November/December 2022 - 54

FACILITY FOCUS
5 WAYS LED LIGHTING
ENHANCES THE GAME
EXPERIENCE
By Wesley Sykes, managing editor
T
he evolutionary process of lighting, from HID
and fluorescent fixtures, hit the fast-forward
button a little less than a decade ago. That was
when LED arrived on the scene.
Suddenly, lighting was more than just a utility. It
was a way to enhance the fan experience, to give the
athletes a better game-and in every way, to save on
energy costs and strengthen the green footprint of the
facility.
As an athletic director, administrator, or facility
operator, you try to balance the needs of your athletes,
facility, and community-and your budget. You've
probably investigated LED, but you have plenty of
questions.
LED lighting systems are not one-size-fits-all and it's
essential to take stock of necessities before exploring
available options. The good news is since the first LED
fixture was installed, advancements in the technology
continue to meet the evolving needs of facility operators.
And the market reflects as much. Per Technavio's latest
market analysis, the potential growth difference for
the stadium lighting market between 2021 and 2026
is $114.4 million. The report also identifies the market
to witness an accelerating growth momentum at a
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.75% during
the forecast period. As LED costs trend even lower
and their performance improves, facility managers are
looking to this tech for features like color tunability and
fixture control that offer customization, allowing the
space to be used for more and different events.
Advancements in LED lighting technology are now
also being used to create dynamic, theatrical experiences
previously impossible with metal halide, and, as a
result, often relegated to video screens. These include
effects like strobing, chasing, and pulsing to highlight
good plays and scores; announcing the starting lineups;
integrating music or video; and syncing up with sensors
for occupancy or temperature.
Before making the move, here are five ways LED
lighting is now allowing for a unique, customizable
54 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022
experience for fans and spectators, not only in the
professional and college ranks but at the high school level
as well.
1. Lighting Displays that Fire Up Fans
LED lighting offers a more entertaining and visually
interesting experience for sports spectators, whether
they're watching live at the game or from the comfort
of their couches. These include effects like strobing,
chasing, and pulsing to highlight good plays and scores;
announcing the starting lineups; integrating music or
video; and syncing up with sensors for occupancy or
temperature.
College and professional sports fans will go wild
when their team colors flood the field following a home
run or paint the ice after a power play sends the puck
soaring into the goal. Using color-changing lights, facility
operators can create a light show to accompany halftime,
pre-game performance, or highlight a sponsor. Lighting
can also create excitement for fans by zooming around
the stadium perimeter in the home team's colors after the
home team scores.
2. Flicker-Free Replays
Broadcast quality is another consideration for
professional and some collegiate stadiums. Using LED
sources reduces flicker for high-definition broadcasts,
increasing the frames per second allowed.
Sports venues with LED lighting give fans at home
the clearest and least distracting replay images because
they reduce what is known as the flicker effect. When
November/December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2022
