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Sports lighting can cover a lot of ground when it comes to sporting events and venues. When only the best lighting solution is realized, then you have improvements that make players perform better. There is a silver lining too when it comes to audience participation when lighting is improved. The advancements and technology that make LED sports lighting ideal also include improvements for television viewers.
Are you looking for a reason to upgrade your arena or stadium to include LED lighting systems? This complete guide can help you understand the benefits that go with LED lighting. It can also translate into cost savings that last years instead of using costlier conventional lighting. You might be surprised what LED sports lighting can do to make an average sports event into a spectacular experience.
Sports lighting is more than just a light that illuminates a field or playing area, it’s a vital tool that is helpful for the player. When lighting is used indoors or outdoors, the need for sports lighting is for team players and athletes who compete. It’s an essential part of sports activity that allows players and teams to perform as they would in a condition. But since night time sporting venues and stadiums cannot have 24-hour sunlight, sports lighting is the next best thing.
No matter how large or small sporting events may be, there’s a need to light-up a field or competition area. Sporting athletes train all-year-long for events that are on public display, so the addition of special lighting is important. Not just for their safety, but to visually see every little detail of their sporting zone. This gives each member of a team an excellent view of the entire playing field using this flood light.
It allows athletes to better judge distance and how they control muscle movement getting from point A to B. It’s also equally important being able to catch or throw something without being blinded by harsh overhead lights. Sports lighting within a big stadium has become a science within itself. Especially when high stakes games such as football and soccer are major global events that are popular at night.
Sports fields and courts can be lit specifically to the right degree that’s perfect for each type of sport. Whether it’s meant for baseball or football, tennis, or soccer, there are specific lighting requirements for each. Not to forget that outdoor events such as swimming and water polo have just as much importance for needing lighting. The lighting design is further meant to eliminate issues such as glare and light flooding.
So that players and teams can do their job without being restricted or blinded by bright overhead lights.
Indoor lighting is mandatory even if it’s daytime. A covered arena provides comfort and climate control, but when it comes to lighting, it needs to match natural daylight. In some cases for sports including basketball and wrestling, the lighting is designed to give an edge. This can be meant for an entire team or just competing players. Indoor sport lights provide them with everything they need to see in their environment.
There is often an advantage to indoor lighting that stadiums cannot provide. The addition of an overhead roof allows lights to be directly overhead. These lights can be attached from angles that don’t affect a player’s ability to focus on their playing court. There are combinations used for indoor sports lights that help reduce shadows that might impair an athlete’s view.
This lighting can also be helpful for an audience that is viewing the event too. Many indoor games have seating that is surrounded by a maze of stairs and steps. This allows the addition of lighting that controls safety issues. It also helps people find their seating section when they go to the toilet or to get a snack. Sports lighting can include the options to help light-up areas meant for a viewing audience.
No game or sport would be complete without providing a bit of entertainment to thrill the crowd. It’s become more of a special addition that sports lighting also includes lights that change color. This control of lighting adds value to a sports event and these new systems allow for spectacular shows. It’s more common for football games to have a half time show, while hockey and wrestling lights will bedazzle their audience.
It’s become a welcome place for pumping-up the audience and getting fans excited before or during a game. This is also another excellent reason why sports stadiums and venues include color-changing LED lights. It can increase the audience’s participation, adding emotion to their reactions, and encourage team spirit using the team colors. The best-kept secret to packing a sporting venue is the lighting experience that helps fuel your audience.
You might want to know what the latest lighting systems offer and how they can benefit your sports event? How the effect of color-changing LED lights can be mixed with music and sound to enhance all kinds of sports. These specialized sport lights can also increase concessionaire sales such as drinks or snacks. Since this further enhances a boost for profitable revenue that all sports events have in common.
When it comes to TV, the technology has changed dramatically in the last decade. The new 4K digital broadcast cameras can pick-up amazing detail that provides incredible slow-motion replays. But there is one big catch to all of this since the right lighting can make or break these images. It’s one thing that sport lights give excellent conditions for players, but video cameras see things differently.
The older types of sport lights that include metal halide and high-pressure sodium are problematic for TV and media. Commonly, these lights have a noticeable flicker that shows-up on 4K HDTV cameras. These images are fine when played back at regular speed but start to get obvious when it’s slowed down. LED lighting for sports doesn’t have this problem and produces incredible slow-motion analysis and replay.
It also makes your sporting venue more appealing for television and media because the colors are more correct. HID lighting is harsh and too white for correct color temperatures preferred by professional players. It also has drawbacks when the lifespan is considered since the average HID light allows 2000 hours. They also start to flicker when their lifespan is nearly over, making it impossible to change during a game.
Sports that are played outdoors at night are the sole reason that light is necessary, but not always. Some days it can get overcast and dark when the weather is not being so friendly. This has a huge impact on days when daylight goes to levels that are near-dark. LED lighting for outdoor events can be switched on instantly and has no warm-up time. These sports lights can be adjusted as the daylight fluctuates too.
When overcast cloud coverage is blocking out the sunlight for these events, it helps when LED sports lights come on. This ensures that a game isn’t interrupted by Mother Nature and the correct levels of light are used as a back-up. This is especially important in locations that often have foggy or overcast weather. From outdoor tennis matches to football games, the level of light that’s needed won’t impair a big event.
Even when the sun is going down, LED lights can gradually increase, so that the field lighting is never sacrificed. Control systems can be added that allow manual slide levers to raise the amount of light without being noticed. This is an advantage since dimming controls for LED sports lights won’t distract players or the audience. And because LED lights can work instantly, the necessary light is always available when roaming clouds block-out the sun.
