Sports lighting has developed rapidly in three years, and LED sports lighting will become a trend in the next five years. Since 2015, 30 percent of football stadium lighting in Europe and the United States has switched from traditional metal halide lamps to more adaptable and energy-efficient LED sports lighting. For example, the home team Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, Otkriti Arena, Aviva Stadium, Warsaw National Stadium, etc.
American League President Don Garber talked about the rise of LED systems in sports lighting facilities and why so many football field lighting uses LED technology during his inspection of the Allianz Stadium under construction in Minnesota.
According to Don Garber, there are three main reasons for choosing LED sports lighting systems for state-of-the-art football stadiums: improving television broadcasting, enhancing the fan experience, and reducing long-term operating costs.
LED sports lighting and controls could improve TV broadcasts
Television broadcasts have long played an important role in influencing the evolution of lighting. From professional football sports leagues to college football games, LEDs enhance television broadcasts with flicker-free slow-motion replays. Equipped with state-of-the-art LED soccer field lighting, the clips can now be played flicker-free at 20,000 frames per second, so fans can capture every second of the replay in detail.
When using LED football field lighting to illuminate the playing field, the image appears brighter and clearer on the TV due to the LED football field lighting’s ability to strike a balance between warm and cool colors. There are virtually no shadows, glare or dark spots, so action remains clear and unobstructed.
LED sports lighting systems can enhance fans’ experience at games
With the help of LED sports lighting system, fans have a better experience, which not only improves the enjoyment of the game, but also increases the participation of the audience. LED sports lighting has an instant-on feature, so lights can be adjusted instantly at halftime or between games.
Advanced LED Sports Lighting System Can Reduce Running Costs
Advances in lighting technology have also made the operating costs of LED sports lighting more attractive than ever, more affordable than traditional lighting such as metal halide lamps. Football stadiums installing LED sports lighting can save 75% to 85% of total energy costs.
So, what was the total project cost? The average installation cost for an arena is between $125,000 and $400,000, while the average soccer field costs between $800,000 and $2 million, depending on size, lighting, and more. The return on investment for LED sports lighting systems is often seen in just a few years due to energy savings and reduced maintenance costs.