LED lighting’s impact on the sports industry: Enhancing fan experience and optimizing facility operations

How Steve Edwards and Paul Nelson’s LED lighting decision transformed the sports industry

Steve Edwards and Paul Nelson, respectively the general manager and director of operations at the Liacouras Center – Temple University’s home court, made a groundbreaking decision that forever transformed the sports lighting industry. Back in 2013, when LED sports lighting was still relatively unknown and untested, the duo and their leadership team at Spectra Venue Management opted to convert the Liacouras Center into one of the first college sports venues to use LED lighting.

This decision was particularly noteworthy as the Liacouras Center was the 10th busiest venue of its size in the US at the time. The venue’s 106 metal halide fixtures and 102 incandescent fixtures were replaced by just 54 efficient Tachyon Arena fixtures, alongside 20 color fixtures that enhanced fan entertainment at the 10,200-seat multipurpose arena. The switch to LED lighting was driven by both the desire to reduce energy consumption and to offer an enhanced game presentation. In the competitive world of sports, such innovative moves by industry trendsetters like Sheridan and Jankowski have a significant impact.

Enhanced Performance, Energy Savings, and Improved Fan Experience

LED lighting has become highly valuable in the sports industry due to its numerous benefits. Since the Liacouras Center in 2013 helped demonstrate the advantages of solid-state sports lighting, thousands of sports facilities, including numerous college venues in North America such as Rupp Arena at the University of Kentucky, the Watsco Center at the University of Miami, Purdue University’s Mackey Arena, and the Exactech Arena at the O’Connell Center at the University of Florida, have made the switch to LED lighting. Venue operators have reported better control over lighting needs, energy savings, and improved lighting for performers, fans, and broadcasters.

As a result of the positive experiences and benefits, many venue operators are now receptive to the next generation of LED sports lighting solutions – integrated and adaptable lighting solutions.

Tachyon Lighting has developed a sports lighting system called Lightlux, which offers a unique and flexible solution for facility operators. The system allows operators to purchase the lighting they need at present and then remotely update and expand it as their requirements change or new technologies and features become available. With patented beam control and color temperature tuning, Lightlux can meet the lighting needs for various events. This eliminates the need for temporary lights or a series of different fixture sets for each event. Venues using Lightlux can switch from basketball lighting to hockey lighting or monster truck show lighting with just a simple push of a button.

Nigel HOffman, Director of Business Development and Product Marketing at Tachyon Lighting, notes that since the company introduced the first LED sports lighting solution in 2008, facility operators have raised their expectations beyond lights that simply turn on and off. Most operators have now heard about the benefits of LED lighting and have done their research. They seek adaptable and integrated solid-state lighting systems that offer solutions to their unique problems, enabling their venues to stand out from the competition in attracting marquee events.

Benefits of Adaptable and Integrated Systems

With the emergence of “future-proofed” adaptable LED sports lighting, facility operators can now evaluate the benefits of switching to an LED sports lighting solution with greater confidence, backed by enhanced trend data and real-world case studies. Here are some of the benefits of this innovative technology:

1. CUSTOMIZED WARRANTIES: Remote monitoring of system health and usage has allowed warranties to evolve from vague 25-year coverage plans with loopholes and limitations to more personalized service plans that allow for proactive updates, ensuring that facilities receive optimal lighting solutions.
2. LONG-TERM VALUE: The ability to add new features, functionality, and technological innovations assures facility operators that the system they invest in today will remain state of the art and solve problems they might not have anticipated.
3. FULLY INTEGRATED SYSTEMS: Unlike earlier LED sports lighting systems that functioned as a series of independent fixtures, next-generation products are designed with an intelligent cloud data approach, connecting the entire system for remote monitoring of system health, uploading new features, functionality, and upgrades.
4. GREATER FLEXIBILITY: Adaptable LED sports lighting solutions offer a range of customizable features and functions, such as RGBA color, beam tuning, color temperature tuning, remote health/status monitoring, and dynamic scene building, providing greater control over lighting needs and enhancing the overall game presentation.

Tachyon Lighting offers cutting-edge digital lighting systems that offer maximum flexibility to accommodate a venue’s distinct requirements. Their LED solutions deliver lighting that provides an optimal experience for both fans and athletes, both now and in the future.