The lighting requirements of outdoor sports fields and facilities have led to the development of lighting products with different performance characteristics than luminaires designed for traditional outdoor areas (such as parking lots and building envelopes). The requirements for the lighting of sports fields have become clear, and lighting products have been developed specifically for the lighting of sports fields and facilities.
Sports lighting require very specific lighting solutions. While you may be tempted to purchase cheaper “traditional” floodlights to illuminate your sports fields, courts, and facilities, sports lights are worth the initial investment for many reasons. While general floodlights are great for certain applications, traditional floodlights rarely meet the lighting needs of outdoor sports venues. lighting comparison
Sports field lights are similar to traditional floodlights in that they both illuminate a large outdoor area.
However, there are many basic differences when it comes to beam spread, lumen output, light quality and intensity, mounting height, impact resistance, surge protection, warranty, and wireless controllability.
Below we discuss the more important differences. But first, let’s define outdoor sports field lighting and conventional floodlights because these words are actually two completely different types of LED lights that offer solutions to different problems but are often used together or interchangeably.
Definition of sports lighting and floodlights
What is sports lighting?
LED sports lights are outdoor LED lights commonly used to illuminate large areas used for recreational and competitive sports activities such as baseball, soccer, soccer, tennis, and basketball.
Sport lights are typically mounted on 40 to 100 feet tall poles, with 1 to 12 lights mounted on each pole.
This type of outdoor lighting is used in schools, colleges, municipalities, amateur sports clubs, and professional sports franchises. These field lights are specially designed to diffuse the light.
Effectively and consistently over long distances and spaces on the playing field, it provides excellent visibility for players and spectators while saving high operating and maintenance costs.
Areas of application for sports lighting:
- Soccer field and stadium
- basketball and tennis court
- racetrack and racetrack
- baseball and softball fields
- soccer field
- Recreational field
- skate park
- practice field
What is Floodlight?
Floodlight image from blog post Floodlights are also used for outdoor lighting, typically mounted on telephone poles or buildings to provide directional lighting to different areas. Traditional floodlights can be mounted at different angles to scatter the light accordingly.
Most existing commercial outdoor floodlight applications use high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps such as metal halide, high-pressure sodium, and extremely durable mercury vapor lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) are also found in non-LED floodlights.
Floodlight application:
Outdoor floodlights are used to illuminate large areas for vehicle and pedestrian safety. Floodlights are not used to provide the level of light (foot candles) required for recreational sporting activities.
Comparing LED Sport Lights and LED Flood Lights
Today, LED sports lights are the most cost-effective, efficient, and optimal way to provide the necessary lighting for sports fields, squares, and outdoor venues.
LED wattages range from 300 to 2000 and can produce 50,000 to 200,000+ lumens, but watts and lumens alone are not enough. Field and stadium sports lights have several performance characteristics that address the specific lighting and product needs of the field, playing field, and stadium lighting.
Some of the identifiable performance specifications that distinguish LED sport lighting products from LED floodlight products include the following (click below to jump to any section):
- The difference in beam distribution
- light quality and light intensity
- lumen output
- Mounting height
- Overvoltage protection
- Wireless control function
In summary, LED sports lights offer a much better value than commercial floodlights for outdoor sports lighting applications. LED sports lighting is a more cost-effective technique to provide the right footlights and lighting levels to ensure a secure and competitive playing surface. If you’re deciding between standard or LED flood lights and LED sports lights, we can help you decide if LED sports lights are worth the investment for your business.