There are more than a few good reasons why sports lighting is needed, but the best reasons are obvious. Here are the leading reasons that sports lighting is essential.
It doesn’t matter if a whole team is involved or only two competing players, sports lighting enhances playing abilities. Just as any professional uses light to work, the importance of adequate light in the world of sports is undeniable. But there is a careful balance of light that needs to be constant and kept at specific levels. If the light is too bright, it can obscure or wash-out details that an athlete needs to see.
The best example is for games that are played with smaller balls such as baseballs and tennis. On a sunny day outside at high noon, outdoor games played under these conditions can be unbearable. The glare of the sun and bright white light makes it harder to see and will strain a player’s eyes. Playing under controlled lighting is much better, but isn’t always up to the wishes of a team or individual athletes.
When artificial sports lighting is used correctly, the adjusted levels of light simulate the perfect amount that’s beneficial. While this is optimal for indoor usage, nighttime sports played outside help recreate the exact daylight spectrum. This is further specified in the game regulations that many sports associations are requesting for their sport lighting needs. Each sport will also have recommended minimum and levels of Kelvin.
Sports lighting isn’t as important for the audience as it is for competing teams or players, but does matter nonetheless. This is so they have access to their seating area without straining their eyes. Normally this lighting is spill-over from the sports lights or what is called bounce backlight. This light is a by-product that’s reflected off surfaces but it’s not just coming from sports lights exclusively.
There may be secondary lights that are added to a high mast post or ceiling anchor bracket. These secondary lights can act as a source for illuminating an audience. Often these lights are controlled and dimmed to certain levels during gameplay. In arenas where hockey or wrestling is played, the audience is bathed in team colors. Basketball arenas tend to light up their audience front sections and sidelines to bolster team support.
Depending on the sport, the fans play a big part in the spirit of competition when they are clearly seen. Other times, the spectators that are being illuminated aren’t just for show since they also need light for practical reasons. During championships and finals, there may be differences in how the audience is being lit. It’s often customary to bring-up house lights at critical moments of a big score that influences players or teams.
Not only do television crews have improved vision from LED lighting, but spectators using their smartphones also take pictures and videos. The image quality is always better managed when a court or field is well-lit. Thanks to the adjusted levels of CRI and color uniformity, players are always seen clearly while they play. Even though the area where athletes play is completely illuminated, every angle of the gameplay is seen from 360 degrees.
This is mainly the reason why sports lighting is covered from several calculated angles based on the competition field or court shape. Even for swimming and water polo, the pool zones and lines are always clearly seen with all the activity happening. Many of the television cameras that are used are placed in locations so they have the best view. Often these places are so far away from the field, they use telephoto lenses to squeeze in closer to players.
Cameras play an effective role in sports since coaches like to use this footage, helping train and refine their athletes. This is especially a critical role for football where team plays are watched over and over showing what went wrong. It’s also excellent for competing players to observe their performance in defense moves and playing techniques.
You’ll need security in an element of so many people that are attracted to a big match or sports gathering. Let’s face it, some types of sports are bound to attract pickpockets and purse-snatchers. The additional sports lighting that’s used spill-over into the crowd helps to detract this kind of problem. Even if that light is not as bright as the playing area, having extra light around helps to keep watchful.
It’s not easy when there’s something exciting happening between competing teams, but this kind of distraction is all it takes. The extra amount of light that a crowd gets is more than enough reason to be cautious. And it gives a certain amount of ‘safety in numbers’ feeling and calls attention to would-be thieves, caught-in-the-act. With that being said, sports fans do have a mob justice approach to handling these kinds of things.
If we are talking about highly exciting sports such as football, hockey, or wrestling, it can be risky for pickpockets. If stadium security is close enough, the unlucky one who gets caught by angry sports fans might avoid being pounded! Thankfully, this lighting is amble enough to avoid these situations altogether.
When it gets dark, the only lighting that matters the most is meant for the field where athletes are playing. It takes careful planning to spread the light in a near-scientific method to ensure that playing areas are lit perfectly. Some sport court lighting technicians take extra care to give their playing field the best coverage that’s possible. It’s also a process that can take weeks to perfect on larger fields to meet professional league lighting standards.
Even with a small area that’s covered, the steps taken to limit the amount of light glare is removed completely. This is what it takes to make professional sports lighting possible and is often the last thing that’s recognized. When lighting is done poorly, this is the first complaint that is brought up. The biggest complaint that comes from older lights such as metal halide and HID lights is the oversaturation of light.
Because these lamps cannot be adjusted or dimmed as easily as LEDs can, most people complain about the brightness. This is also an issue with athletes since fast-moving objects will take-on the glare, making them appear too bright. Since stadium lighting can be adjusted for brightness control, this is an advantage over playing in the daytime. It gives equal opportunity for athletes to use their playing strategy rather than natural sunlight handicaps.
It’s becoming more popular that lighting systems are now getting updated and replaced. The word is rapidly spreading about the benefits of LED sports lights as several venues can see an immediate difference. Are you curious about the kinds of bonuses that go along with LED lights?
The amount of your electricity cost is immediately reduced. The average monthly costs using previous sport lighting fixtures including MH/HPS are reduced by three-quarters. The yearly cost-saving is now worth thousands of dollars extra. HID lights use 1000 Watt lamps to produce the same amount of light a 100 Watt LED light produces. It’s easy to see why the same level of light results in an immediate cost-cutting solution.
Just a sample of cost-savings per day is pennies on the dollar rather than 3x the amount per light unit. This applies to fewer bulb changes since LEDs last for years as opposed to 3000 hours rated for HID lamps. This cost-cutting reduction helps reduce maintenance costs that would be spent changing the bulbs too.
