You have likely experienced watching a sports event, such as a football game, at night. Hosting these competitions in a stadium or sports venue at night requires proper lighting of these places. The lighting of sports fields depends on various factors, for example, the type of games being held there, in fact, the type of lighting changes according to the sport. Another factor to consider in the lighting of sports venues is whether you are lighting an indoor sports club or if the lighting is for an outdoor sports stadium. Or, lighting may be specific to a competition or practice in an area, in each of these cases, different lights and illuminations are used, which we will briefly examine.
The goal of lighting and illuminating a sports space, club, or stadium is to create an environment suitable for sporting activities. In fact, wherever each light is chosen, it must be such that it does not cause disturbance or glare for the players or athletes. Also, on the other hand, good visibility for the spectators must also be considered.
Lighting of Sports Grounds
For each sport, a playing area is designated as the main field, which includes a safety area and the field’s margins. In this case, the required lighting depends on the type of sport and the distance of the spectators from the playing area. Since playing fields are large, they require a high amount of light, so while providing light, attention must also be paid to their energy efficiency. Of course, lighting elements should be installed at a height and in a manner that allows for easy access for repairs if necessary.
Principally, a specific level of illumination must be created for all sports, and this light should be such that it does not create dark shadows in the players’ field of vision because inadequate lighting can certainly affect the players’ reactions on the field. An excellent lighting system should consider aspects beyond just illuminating the playing field, for example, lighting for television broadcasts and for people watching the games at home is also important.
For sports ground lighting, it is essential to zone the field in terms of lighting, which includes three areas:
- Main Area of the Field: The part of the field where the main game takes place.
- Whole Area: The main playing area along with the surrounding area.
- Reference Area: The area where lighting parameters are evaluated and varies for different sports.
Horizontal Illumination
The majority of the lighting for a sports ground or area is provided by horizontal light, which offers a suitable field of vision for players, spectators, and even viewers at home. This light essentially aids in the recognition of players and objects in different parts of the field. Typically, a medium level of horizontal light is required for sports competitions that are not broadcast on television, but for those that are televised, vertical illumination becomes more important than horizontal illumination. However, it should be noted that to ensure balanced lighting for television images, the ratio between vertical and horizontal illumination must be matched.
Vertical Illumination
To create suitable general lighting, vertical illuminations must also be utilized. To ensure optimal visibility and the possibility of player recognition from any direction, vertical lighting should be implemented at a minimum height of 1.5 meters. Lighting experiences show that there is a positive and efficient relationship between vertical and horizontal lighting.
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In this family, modern principles and compositions are used to create lamps. Decorations are minimal and classic colors such as gold are used less. Yards of residential houses or office buildings, park areas, sidewalks, docks, park lots, etc. are all examples of spaces that widely use park lights. For example, in the yard of a residential house, factors such as yard flooring and facade material are the most important determining factors in choosing the style of park lights. Modern park lights are suitable in front of buildings with composite panels or glass, and in courtyards with a Roman facade and many decorations, it is better to use classic park lights. The angle of distribution in park lights also depends on the design style of the product. The circular, square or rectangular cross-section and the breaks and curves of the form for the design of the body of this product can create attractive products.
Uniform and Non-glaring Lighting
One of the aspects that must be considered in the lighting of sports venues is ensuring the uniformity of light, which helps in installing the light at an appropriate height and prevents glare and visual discomfort for the players.
Read this article: Industrial Lighting
What Types of Lights Should You Choose for Stadium Lighting?
Stadium lights are typically powerful projectors and lights that are usually installed at high elevations. These lights have a narrow beam angle, which allows them to distribute a greater intensity of light across the space. Stadium lights can be installed at various heights depending on the type of sports facility. The beam angle of these lights also changes based on the height of installation.
Projectors are among the most commonly used devices for providing light in desired locations. Nowadays, various types of projectors are manufactured with different technologies. One of the most commonly used and up-to-date technologies in projector production is COB, which places a large number of LEDs on a single board, appearing as a luminous core when lit. Another advantage of using COB projectors, besides their high luminosity, is their good color rendering index and longevity, which has increased the application of this technology in lighting equipment.
Another type of projector used in sports lighting is metal halide and sodium vapor projectors. These projectors have high power and light intensity but, compared to LED types, consume more energy.
For purchasing lighting equipment for sports halls or consulting for sports venue lighting design, you can contact our experts at Chique lighting.