Location: Glendale, AZ
Venue
The State Farm Stadium is a 63,400 seat multi-purpose stadium and home to the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team, a member of the Green Sports Alliance. The facility will host the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, 2015 Pro Bowl and 2015 Super Bowl. The stadium is regarded as a model of innovation, with its retractable turf and a commitment to sustainability. Global Spectrum manages the venue.
Challenge
The facility was experiencing poor light uniformity for the level of play taking place. Maintenance costs for the metal halide lighting system were high. Lighting quality for HDTV sports broadcasting was a major concern, with the 2015 Super Bowl to be played at the stadium. Operators were also conscious of the power outage that occurred at the New Orleans Superdome in 2013 and the long lighting restrike delay that followed once power was restored.
Scope
The project included replacement of the metal halide lights as well as installation of a control system to provide better operational efficiency and flexibility.
Solution
312 Ephesus fixtures were installed. The Ephesus solution included wired DMX controls on each fixture to interface with the control system. This provides instant, one-touch control to switch between different light settings and levels as well as the ability to create unique fan experience effects.
Results
The number of fixtures was reduced from 780 to 312. An impressive average of 277fc was generated on the playing surface, nearly doubling the previous lighting levels. Light was precisely projected up to 620 feet from the source, while max/min uniformity improved to 1.2. System wattage was reduced by 929,000 watts and energy savings of 75% are projected.
Broadcasting Considerations
The remarkable increase in light at the surface and uniformity greatly improved the HDTV sports broadcasting experience. This ensures camera operators need no adjustments to their equipment to vividly deliver the game to viewers outside the stadium.
We selected Ephesus after careful consideration of all the other available options. We are confident that their solution will improve lighting for the athletes, fans and broadcasters, all while reducing energy consumption and eliminating conventional sports lighting maintenance expense.Peter Sullivan, Regional VP & General Manager, State Farm Stadium