These are benefits that are part of the design of all LED sports lights. They are meant to last for 15-20 years despite the weather the number of times they are switched on. LED lights have a unique ability to last longer since no filament or gas makes them light up. Only the circuits and electronics that are connected to the semiconductor board are a critical area for failure.
With quality designs, LED lights can vent their heat away from their connecting circuits and last decades without technical failure. As hard as it sounds to believe, LED lights are the perfect solution because of their hearty lifespan abilities.
Just like any other top list you want for quality, this is what CRI does for sports lights. This list is based on a number system that rates the level of lighting between 0-100. The higher the CRI number is, the better the ability to see in the dark. Each sport activity will require a minimum since the color rendering index (CRI) does have limits. Too much CRI will overpower and wash-out natural colors.
The starting point for any professional sport starts with 60 that’s cool white. It then goes up to 65-85 which is in the warm daylight spectrum.
It’s not exactly true but the visible flashing cannot be seen by the naked eye. Older LED lights cycled much slower in the 1970s because they were used for indicator lights for electronics. Now the technology has improved the number of cycles to range between 20,000-40,000Hz. This frequency is so rapid that it cannot be detected by HDTV cameras that use high shutter speed.
The only time that strobing is ever noticed is when LEDs have reached their last moments of life. Even at that point, the amount of visible flashing is still minimal compared to old fluorescent tubes used in offices.
LED sport light systems do not have a warm-up time and turn on when they are needed. The light can be raised gradually with the help of a dimmer control, or full power right away. This is an advantage over the HID lamps that take at least 15 minutes to obtain a full light brightness. Using the older style of lamps needed to be timed to work at night. This inconvenience is also frustrating on cloudy days where lights are needed right away.
Knowing that any LED sports lamp is ready to operate anytime is ideal for sports This also works when turning them off since there is no cooling-off period either. This allows lights to be controlled faster since HID lamps need 20 minutes to relight if the power is cut-off. Any professional sports event doesn’t have that patience to wait for that long.
If you don’t know what blue light exposure is, the best description is light that’s harmful to your retinas. It often comes from smartphone or tablet screens but isn’t limited to sports lighting. There is a harmful level of blue-green light that comes from HID sport light fixtures. High-intensity lamps including the older street lamps put-out large amounts of this blue light.
The newer LEDs used for sports have a color temperature that filters out blue light. All of the pro sports arenas use 4000K that is warm sunlight. There’s more blue light in the range of cool white 7000-7500K that’s used for industrial warehouses.
The control boards used for helping to dim sports lights and adding effects are done using additional hardware. Special systems such as DMX and DALI are solutions that control slide switches and on/off buttons for LED lights. The DMX system is more advanced and can control as many as 512 LED lights (if there is 1 channel per light). The DALI can control up to 64 and is more simplified for basic dimming controls.
It’s important to point-out that DMX is better suited for color-changing lights and can be controlled using laptop computer controls. DALI would need an additional color-changing controller if lights were hooked-up.
With the benefit of LED sports lights, controlling light spill is easier to solve. The amount of light that is directed toward the playing field is much more focused than HID lights can be. LED lights have a direction that is always 180 degrees while HID is 360 degrees. This means the amount of HID light must be controlled with reflectors rather than where it comes out.
LED lights will have special lenses to narrow-down a focal beam varying between 10-25 degrees. There’s also optical glass that reduces the amount of light spill or glare that comes from improperly focused LED lights.
Weather can have a terrible effect on outdoor sports lights if they aren’t rated for the right kind of protection. Different sport locations all have weather patterns that can be wetter or moisture-sensitive than others. It’s important to choose the correct kind of IP rating that determines how much your lighting equipment needs protection. Rainy and wet weather is better suited for IP67, while IP65 is perfect for dry locations.
Even in that case, light rainfall every-so-often would be better to use IP66 that’s a general all-purpose rating. Locations that are located near any kind of water should always use IP67 since fog or high moisture is present.
Amazingly, LED light panels used for sports lighting are excellent choices for low heat dissipation. The amount of heat that is produced on the semiconductor board where the LED is located has a built-in rear heat vent. This transfers the heat and it rises away from the circuits that are placed behind the fixture itself. As opposed to the heat generated by HID lamps, the LED light is very minimal averaging 120-150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Larger stadium light fixtures may reach as much as 212F, but not over that level. This is compared to HID lights that can reach dangerously high temperatures of several hundred degrees.
Sports lighting contractors and LED lighting experts will know more about what is needed for a sports field or court. But it’s a good idea to know what counts the most when getting the most out of LED lights. Here is a quick guide that helps you understand what is needed to sport lighting.
It all starts with what should be the recommended wattage that will determine the amount of light you need. This shouldn’t be more than what is currently used if there are HID lights that need to be replaced. The playing area needs to have an acceptable amount of light but not drowning it to death. Too much brightness from higher wattage simply produces too much light.
With the number of fixtures used, each light should be exactly the same wattage that is based on pole height. The distance from the playing area also needs to be considered, since the LED light needs to be stronger. Naturally a lighting professional will make the appropriate calculations based on Lumens and distance.
A playing field needs to have blanketed lighting that’s evenly leveled across the playing surface. This is part of the job that’s left to experts since several lights are used to fill each section. Professional sports require a specific requirement of what’s accepted, so a uniformity chart will likely be requested showing light values. This means that patches, where light is stitched-in, is measured by the light intensity equal or greater to adjoining sections.
This process is scientific and takes time to adjust since regulation sports lighting has strict standards for light levels. When the light uniformity levels are approved, an arena or stadium is allowed to host professional sports games.
