity, closed tiers, delayed performances and ‘no-jumping’ instructions. Broadcast platforms, camera positions and technical galleries remain stable, protecting footage quality and production timing. Performers, athletes and crews work on floors that remain steady under changing dynamic loads.
Simulation-led placement ensures control is delivered exactly where crowd energy and structural response interact, supporting consistent performance across stands, stages and concourses. This protects revenue, maintains the event schedule and preserves the competitive advantage that high-energy venues rely on.
CALMFLOOR supports compliance across modern codes and serviceability criteria, giving venue operators the confidence that every stand, concourse and stage meets performance benchmarks. Venues maintain their competitive advantage, protecting ticket revenue, broadcasting quality and operational freedom.
Why CALMFLOOR?
Reduces floor vibration by up to 90%
Controls multi-frequency dynamic loads from crowds, audio and building systems
Install in hours - no structural change
Simulation-led precision placement
Portable units for evolving venue layouts
CALM Connect provides 24/7 real-time floor performance data and monitoring
Low-embodied carbon alternative to deep slabs, added steel or reinforced decks
Secure home advantage with stable, compliant floors on every tier
CALMFLOOR delivers intelligent floor stability across stands, stages and concourses. Venues meet performance, comfort and compliance requirements with no structural intervention.
Fast, non-invasive installation keeps venues fully operational while multi-frequency control safeguards capacity, event schedules and long-term asset value which every event, every performance is optimal.
Contact CALMFLOOR today to discuss engineered stability for your venue.
