University of Phoenix Stadium becomes the first National Football League venue to upgrade to LED lighting. (Photo by Gene Lower)
Arizona Cardinals fans and the millions of Super Bowl spectators – both at the game and watching on television – will see the games more clearly, thanks to a state-of-the-art lighting upgrade at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The stadium switched out its old-fashioned metal halide lights with LED lighting fixtures making it the first NFL stadium lighting the playing field exclusively with LED lights.
“I expect major cost savings as a result of switching to LED lighting,” said Scott Norton, director of marketing and public relations for the University of Phoenix Stadium. “It’s certainly the way of the future. The quality of lights for our events is another benefit. The LED lighting covers the field better, illuminates with a more natural light.”
Norton said that in addition to the newest LED field lights, more than 500 bulbs have been changed to LED at the stadium as part of its ongoing green initiatives.
The benefits of LED lighting technology are several, according to Mike Lorenz, president of Ephesus Lighting Inc., Syracuse-based manufacturer of the LED lights being utilized at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
“First, I think it enhances the broadcast capability of the venue, improving the ability of the venue’s activities to be broadcast with High-Definition television” noted Lorenz. “Secondly, I think it’s very fan-friendly. I think the fans can see the playing surface better, the colors better, and I think the lights add to the experience for the fans who are at the game. Third, I think it’s positive for the performers on the field of play. I think they, too, see the field better, see the ball better, see the colors better. Lastly, the economics are very compelling both in the direct savings in energy usage and in secondary maintenance costs. In Phoenix, the LED lighting will mean a reduction in HVAC costs to keep the building cool, especially early in the football season.”
The 312 new Ephesus Stadium digital LED fixtures will use about 310,000 watts of energy, four times less than the 1.24 million watts necessary to operate the 780 older metal halide light fixtures – a remarkable 75 percent reduction in lighting energy consumption.
One part of the savings comes from the costly and inconvenient warm-up and cool-down time required for the metal halide lights.
“The traditional metal halide lights that were originally installed here require a 15- to 20-minute warm-up period,” said Norton. “The new LED lights turn on and off with the flick of a switch. That’s one of the benefits. Also, we will take the 780 old metal halide fixtures down off the catwalk and that will increase our load capability there if we ever need to fly additional speakers or other equipment from that area.”
The LED lighting at Universtiy of Phoenix Stadium reduces energy consumption by 75 percent. (Photo by Gene Lower)
Additional savings may come through the use of Ephesus lighting via energy incentives from utility providers thanks to the lights’ Design Light Consortium’s (DLC) certification. Ephesus LED lighting is the only stadium-designed lighting that meets DLC quality, performance and energy efficiency requirements, Lorenz said.
As for the cost to potential-savings analysis of using LED lighting in this sort of situation, Lorenz estimates that the initial costs for installation at a large sports facility like the University of Phoenix Stadium is "in the six-figure range” and that return on investment will be “certainly less than five years."
It isn’t all about savings, though. The LED lights are not only far cheaper in the long run but also provide superior illumination, he added.
“The light we create through our LED technology is more natural. It mirrors outdoor light more closely. Secondarily, the light is delivered more uniformly. The field is lit more evenly with LED technology. With metal halide lighting that’s a very difficult thing to accomplish because metal halide bulbs lose their power as they’re being utilized. With our LED lights, they stay constant over long periods of time.”
The Arizona Cardinals may be the first NFL franchise to use LED lighting exclusively for illuminating its field but it likely won’t be the last.
“We’ve had conversations with six or eight teams and I know that there is active conversation going on with teams that are planning new venues to be built, the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings being two of them,” stated Lorenz. “Each group is evaluating LED technology and considering the adoption of that in their new buildings.”
Given the cost and quality benefits of LED lighting, it seems inevitable that other NFL stadiums will eventually follow suit.
“I think we’re at the beginning of something that’s going to be very exciting – the widespread adoption of digital solid-state lighting to sports venues,” said Lorenz. “It’s a new frontier! It’s exciting to have one done and we’re excited to see what the future holds. I think the days of the conventional light bulb are behind us and digital lighting is the future.”
Interviewed for this story: Mike Lorenz, (315) 579-2873; Scott Norton, (623) 433-7108