There type of sport that is played is judged by the rating of sport class. These are categorized into three separate categories but generally, two are the highest standards. These are Class I & II and include professional and semi-professional athletes. Class III is strictly high school but not limited to private arenas. Depending on the level of class that your venue is focused on, the lighting conditions will need to conform to their standards.
Even though Class III does have slightly lower standards for lighting, that doesn’t mean that the first two classes aren’t ideal. This lighting can be chosen if the arena or court is built to match regulation standards as well.
The specific type of light for LED light units cannot be adjusted so easily. Some lights are available, allow temperature controls but mainly sports lighting fixtures are set to a selected Kelvin. Using a DMX temperature controller will help adjust the LED light further so levels for Class I-III can be intermixed. This is a separate controller that can control an RGB sports light that allows for temperature changing control.
In most cases, this light is best used for decorative effects that create atmosphere and entertainment value at sporting events. Whenever a designated light temperature is chosen, that should either be 2000-4000K, however anything higher may be too energetic.
Not every sport will have the same element of excitement or pace, which also applies to the lighting comfort levels. The GR rating is how light is grading on appearing for poor to excellent levels. The same concept can be applied to the difference between tennis and football. Tennis tends to use 4000K while football will use 5000K or higher. The reason may be applied to the GR rating and glare control.
Depending on the amount of excitability that an audience should receive, the Kelvin level is increased. More laid back sports have relaxing colors. The GR measures this give providing a grade from 1-9. With a rating of 1, this will measure as unnoticed but with 9 it becomes uncomfortable.
The color rendering index measures the amount of light that is visible and what becomes washed-out. As important as the right color used for creating the mood for movies, using CRI also matches the type of sport. More aggressive sports use higher CRI to increase levels of excitability, while lower levels are reserved for casual pro sports. You won’t find high CRI at a Badminton tournament.
A CRI scale measures from 0-100 and depending on the professional sport that’s played and can range from 65-80+. Depending on the sport itself, the amount of Kelvin also determines the ratings that are involved.
This is going to be determined exclusively by the sport that’s played. It also has a lot to do with the size of the venue or stadium where spectators gather. The pole will also need to be suitable for holding a light fixture at heights above 100 feet or more. The elements such as high wind and weather are a big factor too. Small venues are easier to handle since pole height doesn’t need to exceed 20 feet.
The light pole also needs a secure foundation base so it doesn’t topple from poor footing. These foundations are usually built ahead of time, based on the size of the light mast used.
There is a big difference when a lighting design is created for sports events. The size of a playing field or stadium will need to determine the right placement of lights used. The issue of sidelight vs corner light is often discussed. Side lighting makes a field more uniformly lit but, a well-planned corner lighting project can also do just as much. It takes more care to make corner lighting effective in a larger stadium.
Smaller areas will be easier to light with corner lights, so side lighting in bigger stadiums is optimal. Unless corner lights have extra poles in between, this effort will have problematic and under-lit spots on the playing field.
How many poles does it take to light a sporting venue? Once again this is a matter that is all based on the shape and size of the area where a sport is played. There will also be the field, court itself that is the focus of being lit up. Most game areas are rectangular making it easier to light, whereas a round or diamond-shaped has more consideration. For tall arenas and stadiums, the number of poles may also show what kind of sports event is played there.
Tall mast lights for football and soccer are commonly being replaced for lower side lighting inside the stadium itself. Since heights above 150 feet for high mast poles are harder to maintain.
At indoor arenas, the height of the ceiling needs to match the type of sport that will be played inside. This means that only a handful of sports are ideal for this purpose. Basketball, tennis, volleyball, swimming, water polo, boxing, and wrestling are all perfect for indoor venues. This requires that the minimum height for a ceiling needs to be a minimum of 7.6 meters to 9.1 meters. This ranges from 21-27 feet tall or more depending on the sport itself.
It’s not uncommon that ceiling height won’t affect the sport played but the lighting will need to have that height. To light a court area, the minimum height should be 20 feet. High overhead lighting can also be placed on the outer parameters.
Upgrading your current lighting for LED sports lights might sound like it cost a lot, but it doesn’t. You actually can save you more in return by switching to cost-effective solutions that are better in quality and usefulness. Here are more reasons as to why:
Take a good look at the overall costs of standard sports lighting and ask yourself why yearly costs keep getting higher. There’s the issue of electricity rates growing every year aside from everything else. Your bill is based on the number of Watts used and the higher they climb the bigger the bill. Not to mention the difference between on/off-peak hours Vs secondary rates.
Did you know that your bill charges are based on the category that your total Wattage is based upon? Switching to LED sports lighting automatically places you into a different price category. This in turn is an immediate 75-85% cost reduction and that’s not all! Energy rebate programs can in-turn offer as much as 20-25% of your total light replacement costs. On top of that, you save even more reducing maintenance and replacement bulb expenses.
Isn’t it time you start saving more instead of spending potential annual profit? And this is a cost-savings that can be calculated over the decades. Since LED sports lighting doesn’t burn-out just like HID lights do so often. And though this is just one outstanding reason to switch to LED lighting, it’s not the only benefit.
It’s hard to believe, that there are still so many sports venues that haven’t switched over to LED light systems yet? And this is a growing concern over light pollution in general. We’ve all see images from the ISS and see how many cities look at night from outer space. It’s a complete mess when you see big cities like New York, Houston, and Los Angeles sticking-out like sore thumbs. One of the main culprits is the use of HID type lights that are omnidirectional.
