PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT AUTUMN 2013
Changes in sports lighting design
Advice on the latest trends in sports lighting design and technology from M-E Engineers, Inc
T
he demands of broadcast technology are rapidly changing the design and
technology of sports lighting systems. Broadcasters seek to fully immerse the audience in the drama and action of events and the lighting systems must support it. Specifi cally, broadcasts are using more camera positions and angles, high defi nition cameras, and more varied lighting for dramatic effect.
In the past, lighting was designed to favour a few main cameras. Today broadcasts use 40 different camera positions or more to showcase the event in fresh, new, and dramatic ways. Lighting designs must provide geometrically and symmetrically balanced illumination across the fi eld to show consistent, life-like images to the audience as the camera views change. Because each stadium design requires different fi xture arrangements, lighting designers should be involved early in design to be sure balanced illumination is achievable.
Cameras achieve high defi nition by increasing their frame-rates, capturing even the smallest increments of movement on the fi eld. High speed cameras can now reach greater than 1,500 frames per second, but most camera positions are limited to 600 CFPS due to light fi xture technology and stadium electrical capacities. During slow motion replays even small variations in light are obvious. While improved technology is already reducing these fl ickering lighting effects, emerging LED products eliminate this problem altogether. LEDs do not fl icker because they use direct current (DC) power. These will likely be the standard soon, providing far more detailed image capture.
As broadcasters seek to draw in viewers, they are increasingly using theatrical lighting effects. A sharp lighting cut- off between the fi eld of play and the spectators creates a theatre-like environment and reinforces the images.
Sporting Park – Kansas City, KS: Lighting fi xtures follow the curve of the roofl ine.
Many producers also request control of lighting for the lower seating areas to increase illumination during spectator celebrations and create effects during introductions and featured events. Traditionally these changes have been achieved either through totally separate lighting systems, or by using mechanical shields on the lamps. LED fi xtures turn on without warm-up time and can be dimmed by control systems, creating a more fl exible system with simpler controls and power needs. This is especially useful in arenas that must accommodate many types of events.
New technologies, such as LED, may initially be more expensive, but they improve the audience experience. LED lights require no warm-up time, simplify controls and power requirements, have longer lamp life, and use much less energy than traditional metal halide fi xtures. As the audience for sporting events grows world-wide, it’s important to invest in lighting systems to meet their expectations.
Sports lighting aiming vectors in an arena.
32 FACILITY WATCH M-E engineers, INC
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