Absen’s A Series LED technology is the centerpiece of the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California, delivering high-brightness visuals and durability for a wide range of sports and entertainment events.
Opened in 2024, the venue serves as the home of the San Diego Clippers (NBA G League), San Diego Sockers (MASL), and San Diego Strike Force (IFL). The arena’s leadership team selected Absen’s A Series to support a robust digital infrastructure capable of engaging fans and supporting long-term operations.
“I have to look at products from end to end,” said Hans Haas, project manager for the venue’s integrator, Sound Image. “It’s not just about price points, but it’s about whether the product can effectively deliver the client’s vision. Choosing this product, which was really the centerpiece of the install, was absolutely the right call. It fit the budget, offered high quality and durability, and came with strong manufacturer support.”
The A Series is engineered with high-quality LEDs and advanced brightness control, delivering up to 10,000 nits to ensure clear, vivid visuals under stage lighting, arena floodlights, or even direct sunlight. Integrated with Absen’s System on a Chip (SoC) technology, the displays eliminate the need for traditional media players, simplifying system operations and minimizing failure points.
Known for ultra-low power consumption of less than 1 KWH per square meter per day, the A Series offers up to 50% energy savings compared to standard LED displays. Backed by a 10-year warranty and built for long-term performance, the displays deliver a low carbon footprint—an important factor for a self-funded, community-oriented facility like Frontwave Arena.
“These boards have proven tough,” said Eric Holcomb, chief technology officer for Frontwave Arena. “We’ve had plenty of soccer strikes since launch, and they’ve held up well, easily popping back into place when needed.”
Beyond durability, the displays enhance visual performance with deep blacks and vibrant colors. Haas explained, “When we first turned on the walls and loaded a test image, everyone on-site stopped and said, ‘Wow—those look incredible.’”
“The technology that Absen has implemented at Frontwave Arena is truly unique,” noted Travis Tuttle, channel manager for Absen Inc. “It enables fan interaction across the entire venue, whether it’s a concert, a soccer match or a basketball game.”
The A Series plays a major role in the arena’s in-game entertainment strategy, serving as a dynamic platform to engage fans, elevate sponsor visibility and direct attention to food vendors, promotions and special segments. The A Series’ high brightness and resilience allow for uninterrupted performance in all lighting conditions, ensuring content remains eye-catching throughout every event.
Marybeth Hughes, director of game presentation and live events for Frontwave Arena, highlighted how the displays enhance key moments, stating, “I believe the most powerful thing that we do in our building is our player introductions. We usually go to a complete blackout, and it creates this immersive experience where it’s pitch black and the Absen technology just seems to be higher quality. The screens can definitely be pushed to their limit, creating that overall in-game fan experience.”
Travis Tuttle, channel manager at Absen Inc., said the installation was about helping the venue tell its story. “Every venue, corporation or business has a message they’re trying to share,” explained Tuttle. “The more we can collaborate to help them tell that story, the more successful we’ll both be. That’s really our goal, to build strong partnerships and ensure everyone is thrilled with the outcome when the project wraps up.”