Despite the use of a reflector inside a lighting fixture, HID lights like metal halide and high-pressure sodium emit light coming from all angles. It’s a big strong light bulb that burns hot and super bright. When this light hits a target it tends to bounce off surfaces including sidewalks, streets, buildings, and into the air. So much light is often seen from the countryside radiating like a horizon glow.
LED light is helping to reduce this problem since this form of light is primarily directional. It goes where it needs to since it only has 180 degrees directional power. Because the color temperatures can be adjusted to more natural daylight colors, light pollution is lessened.
All forms of sports lighting indeed need maintenance to work correctly. They must be clean from dirt build-up so the light coming from them is clear and unobstructed. But without having to change a burnt-out bulb, this isn’t a challenge for LED lights. The average life HID bulbs is set at 3000 hours. Through the year it’s a minimum that 400 hours will be used for gaming, but at least 600 hours in reality.
This is roughly 5 years for a lifespan, but HID lamps lose their potential output after half that time. It’s worse in winter because of cold weather, after lights are shut down; they tend to crack faster. With LED lighting no matter the weather or length of time, they can last up to 25,000-50,000 hours. On average this allows their lifespan to be a minimum of 25 years.
LED lights don’t diminish over time since they don’t have a filament. They are light that’s produced from a semiconductor diode. With new advancements in LED technology, these diodes are better than ever and are brighter than before. As materials improve, these LEDs have higher quality in return. So here are more reasons why they are better to switch over to from conventional lighting to LED flood light.
It used to be that an LED only came in red color in the 1970s. Until their ability to create other colors came about, LEDs were considered a hobby shop item. It didn’t have much of a market until the super bright LED was introduced. By 2008 the first flashlights and LED light bulbs were being sold. It wasn’t until 2010 that the LED light revolution brought LED light products to the forefront.
Now when it comes to superior lighting power, LEDs can produce incredible amounts of directional light. The stronger the wattage provided for banks of light, the larger an area can be lit. It’s possible to light entire sports stadiums using sports floodlights. The brightness achieved can range in color temperatures too. LEDs can give more than enough Lumens but are not only limited to bright white light.
This is why many sports like using comfortable shades on the Kelvin chart including warm sunlight rated at 4000K.
The amount of light that can cover a playing field is layered in such a way that it provides light uniformity. These layers of light are adjusted so that a playing surface appears evenly covered with no hot spots’ visible. This is achieved through careful planning and layering over a specific grid. Since LEDs are highly directional the focus can be increased by using lenses that allow select degrees to be chosen.
When a playing field is correctly lighted, it’s hard to tell how each section overlaps the previous section. And because the lighting is carefully planned-out, any sport that’s played on this lit surface can be seen from 360 degrees.
No matter where a spectator sits inside a stadium or arena, their view of an athlete is 100% illuminated. This makes it perfect for watching sports but for players, there is the added advantage. Playing in direct sunlight only provides amble light at high noon. There’s a disadvantage if one team is on the shadow side of the sun. It makes it harder to see a ball when light isn’t coming from all sides.
Depending on the rise and fall of the sun, shadows draw longer and visibility becomes limited. LED sports lighting gives every player or athlete the upper hand in return. Perhaps this is why many indoor sport court venues prefer to stay away from natural sunlight. It simply allows athletes to perform better being able to see for every direction.
Depending on the type of lights used, sports lighting can influence the audience for their favorite sport. Fast-paced games like football are exciting and thrilling, which is why the lighting is more aggressive. It helps get spectators excited as well. But this isn’t the same case for more gentle competition sports like tennis, badminton, or volleyball. These sports are relying on laid-back color temperatures that are friendly.
When it comes to spectacle sports including wrestling and hockey, it’s more common to see lighting that excites the senses. Vivid colors often cover the fans in light while the playing area is the main stage. A bit like a rock concert, the spectators are also part of the show. Not that basketball doesn’t like to show off the audience with its’ own lighting design. Even though the basketball court is the main stage, cheering fans are easily seen from any view of the arena.
Price is always going to be a big concern for buying sports lighting but it’s not the end of the world. All light fixtures that are specialized for sports are an investment especially when they are built to last. But some factors determine how well they are designed and what purpose do they serve best. Here are some things to think about before buying sports lights.
For some big companies, it’s easier to find a factory that’s in a country where labor costs are much cheaper. That’s doesn’t mean the product is any less worth its’ value, it’s simply undercutting the price to compete globally. A good way to check for a quality product that coming from an outsourced product is the warranty.
When you mention the brand name in any category it’s easy to think of higher-end prices. Hewlett Packard, Nike, and Google SEO services all cost way too much money. But when it comes to LED sports lighting, does this translate to higher prices? Not always since many companies are competing for customers. Bigger brands may charge more for proprietary lighting that no one else has, but this is rare.
Many smaller companies often have lighting equipment that is well-built and in some cases better in quality than name brands.
LED lighting is meant to be super bright, especially for sports that are energetic for both fans and athletes. When it’s appropriate, sport lights can be 5000-6000K, because it helps to excite that sports energy. Many types of sport lamps are capable of providing that amount of brightness when it’s required.
You can always find the correct sized light for any size field and court. From the types of lights that are used for close-range tennis courts to football stadium high mast fixtures. No matter what size sports field that you have, it’s not difficult to find the correct size lamp. Often it only takes several smaller lamps to do a big job more efficiently without sacrificing uniformity or coverage.
Every sports venue is going to be designed differently, so it’s not always optimal to put in pole lighting. If side lighting works to your advantage, LED lighting fixtures can easily be attached to wall brackets. In some cases, there will be a need to add light shields and optical parts that bring a tighter focus. These are added to spot lamps and fixtures. Depending on levels of customization, it’s not hard to find the right part needed to complete your sports lighting project.
