This summer, Rockefeller Center’s iconic tower became a 850-foot canvas for one of the most ambitious projection mapping displays ever staged in Manhattan. The centerpiece of FIFA’s World Cup festivities at the NYNJ World Cup 26 & Telemundo Fan Village, the display was conceived and produced by immersive technology pioneer Quince Imaging in collaboration with Telemundo.
Stephen Arnold Music (SAM), the world leader in sonic branding, designed and produced dynamic soundtracks for nine unique projection experiences featured in the event. The display ran for 20 days from the quarterfinals through the World Cup final on July 19th.
Working under the direction of Quince Imaging VP of Innovation Eric Gazzillo, SAM built an audio experience intended to match the scale and energy of the projection mapping while capturing the atmosphere of both the World Cup and New York City itself. The installation used the natural architectural lines of the tower to create the impression of a building shifting and reacting in real time, with high-definition content that included tournament branding, dynamic soccer graphics and clips from Telemundo broadcasts.
“Our goal was to capture the excitement of FIFA World Cup soccer and the vibe of New York City,” says Whitney Arnold, SAM’s president of music services. “The sound design blends natural urban sounds characteristic of New York with authentic sounds of soccer play, fan reaction and broadcast coverage.”
The soundtrack draws on several distinct layers of audio. The mix incorporates commentary from Spanish-language Telemundo sportscasters, including the drawn-out “GOL” call that plays over highlights of historic and live match victories. Underneath the broadcast elements, SAM built percussive crescendos and drum loops timed to the projector’s flashes, layered with crowd noise and stadium chants drawn from Latin American football culture to give passersby the sense of standing inside a match rather than watching one from the sidewalk. Official FIFA Sound sonic IDs and tournament anthems were also woven into the mix to tie the Manhattan installation to the broader global tournament, alongside recognizable sports pump-up tracks that kept the plaza’s energy up between broadcast segments.
Much of the original music was composed in a reggaeton style, drawing on dancehall, hip-hop and Caribbean motifs. “The syncopated rhythms add an international flavor to the soundtrack that resonates with fans in Latin America, Africa and the Far East,” Arnold says.
SAM worked alongside Quince Imaging’s creative and production teams throughout development to align the soundtrack with the visual design. “Our role was not merely to deliver a soundtrack but to be an integral part of the creative process, working in tandem with Quince Imaging’s creative and production teams to ensure we met their creative aspirations and hit production milestones,” Arnold says.
The Rockefeller Center display marks the second collaboration between SAM and Quince Imaging in the past year. The two companies previously partnered on an in-arena presentation for the Utah Mammoth, the NHL’s newest franchise, to mark the start of its inaugural season at Delta Center. For that project, SAM created an immersive sound design set to Quince Imaging’s animations, built for large-scale arena playback and designed to carry audiences from snowy peaks to a frozen lake, complete with the sound of polar wind and cracking ice.
About Stephen Arnold Music
Often referred to as the most-heard, least-known composers in the world, Stephen Arnold Music’s creativity is experienced every day in more than 500 million homes worldwide. Based in Dallas, Texas, The World Leader In Sonic Branding® has 30 years of success delivering impactful, brand-defining music that makes a difference for today’s top content creators, networks, cable channels, television stations, digital media outlets, experiential, film, production companies, corporations and advertising agencies. With multiple Emmys, Promax Gold, ADDY and MUSE awards to their credit, Stephen Arnold Music’s specialized approach and commitment to the power of sonic branding, research, state-of-the-art production and unparalleled customer service is at the core of its promise. Stephen Arnold Music continues to set the creative bar in a highly competitive content landscape. For more information, please visit http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com
Hear the work:
Montage
World Cup 2026 | 30 Rock Fan Village
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1208902531
Pinball
World Cup 2026 | Pinball – 30 Rock Fan Village
Goal
World Cup 2026 | Goal – 30 Rock Fan Village
Trophy
World Cup 2026 | Trophy – 30 Rock Fan Village
