LED there be LIGHT

A relatively new option for sports venues, LED floodlighting solutions have quickly become the choice for both elite and community facilities

LIGHT there be

The use of light-emitting diode (LED) technology in sports lighting has transformed the way venues are illuminated – from 80,000-seat football stadiums to grassroots facilities. The advantages are undeniable. LEDs can provide enhanced brightness, energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness and improved player visibility – as well as features such as dimming and colour-changing capabilities. At elite and professional level, broadcasters and sport governing bodies have defined standards for lighting that enable TV cameras to capture flicker-free, super slow-motion action replays and help players to deliver a peak performance. The latest standards are easily met with high quality LED lighting – excellent colour rendering and uniformity ensures maximum performance and helps broadcasters catch every bead of sweat andstrained sinew in glorious 4K ultra-high definition.

While broadcast quality is not a consideration at grassroots level, being environmentally sustainable and cost effective certainly is. LED sports lighting consume around 50-80% less energy than metal- halide lamps, resulting in significant cost savings. Additionally, LED lights have a longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements, which further contributes to energy conservation and minimizes maintenance costs. Metal halide lighting systems also require annual servicing to include cleaning, mast checks and re-lamps. LED floodlights can undergo standard maintenance every two years for cleaning and mast checks.

While LEDs are a relatively recent solution for sports venues – the first ones in the UK were installed in the early 2010s – they have become the popular choice for both professional and community sports. Over the next few pages we have a look at some recent LED projects.

Midstream powers a better experience at Andover BMX Club

Andover BMX Club, established in 1996 at Charlton Leisure Park, operates a premier track meeting British Cycling standards in the south of England. Facing daylight restrictions for training and racing, the club sought floodlighting.

Floodlit BMX facilities are a comparative rarity in the UK. Most BMX tracks are reliant on natural light alone and, as a result, when the sun drops behind the horizon, activity comes to a halt – something that puts severe restrictions on a club’s ability to accommodate the needs of its members.

With financial support from Test Valley Borough Council, and following a competitive tender, the club appointed SAPCA member, Midstream Lighting, to design and deliver a brand new floodlighting system.

While the club and Midstream were keen to get started with the installation, a few initial challenges needed to be overcome. The first involved the provision of electricity to the track, which saw Midstream working with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks to specify the required power levels. With certain sensitivities around the location of the raceway, a protracted planning period then followed, with Midstream supporting the club at every turn.

Another issue that needed to be tackled was the design of the lighting system itself. In many sports, the relevant governing bodies provide comprehensive guidance on appropriate lux levels, but that isn’t the case for BMX, however. As a result, Midstream’s extensive history with sports lighting was brought into play, enabling the company to design a high-performance – and highly cost effective – 200 lux system.

Key to that design are the company’s Modus R1000 LED floodlights, 12 of which are now installed across six masts at the track. Angled straight down so as to prevent any shadowing around jumps, doubles, and rhythm sections, these high-quality luminaires are helping Andover’s members train and race well into night.

Musco’s LED technology helping facilities reduce carbon footprint

Musco’s proprietary TLC for LED sports lighting system has helped Climate Pledge Arena – home to the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Seattle Storm of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) – become the first arena in the world to achieve the International Living Future Institute Zero Carbon Certification.

The new lighting features Musco’s patented light control technology and tunable white LED fixtures which adjust instantly between warmer and whiter colour temperatures to create unique visual settings.

The lighting system is one of a wide range of eco- friendly solutions at the arena. The venue has eliminated fossil fuels from all planned arena operations, making it one of the only arenas to be 100% electric and powered by renewable energy sources. It has also installed solar panels on site and offsets the remainder of its energy use through renewable energy certificates from Puget Sound Energy. “Musco is an industry standard,” said Randy Foster, Director of Production at Climate Pledge Arena. “In my world, it’s the go- to for any project of this size and significance.”

Woburn Sands Tennis Club upgrades old LEDs

LED floodlight solutions are a relatively new product – especially at community and grassroots sports level. So replacing existing LED sports lighting with another LED solution might at first sound odd. There can, however, be a good reason for upgrading older LED lights to the latest generation of LED.

The most compelling arguments for replacing older LEDs are the substantial energy saving, the removal or reduction of lamp change/maintenance requirements and reduced light spillage. These were among the considerations at Woburn Sands Tennis Club, which has just replaced its old LED lights with new ones.

The three key drivers for change at Woburn were light levels, uniformity and complaints from neighbours about light spillage. The complaints were no surprise, as the club is surrounded by three story flats that sit directly outside the court fencing.