Bad weather is unavoidable in areas where ice and snow are common to a region or location. But this won’t affect LED lights at all because they function excellent in cold weather. No filament needs lighting up therefore the ability to work in frozen conditions doesn’t inhibit LEDs at all. Many weather patterns include rainy weather too, but because a variety of IP ratings can give water protection too.
This is easy to estimate using a general rule of thumb. LED lights typically use 75-85% less Wattage than the typical filament fixtures. The cost of running a 100W LED light for one hour based on 0.10kWh is one cent per hour. You can estimate that this is costing 24 cents per day if that light is left on. It all depends on the average of Kilowatt-hours that apply in your state.
This is all depending on the length of a match or game. It also includes the time before and after when spectators enter a sporting venue and then leave. Baseball matches are the hardest to judge since the average game lasts 3-3 hours but there can also be extra innings. One game lasted over 8 hours in 1981. On average, unless there are time extensions; for most sports is 2-3 hours for the game. The total time can be more than 8 hours for arena staff cleaning-up and preparing before and after a game.
How often does a sporting event take place? This will depend on the season that a sport takes place and/or limitations on holding an event. Matches are still held no matter what turn-out will be, so sport lights are still vital for these competitions. It also can be based on the number of Kilowatt hours that are used per year. Some stadiums range between 200,000-800,000kWh per year depending on their energy consumption.
To compare the cost difference between LED and other filament-based lights is simple. LED lights cost one-third of the running cost to operate, while standard lights are more than double to 3x the amount. It also matters how many lights are replaced and how many fixtures are needed to light the same playing area. This is why there can be slight cost differences when more LED lights are used to replace older filament lights.
i. LED Vs Metal halide
A 100W LED fixture costs on average 50 dollars, while a single MH bulb costs 40 dollars apiece. Even though the metal halide loses half its’ amount of Lumen halfway through its lifespan, Watts used will remain constant. It will need to be replaced 5x more over the lifetime of a single LED light fixture.
ii. LED Vs High-pressure sodium
The cost of HPS bulbs are cheaper and cost about 25 dollars per bulb. These bulbs also lose their Lumen output after 9-12 months. They need to be replaced yearly costing 20x the amount compared to one 100Watt LED sports lamp.
iii. LED Vs Halogen
A single 1000 Watt halogen bulb costs 20 dollars apiece. The lifespan of a halogen bulb can last a maximum of two years. These bulbs need replacing 10x more than the same 100W LED light fixture. Halogen light is a cheap alternative that gets expensive over time.
Each sports venue will present a different situation to develop the best lighting design. The shape of an arena and sports stadium will differ, so there’s a complex balance to put-up your sports lights. Even if there’s a replacement, the location of new lights can differ from where the previous sport lights were placed. Because LED lighting is more direct, their placement needs research before new lights can be set-up.
What makes your arena or sports hall so special? Sport lighting designs can also define how spectators view a selected sport activity. It might be beneficial to create a lighting design that beautifies can complement your sporting venue location. Indoor sports halls tend to have more entertainment flair than outdoor arenas. It also matters what kind of sports event your spectators are used to seeing.
Just because a lamp is being replaced doesn’t mean the location of that previous lamp is bad. Your new lights only need to match the wattage requirements and Lumen output than previous lamps held. This way, the switching of light fixtures is made easier with very little adjustment needed. New LED sports lighting can be more compact and take up less space in return with less heat generated.
There is also an option to use a combination of LED lamps that use a variety of focus control. This can make lighting a complex arena design more uniform through different light panels or floodlights used. If different lighting effects are added including color-changing LEDs, these can be used to illuminate the playing area or spectators. Indoor venues have greater advantages for color effects that are used.
Right away there is a difference between sports venues. The average cost of indoor sport lights is roughly 50,000 – 80,000 dollars depending on the amount of LUX required. An outdoor stadium is 80,000 – 2.4 million dollars depending on LUX levels as well. Considering the operating costs for both, the daily power consumption will be 20 dollars for an indoor venue. An entire stadium can cost roughly 85 dollars per day.
What is a DIALux analysis and how will it benefit my sports venue? DIALUx is a lighting design program that allows a user to create a sports field lighting design. It’s a complicated program that uses 3D modeling to create an exact duplicate of an arena or stadium. Lighting is plotted and then applied to how it will appear in real life. It also allows the sports venue owner to see where lighting goes and how many lights are needed.
It also makes it easier to determine how many Watts and Lumens are needed without spending anything. Most DIALux analysis plans are provided by sport lighting companies as part of their services. This makes it easier to see how much difference new LED lighting will impact a field or playing area.
It’s a practical question that all sports venues will no doubt ask about. Since so many lights are being used, why wouldn’t there be a bulk discount? For a sports lighting company, there is always an offer that allows a certain amount of discount that’s marked off. But there is a certain point that this discount is assured with energy cost savings. This return is noticed as soon as lights are used in the first month.
This lasts for decades which would have otherwise been used-up in electricity bills for the previous lights. The cost of the LED lights and installation literally pays for itself in cost savings over 20 years.
Your state offers a generous rebate that can be worth 20-25% of the amount that is spent on LED replacement. There has been a resistance to having lights replaced due to current overhead lighting costs and fear of change. Many who have old lighting installed are often committed to a long-term investment that was already costly, to begin with. With a state rebate being offered, this knocks-off the cost by ¼ immediately.
Not only does it reduce electricity costs, but the amounts spent on maintenance are also substantially reduced. Maybe this won’t make the electrician’s union too happy, but it will save the needless cost of electrical inspectors.
