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By John Lewis | 30th JUN 2020
There’s a new standard in international stadium lighting, and for a good reason. If you want high-quality visuals, both in-person and during a broadcast, there’s only one choice. If you’re looking for a product that lasts longer than the competition and saves you money on your electric bill, LED is the best in class. Facility managers and stadium owners at every level of competition are upgrading to LEDs. Let’s find out why.
LED Lighting Exceeds Lighting Requirements
Nighttime games are an incredible experience for fans and players alike. There’s nothing like playing soccer under the big lights—as long as they’re the right ones. A soccer field needs to be adequately lit, and different size stadiums require different levels of illumination. For example, a professional level stadium requires at least 75-foot candles, whereas a standard 180 ft.-x-330-ft. field needs roughly 30-foot candles. When you add in spectators, the requirements increase. LED lighting fits the bill for both pros and amateurs.
LED Lighting Reduces Glare and Visual Fatigue
Have you ever attended a sporting event and felt like you’re struggling to catch all of the action? Glare on the field gives both players and spectators problems. LED lighting has an ideal color rendering index that virtually eliminates visual fatigue and enhances the quality of your product on the field. It also minimizes glare so that you’re not stuck squinting to catch a breakaway or unbelievable save.
LED Lighting Saves You Money
No one wants to spend more than they have to, especially if an upgrade means they’re not only saving money but also ending up with a better product when it’s all said and done. When you convert something like a Metal Halide light to LED, you’re saving a substantial amount on energy use. You’re also ditching the ballast, which uses an additional 15% of the light’s energy.
LED Lighting Decreases Maintenance
It doesn’t matter if you’re running an international stadium or a public park, you don’t want to pay a maintenance crew or do more work yourself when it can be avoided. Many High-Pressure Sodium and Metal Halide bulbs last no longer than 15,000 hours, and the light quality begins to degrade well before that. Considering that they’re mounted way up high, it’s not likely that you’re going to be climbing up there to replace them yourself, so you need to hire a crew.
If you had an LED fixture, you wouldn’t have to make a change for over 100,000 hours. Plus, there’s less chance for malfunction because there is no ballast involved. You’re not only saving a significant amount on energy costs, but you’re contracting a maintenance crew far less frequently.
The choice is clear for international stadiums at all levels—LED is the way to go.
Jonathan Lewis is an MFF Sports Writer