Getting the best lighting for a softball field can be a challenging task because there are many things to consider. If we choose the wrong lighting equipment, we may have to incur high softball field lighting costs and subsequent operating costs. This article will talk about the basics of LED softball field lighting, and the costs associated with it.
How much does it cost to retrofit the softball lighting system to LED?
Retrofitting is one of the common practices for upgrading softball field lighting systems. When it comes to upgrading and retrofitting metal halide, halogen or mercury vapor softball fields to LED lighting systems, it saves a lot of work. This is because we can use the same light pole layout, say 4 light poles or 6 light poles for a softball field. All we need to do is to pull out the old lights and replace them with new ones, which is called “retrofitting”
| Competition level | Average cost of retrofitting softball field lights |
| Amateur or recreational | $20,000 to $40,000 |
| College or regional competition | $50,000 to $80,000 |
| Professional softball field | $75,000 to $180,000 |
Depending on the size of the project, such as the number and size of softball fields, we can expect the cost to retrofit softball field lighting with LEDs to be about $20,000 to $180,000. If you need more information on softball field lighting replacement costs, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
How much does it cost to install softball field lighting?
Installing lights for softball fields can be very expensive. We will have different installation costs depending on the size of the softball field and the level of competition. The average installation cost for a softball lighting system is approximately $100,000 to $300,000. This cost includes labor, wiring and excavation.
| Installation cost of softball field lights | Expenses |
| New pole installation | $15,000 to $30,000 |
| New lights installation | $10,000 to $25,000 |
| Wiring for the softball field floodlights | $5,000 to $10,000 |
| Cost to buy softball field lights | $8,000 to $50,000 |
Labor cost
Labor costs account for approximately 20% to 30% of the total installation cost, as labor is required to install the lights on the poles of the softball field using specialized skills. It is worth paying a little extra for the entire installation project to ensure quality. It takes them one to three days to complete the installation of the softball field lights.
This is not the end of the story as they still need to align the lights so that they match the previously designed lighting layout. Although the installation cost is high, there are some grants available at the federal and local government so we can save on the installation cost of softball field lighting. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
The softball field lighting running cost
After sweating over the purchase and installation of softball field lighting, we can’t sit back and relax. That’s because we need to calculate the cost of running a softball field lighting system. When using different light sources, such as LED and HID lights, the operating costs can vary greatly.
LED is one of the best light sources for softball field lighting because it has a 120,000 hour lifespan and low operating costs. Because of these features, we don’t need to worry about running costs breaking the bank, and we don’t need to replace softball field lights every 2 to 3 years.
For every 10,000 watts of LED lights in a softball field, the running cost would be 10,000W x $0.15/1000 = $1.50/hr. If we use halogen lights, we need 100,000 watts to produce the equivalent brightness of LED lights, so the electricity cost becomes $15 per hour.
Factors affecting the softball field lighting cost
1. Softball field lighting layout
Although baseball and softball are two similar sports, they have different field layouts and sizes, so when calculating lighting costs, we need to pay attention to the actual layout of the softball field.
Generally speaking, softball field size is smaller than baseball field because softball is heavier, bigger and softer, so it has a shorter flight distance compared to baseball, so we need a smaller field to play softball.
Since different softball fields have different sizes of infield and outfield key points, some softball fields may require more lighting and some require less. Please consult our engineers for more information.
Field size is also affected by the level of play, although there is a standard size for minor league baseball fields. The distance between bases is 60 feet, while the outfield fence is approximately 200 feet from home plate.
4-pole layout
Most softball fields are lit by 4 or 6 light poles. In some extreme cases, we may find even 8 light poles around the softball field.
Many softball field owners may prefer 4 light poles because it takes less time to install and wire. In fact, if we use high quality LED lights on a softball field, it can illuminate the entire softball field with sufficient brightness and uniformity.
Generally, two light poles are responsible for lighting the infield and outfield, while the other two light poles light the outfield.
6-pole layout
In this case, 2 additional light poles were added. There will be 4 light poles for lighting the infield and outfield, while the remaining 2 poles will be used mainly for lighting the outfield. In this case, the cost of lighting the softball field can be reduced because the light poles are responsible for lighting smaller areas and we can expect less light loss.
2. Height of softball field light pole
We can offer different light pole heights for different softball fields. For example, a smaller softball field will have a 30 foot to 50 foot light pole, while for a larger or standard field, the light pole height will be 45 to 65 feet, depending on the actual construction design of the softball field.
Taller poles can easily provide greater lighting uniformity, but the light loss will be somewhat greater. Therefore, it is a good idea to have a detailed lighting plan before purchasing a new light pole so that we can estimate the lighting effects of installing a new softball floodlight.
In addition to the height of the light pole, we also need to pay attention to the light spillage outside the softball field. We need special optical design on the softball field lighting fixtures so that we can minimize the glare that affects the quality of life of the residents near the stadium.
How to find the best softball field lighting company?
There are thousands of sports lighting companies that offer softball field lighting products. If you are struggling to get the best lighting quote for your softball field lighting project, then you have come to the right place.
SportLightSupply is an experienced provider of sports and stadium lighting. We regularly provide professional lighting for different types of stadiums, including softball and baseball fields. To better assist you with your lighting project, SportLightSupply offers a free DIALux lighting design so we can know how many lights and how many lumens are needed to illuminate the softball field. Simply send us a message in the contact form and you can take advantage of this great service. Contact us today.