Saving money is always a good idea if you know what kind of LED lights that replace current HID lights. Because they aren’t bought through a contractor and purchased directly, there are a cost-savings on large orders. Finding a good supplier is important and free lighting quotes give a certain amount of room for counter offers or requesting discounts. If you’re lucky, the best move is to set-up a budget that makes room for a specific project limit cost.
This in return keeps the cost of replacing lights to a minimum and can be more affordable to replace. Then you can use in-house electrical help to install them later. If these lights occupy the same location as the previous ones, the company may provide free lighting consultation too.
When replacing an older style light, the conversion for wattage will be different. It’s a good idea to know what the Lumen amount is for a single light pole or lamp that’s used. Despite the amount to Watts, the electrical hook-up will accommodate for the change in Wattage. Only the difference in Kilowatts per hour will be different once the older lights are replaced. Using LED sports lights, the difference in Wattage is often dramatic.
The previous lamps that run from 1000 watts will be only 100 Watts used by a new LED sport light. Some LED lights are sold in banks that take-up less space than the previous ones did. This makes high mast lights look much smaller in comparison.
In this case, super-bright LED lights can generate up to 2000-3000 Lux for 4K & 8K broadcasting. Slow-motion replays are vivid and sharp as a result. This also creates a brighter football field surface that excites the senses for both players and fans.
Tennis is more relaxed for lighting levels but has high uniformity so that a tennis player has an excellent vision around them. Warm sunlight Kelvin is preferred and without having daylight shadows from the direct sun, a player holds that advantage.
Baseball played in the day or night often has sports lighting nonetheless. This allows for flicker-free replays for high-speed cameras that show-off the best action-filled moments. The good baseball stadium lighting system also remove shadows that can be created in the outdoor sunlight conditions.
Even at golf tournaments, the broad illumination using flood light helps television crews track the tee-off shots. Closer shots will be using mobile light caddies that are set-up to catch the final winning puts. It’s more common at golf courses that field lighting at night allows night play too.
Some sports races involving horses need high CRI for seeing the vivid color of horses and rider costumes. Even if there are riders on the back or using a wheeled harness, the attention to detail is always a must. Especially if horses are racing at night and a clear view of the racing track also determines the horse’s winning ability.
It’s always been an issue when gymnastics arenas used the older lighting. These enclosed rooms often got hot with the overhead lamps. Thankfully, LED lights have low heat generation so the temperature is more comfortable for a gymnast performing complicated movements.
If you’ve ever seen a basketball court, the light used is energetic and bright. Despite this, the use of LED lighting makes it possible for that light to be energy-efficient too. Players on the court are also sweating less because the LED light produces such low levels of heat.
Runners at the track need every light that’s possible, at night; shadows over running hurdles are a typical hazard. Even the slightest shadows under a runner or from several runners can impair running ability. LED lights to help reduce these shadows more effectively using a four corner lighting design on the track.
When the sport of table tennis is played, it’s all about keeping an eye on a tiny white ball. It becomes necessary to have high CRI and visibility that isn’t too overpowering. Brightness can be better controlled for a ball that can become washed-out if the Kelvin level isn’t controlled.
Much like tennis, the optimal badminton court lighting used to see the birdie is equally important. The harsh white light of sports lights is removed so that the contrast of a fast-moving birdie is seen. But not so much that high-speed cameras can capture flicker-free slow-motion shots.
Sports like hockey and ice sports have to be careful using certain types of lights. LED lights have changed since the low heat emitted won’t melt the ice. Most of the heat vents to the ceiling, however, LED light doesn’t transmit heat like other sport lights often did.
This beachside sport is harder to play in direct sunlight than you think. When it comes to professional sports indoors, the light is controlled a lot easier. There is glare reduction to spot fast-moving volleyballs and warmer Kelvin so the ball isn’t washed-out completely.
Cricket is an exciting sport if you’re from the UK, Australia, or Africa without a doubt. The amount of lighting used to keep the cricket ball from being over-exposed is managed using adjusted brightness levels. Keeping an eye on fast-moving balls is further enhanced with the appropriate Lux levels.
An unlikely place to find sport court lighting but not so uncommon in professional competition games, Squash is very high energy. And while LED lights are resistant to impacts, the level of Kelvin is important. This helps in keeping an eye on the smaller balls that are used.
Many companies want your business and will give you a free consultation to show their interest. This will include a look at such programs that can improve current lighting conditions using software like DIALux. Or they can give information on the benefits of LED lighting and state rebate information. A free consultation shows you what an upgrade cost expectation can be using previous examples of their work.
The big difference is that a lighting company may not provide installation if they only manufacture the lights. But they can provide instructions and tips to make self-installation possible using the helpful info they have to offer.
Knowing how long it will take to replace or install sports lighting is crucial. If the beginning of a sports season is coming up soon, it takes time to work-out lighting bugs. To get the amount of light uniformity, this process needs to happen at night when lights are better seen. Special light measurements are taken so that complete light coverage is provided. There may also be an issue with the light flare that needs adjusting so that spectators and players aren’t blinded.
The average lead time is determined before installation is started but with enough days used as buffering for lighting problems.
Specific teams have a specific lighting level that is regulated by their association and will request lighting analysis charts. This is provided by a sports lighting company that gives a final chart showing the light values of the playing field. Professional associations who are concerned over light levels, luminance, Lux, and CRI can see how your field is lit. This also shows that your playing field meets the lighting regulations for professional sports.
Any company that helps provide this info will be a benefit for your sporting arena or stadium. Using LED sports lighting also adds your name to a growing list of those who have upgraded LED lighting.
