Designing the experience: How integrated AV brings venues to life

Article posted by Coliseum, April 15^th, 2026

Image: Coliseum GSVA

John Coniglio is one of the partners at Aligned Vision Group. The firm’s roots are in live sound and concert production; today it designs, installs and supports the audio, video and lighting systems that shape how spaces look, sound and feel.

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Coniglio specializes in the live entertainment, sports, large-format projection, and architectural lighting markets, and still gets back to his first love: working inside live performance venues.

In conversation with Coliseum, John Coniglio, Partner, Aligned Vision Group, Canada, recounts that during the early ’80s concerts were much simpler and the fan experience was all about amplified sound and the bands themselves – “Lighting existed so you could physically see the band on stage. Then technology evolved and sound had competition: lighting systems grew larger and more visual, and concerts became an integrated affair, with sound, lighting and video acting as one. Today a concert is one completely integrated experience. Our job is to know each of these technologies and make the fan journey memorable from the moment someone steps out the door until they’re back home.”

Aligned Vision Group

Markham, Ontario-based Aligned Vision Group specializes in designing, integrating and supporting complex audiovisual (AV) systems for the architecture and construction industries. The team works closely with architects, construction managers and leading manufacturers to deliver turnkey solutions – systems planned into a space from the start, not bolted on at the end.

Says Coniglio, “Aligned Vision Group came out of production and moved into AV integration. As the technology advanced, audiences learned what an experience could feel like – and sports teams began borrowing concert technology to create it: bigger audio systems with better coverage, lighting that builds ambience, scoreboards that became full video displays with replay. Meanwhile, consumer technology kept pace. The real competition became the fan not leaving their couch – large high-resolution displays at home, every game at their fingertips. The venue has to offer what the living room can’t.”

Fan Journey

Venues need to give fans something they can’t get at home – “The experience has to start the moment fans step out of their car or off the train. They hear music as they approach the venue – that’s audio. They see digital billboards announcing tonight’s matchup and their favorite players – that’s video. The building glows in team colors – that’s lighting. All before they’ve stepped inside. Through the gates and up to the seats, the energy keeps building: music, announcer cues, video on displays large and small, light moving around them. By the time fans sit down, the space itself has done the work – every cue setting them up for the ultimate energizing moment.”

Why Fans?

“Fans are your best sales team. Think of every cellphone as a mini broadcast studio: each fan broadcasts their experience – from arrival to the ride home – to a network of friends and family, all potential customers. A full house is thousands of broadcasters reflecting your brand.”

Coniglio adds that after years of video and lighting taking center stage, audio is the next frontier – “The goal now is bringing the audio experience up to match the larger-than-life video. A proper system keeps fan energy up from the start of the game to the end – and the sound the fans make becomes part of the experience itself.”

Closing Remark

Coniglio wrapped up: “A premium audio experience helps fans celebrate those moments – and the players react to it too. They play to the music; it energizes them. Sound with real impact gives them a reason to come out and play with that same energy.”

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