LEDs: Lighting the World Cup
Like most people, you've probably never given much thought to stadium lighting. However, with the start of the 20th FIFA World Cup right around the corner, now is the time to do some serious stadium lighting analysis. As players and spectators alike know, a stadium's ambiance is important. It influences the spirit of the game, player performance, and the spectating experience. This means that poor lighting can ruin a game for everyone. Luckily, with the growth of the LED industry, more and more sports complexes are opting for powerful and efficient LED illumination. This even includes several of the stadiums to be used for this year's FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The 2014 World Cup will utilize 12 stadiums, five of which are lit by the GE Lighting EF2000 LED floodlight. Even Maracaña Stadium–Brazil's flagship venue–has installed 396 EF2000 floodlights. LEDs will illuminate 28 of the 64 games as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.
Why LEDs
Strict requirements are in place to meet the needs of audiences and players. While of course many fans will be watching in person, there are millions more watching on television. LEDs provide the best quality light for both live audiences and those watching at home. Television requires proper color temperature, uniformity and luminance. Additionally, with the rise of super slow-motion replay, it is important to eliminate bothersome shadows and flickering. Flickering is a strobe-like effect that is unnoticeable in real-time, but visible in slow-motion. Unlike traditional lights, LEDs do not flicker, so fans watching on television can have the same experience as those at the game.
In terms of efficiency, LEDs last longer and use much less energy than traditional lights. Stadiums that switch to LEDs generally reduce their energy consumption by 20-30%. Furthermore, GE's EF2000 lighting system was awarded the prestigious LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. This makes LEDs not only a good financial investment, but also an investment in our environment.
Looking Ahead
Surely more sports venues will make the switch to LEDs as they to continue outperform traditional lights. While you might not have the power to light up a stadium, you can choose LEDs to light up your home. If they're good enough for the world's best football stars, we think you'll like them too.