Shopping around for the best price when it comes to LED sports lighting is a challenge. When the opportunity to select a company that will install lights, you’ll no doubt have a few quotes. As a matter of business, you can always mention companies that offer their asking price. It’s not uncommon that a bidding war can happen if two companies are interested in a project. Then again it all depends on how much competition these companies are to each other.
As a matter of principle, mentioning the quoted price isn’t always the best solution, but friendly competition is good for business. You might find that the best offer is one that cannot be beaten because it simply may be the prestige. Any venue or stadium that’s good as a big reference is smart advertising for that lighting company.
If your stadium is a stepping stone for a new sports lighting company, you might expect a big discount. There are more LED companies than ever before but not all of them are experts in sports lighting. This is a specialized area of lighting that requires a professional approach to understanding regulation lighting requirements. Lighting a sports field is a profession in this developing area of LED technology.
Because it’s so new, your sports lighting company will understand their situation and what opportunity it can mean for them. If they provide any kind of discount, it will be obvious from the very beginning they want your business.
In terms of saving money on a company installation, it can be a cost-effective way to start with lamp replacement. The installation costs are because of the labor involved and that does add-up. Considering that LED lighting fixtures are only one part of the process. Whoever is paid for installing them is another outgoing cost that will need to be solved. It’s important to do the right research before buying sports lights since there can be problems.
Not buying the correct accessories that go with some lighting can add-up later too. There is also the risk of not knowing the light spectrum or degree of focus for lighting a field. If professional lighting companies need to install this equipment, they might find that the lighting is unsuitable for your field. This is why it’s equally important to consult these professionals first before buying anything.
Perhaps you’ve contacted big-name’ companies like such as Musco, Philips, or Eaton and found they charge a lot of money. Professional sport lighting companies aren’t price-gouging, since this is what they charge for lighting stadiums and arenas. The installation cost is high because it requires employing people to plan the lighting and then install it properly. Even the refining stage is part of their service that carefully measures the playing field light for uniformity.
All of this combined will cost money, but that’s not the real reason why it’s better to change your lights. The effort of being cost-effective is what is saving you in return. The climbing electricity costs, maintenance, and bulb replacement are a burden! When lights are changed, the advanced technology of LED doesn’t lose Lumen strength over time either. It’s simply an end to paying more for lighting that isn’t doing more for your sports venue.
There are plenty of electrical contractors who can install sports lights. It’s not hard if you are an electrician, but how do you show them how to aim them correctly? Some LED lighting suppliers provide helpful information that can show a hired contractor how to do the lighting on their own. It’s better if they understand the electrical process and a portion of that training includes knowledge about flood lighting.
These lighting companies can give selected examples of how the lights can be aligned and focused on the field. If your electrical contractor has previous experience with sports lighting, this is a plus for you. However, this might be more problematic if there are tall mast lights that are meant for stadiums. Smaller venues are easier to manage because of the height limits involved. This may require your lighting contractor to some climbing or rent a portable boom or scissor lift.
These two are related to each other but represent two differences between them. Lumens are the amount of light that emits from a light source. This measured level is according to the type of light that’s powered by Watts. Lux is the amount of light availability that appears on a rating scale rated from dark to light. Outdoor sports are rated at 2000-3000 Lux.
On a playing field, the amount of light that covers the entire surface is measured by lighting uniformity. There are no spots that are too bright or too weak. It appears as an evenly covered surface for all sides. Ideally, where light is used to cover a surface has an equal or greater to ‘Uniformity’ rating. This ensures the light values are matching everywhere.
This is the direction that sports lights are pointed from a specific angle degree. The angle beam is spread over a surface and has a selected area that it covers. Additional beams cross over this light path to fill-in directional holes from all angles. This is so an object can be illuminated 360 degrees.
Horizontal illumination refers to high mast pole lighting that comes from an angle. It can also include lighting that is anchored to the side of a structure and angled at a playing field. Vertical illumination is lighting that is pointed straight down from above. Horizontal lighting allows for an object to appear shadow free from all directions, while vertical creates an overhead shadow.
The average cost of an indoor arena is about 20 dollars per day when running LED sports lights. A large outdoor stadium is about 85 dollars per day. This is based on an 8 hour average from these lighting fixtures.
The general cost of an outdoor sports field starts between 80,000 – 2.4 million dollars depending on the number of poles used. This is based on a large stadium. A college football field can cost between 80,000 – 1 million dollars.
For a professional match, it’s a lumen requirement that you need 309,000,00lm to light up a soccer field. This light is reduced for smaller venues and seasonal gameplay for home games.
Depending on how the lighting is used, the color temperature often changes depending on the sport. Football uses higher Kelvin temperatures to excite the senses while mild sports like tennis use calming temperatures. The lighting is further adjusted to see the players or a ball based on clarity or light intensity.
Stadium lights are much higher in Kelvin than other types of sports. The Kelvin used for soccer and football is typically 3000K which is a bright high noon light. This increases the body to produce serotonin and helps make fans more excited during a big match.
LEDs can be left on all day since the electricity levels are very low costs overall. But for the days when a game is played in an arena or stadium, it’s important for night time gameplay. Daytime games can be played even in cloudy or overcast weather to allow natural lighting conditions.
Most states in the US offer a rebate for switching to using LED lighting. The problem is that owners of stadiums and arenas have already spent money on expensive lighting that is costly to keep up. The upfront replacement costs can be considered steep as well. The annual costs of typical filament lighting, the electricity, maintenance, and bulb replacement is 3x more expensive than LED lighting.
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Our email: info@sportlightsupply.com
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