The club appointed SAPCA member, Carbon8Lighting, for the project, installing the company’s new Athlima sports fittings. Athlima combines pinpoint accurate optics and adjustable glare shields, providing the club with improved light levels and uniformity to meet LTA guidelines. Crucially, the club now also has happy neighbours.

Lee Valley VeloPark’s lighting gets upgrade

Thorn and its sister brand Zumtobel (both lighting brands of the Zumtobel Group) provided a high- performance solution for the Lee Valley VeloPark in London, delivering 50% energy reduction and cost savings ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Working in collaboration with BDP Lighting and Elcom on the project, the team was tasked with replacing the 10-year-old metal-halide lighting system, which had become outdated.

As well as a world class sports venue, Lee Valley VeloPark is also available for exhibitions, conferences and private hire. This added another requirement for the lighting. It needed to be flexible enough to adapt to the different configurations for various events.

The original scheme consisted of 371 metal halide luminaires with a total energy load of 368 kW. Switching light levels for specific competitions was complicated. With no dimming system in place, the venue could only switch off banks of projectors.

The new scheme uses a mix of 276 of Thorn’s Altis and Zumtobel’s CRAFT II Performance luminaires, with an overall energy load of 185kW – 50% less than the original. The floodlights also use DMX and DALI control, meaning each luminaire can be individually switched and dimmed. Meeting broadcasting standards, the new luminaires are also flicker-free. This achieves precise control of the light levels on the track, improving conditions for cyclists, spectators and TV cameras.

The downlight installation reduced the connected energy load by 50% from 20kW to 10kW, improving the spectral quality of light, and eliminating the need for regular lamp changes (which was approx. 20 per month). The estimated cost savings from the project (including energy, replacement lamps, and lamp change labour) will amount to £100k after ten years.

LMXLED completes Crowthorne Tennis project

Crowthorne Tennis Club in Reading is now benefiting from precision-engineered, high-specification LED lighting. SAPCA member, LMXLED, was appointed to upgrade an existing lighting system with a corner-lit layout. Each corner had a column with a height of 10m and with a 2000w metal halide light on each pole.

LMXLED provided a solution which exceeds LTA guidelines by replacing each head with its 600w LXFL400 Tennis high mast sports floodlight. In addition to improved lighting for players, the system offers a big saving of 70% on energy consumption, which is crucial amid the rising utility prices.

In addition, LMXLED deployed its expertise in optics to control glare and ensure high uniformity – a potentially challenging task with 10m poles.

“We ended up with virtually zero backlight or up light or spill, to create a happy environment for dark sky regulations and the fauna living nearby,” LMXED says. “The upgrade of floodlights to a superior specification not only elevates the overall quality of lighting but also conveys a resounding message of confidence in the club and underscores a commitment to investing in both current and potential members.”

Dominic Evan-Hart, Head Coach of Crowthorne Tennis Club, added: “We’re really noticing the significant savings in running costs and of course contributing to the reduction in our carbon footprint.”

LED solutions achieving energy cost savings in Wales

Wales-based Floodlighting and Electrical Services has worked on a number of recent projects at sports facilities across the country. Recent LED floodlight installations include those at Darran Park, Caerau Ely AFC, Ystrad Mynach Centre of Sporting Excellence, Stow Park Lawn Tennis Club and Cwmbran Tennis Club.

At the Ystrad Mynach Centre, the company installed high-efficiency LED floodlights and a SmartGEDi lighting control system, providing enhanced visibility and energy efficiency to the facility. Each pitch at the centre was designed to achieve the specified lighting level of 500 lux to meet the required standards for the WRU and FAW clubs that use the pitches.

The SmartGEDi technology enables clubs to save energy by installing lighting with sensor detection, lux level controls and the ability to complement natural light, reducing energy consumption and bills in the process. It excels at ensuring only the energy needed is used.

Floodlighting and Electrical MD, Gareth Thomas, said: “We’re committed to supporting clubs in achieving their sustainability objectives. We understand the financial burden associated with running a sports club, especially when it comes to operating floodlights.

Cirencester Hockey cuts energy use by 50% thanks to Lumosa’s LED

SAPCA member, Lumosa, has delivered an innovative LED lighting solution for Cirencester Hockey that not only elevated the visibility and vibrancy of every game but has also ushered in a new era of sustainability.

The club, which has more than 350 members, has experienced a 50% reduction in energy consumption since installing Lumosa’s cutting- edge lighting technology. The pitch is used both by Cirencester Hockey and Deer Park School.

“The Cirencester project exemplifies our commitment to creating solutions that harmonise with the environment and community needs,” Lumosa said.