Borgata Beer Garden Expands Its 1 SOUND System for Pauly D Headliner
Borgata Beer Garden
Borgata Hotel & Casino brought a new kind of event to its outdoor Beer Garden with a one-off headlining performance by DJ Pauly D. To support the larger-scale production, the venue brought in Contour loudspeakers and subwoofers, integrating them into its existing 1 SOUND distributed system, creating a concert PA that could work with the permanently installed ecosystem.
The event marked the first time Borgata had produced this type of large-scale DJ headliner in the outdoor space, opening up another use for a venue already equipped to support live music and DJs throughout the summer season.
Building on an Existing 1 SOUND System
Borgata's Beer Garden and Outdoor Pool had previously been outfitted with a distributed 1 SOUND system designed to support its summer programming. The installation includes distributed Cannon loudspeakers and subwoofers throughout the pool area, while the stage uses Contour CT28 loudspeakers with SUB2112 subwoofers for live bands.
For the Pauly D event, Borgata Entertainment Manager Ray Stokes, CTS, wanted to bring in additional 1 SOUND PA to build out the main stage while integrating it with the existing distributed system.
Because the event required a larger portable setup, MGM was able to reach out to 1 SOUND's dealer network and rent additional Contour equipment from local production company L&M Sound and Light.
The main PA consisted of three Contour CT28s per side, paired with four SUB215s. An additional CT28 and SUB215 system was used for DJ monitoring.
The loudspeakers were customized through the 1 SOUND Custom Shop, allowing the production system to match the headliner’s aesthetic with custom-colored grilles.
Integrating the Portable and Installed Systems
For Borgata, one of the most important considerations was how the additional production system would work alongside the permanent installation.
“Because of the size of the event, we needed a larger portable stage setup, so we needed to bring in additional loudspeakers to supplement our permanently installed system,” Stokes said. “From our audio engineers to our executives, our team has come to expect the richness and clarity that 1 SOUND delivers, so expanding the system with more 1 SOUND products was the obvious decision.”
The portable system was designed to work as an extension of the existing audio environment, rather than functioning as an isolated system within the venue.
“Our biggest question going into the event was how well the portable system would integrate with the existing installed system," Stokes said. "The answer was simple: it blended seamlessly.”
Consistent Sound Across the Venue
The Pauly D event also put the venue's distributed approach to the test on a larger scale.
“What stood out most in the feedback afterward was the consistency of the coverage,” Stokes said. “Every area of the venue experienced the same level of quality, clarity, and richness across the full frequency spectrum, which is genuinely difficult to achieve in a large open-air environment.”
That consistency is also something Daniel Jackson, General Manager of Borgata Beer Garden & Outdoor Pool, has experienced with the permanently installed system.
“It's phenomenal. There's not a spot in the venue where you don't hear the music. It doesn't carry over from one area to the next. It's equally balanced. It sounds incredible.”
During the Pauly D event, that consistency extended across the outdoor space, with Stokes noting that guests were dancing throughout the venue.
“It was amazing to see people dancing in every corner of the space with the same energy, regardless of where they were standing. That's the kind of result you're hoping for, and the system delivered it effortlessly.”
The DJ monitors also received positive feedback. According to Stokes, the resident opening DJ specifically singled out the 1 SOUND DJ monitors as exceptional.
A Successful First for the Beer Garden
The event gave Borgata an opportunity to use the Beer Garden for a larger-scale production than it had hosted there previously.
“This was the first time we've ever done something like that," Jackson said. "We were finishing out his contract with Premier Nightclub and decided to throw a summer party outside. It was incredible. The music was good, the lights were good, everything worked, and it went off without a hitch.”
For Borgata, the success of the event demonstrated that the outdoor space could support a full-scale headliner production while continuing to work with its existing distributed audio system.
Expanding What the Venue Can Offer
For Borgata and MGM, the Pauly D event demonstrated how an existing premium audio installation could be expanded for a larger production while continuing to use 1 SOUND throughout the venue.
By bringing in additional 1 SOUND equipment through the dealer network, the venue was able to build a larger-scale PA around its existing system while maintaining a consistent audio experience throughout the Beer Garden.
“It was incredible,” Jackson said. “Hopefully they do it again because it's a cool offering, to do that kind of event there.”
The success of the event also opens the possibility of bringing more headliner performances to the Beer Garden, giving Borgata another way to leverage its existing investment in a premium 1 SOUND system.
Products Used: Contour CT28, SUB215
