LED Stadium Lighting – What You Need to Know to Retrofit

Apr 10, 2026

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The phrase "Friday Night Lights" refers to more than just one sport or day of the week. There is a growing trend of sports teams of all ages and genres playing after dark. Improvements in lighting technologies that guarantee players and spectators have a good view of the pitch are the cause of the rise in evening sports.

Stadium lights are often utilised to provide enough lighting for the spectators and playing field. Stadium lights are typically towering installations with small-angle light bulbs. When the light beam hits the field, the modest angles enable it to stay powerful and brilliant. The majority of stadium light fixtures are 40 to 60 feet long, however some might be as little as 40 feet or as long as 100 feet.

For many excellent reasons, stadium lighting is transitioning to LED or next-generation LED. LEDs provide dynamic lighting that even looks fantastic on TV and are simple to regulate and energy-efficient.

LED Round stadium lightings
Design Guidelines for Stadium Lighting Retrofits


Here are some things to consider while preparing for an LED stadium lighting upgrade.


Placement of Lighting


Stadium lighting placement calls for some ingenuity. Enhancing visibility on the field and in the bleachers is one of the lighting's many functions. Additionally, lighting may foster a sense of unity among supporters of their preferred teams. There are many alternatives available to you when it comes to lighting placement.

The illumination may be mounted on towers or around the stadium's roof. There are lights in the middle of several stadiums. The array, the focal point of the light, the mounting location, and other factors should also be taken into account.

Elevation


The lighting throughout the stadium varies in height. Using 1 to 12 lights on poles that are 40 to 100 feet tall is a decent guideline. 40-foot poles are ideal for 500-watt lights, and for poles 60 feet and above, you should definitely raise the wattage to 1,000 to 1,200.

Flicker and Glare

Any stadium lighting design must minimise glare. An improper illumination intensity causes glare, which hinders players' and spectators' ability to see the pitch. Glare problems may be avoided with the use of shields and optic lenses. Additionally, you must have a sufficient awareness of lighting intensity and angles.

A change in the brightness intensity of the light causes flickering. Variations in the power supply's voltage are a frequent reason. Fortunately, it's not too difficult to reduce glare with LED stadium lighting. Among the strategies to prevent the problem are


Choosing the appropriate driver


CRI and CCT


Correlated colour temperature is abbreviated as CCT. It describes how warm or cold a light looks and is measured in Kelvin (K). Warm light is more yellow, and cool light is somewhat blue. Stadium lighting is typically white, however you may alter the CCT to fit the particular requirements of the venue.

The colour rendering index, or CRI, is a measure of the quality of light. A score between 0 and 100 is used to record the CRI. Better light quality was indicated by higher CRI ratings. The majority of stadium lighting has a CRI of at least 75.

Lumens and Watts


Lumens and watts go hand in hand. Lumens indicate the brightness of the lightbulb, while watts indicate how much power the LED consumes. The greater the lumen rating, the more power the lightbulb consumes, but you don't want to lower it.


What Stadium Lighting Should Have


When it comes to LED stadium lighting, there are many of possibilities. Before beginning any stadium lighting retrofit, take into account these few factors.

Brightness

One of the main reasons stadiums are switching to LED lighting is to have sufficient brightness without glare. The brightness level of the majority of LED lighting is 60,000 lumens.

Design of Optics

A high-end lens is essential when thinking about optical design. Fixtures on tall poles provide narrow optics that both reduce glare and illuminate the ground.

Sturdiness


The strongest stadium lights are long-lasting. They are shielded from wind, illumination, and electrical (voltage) surges. Surge protection is one thing you shouldn't ignore. In this manner, the illumination level stays constant independent of the quantity of power coming from the grid.

Upkeep


For stadium workers, maintaining lights on poles that range in length from 40 to 100 feet is a challenging undertaking. Because LED lights last a long time, you won't need to change the bulbs as often. When you consider their longevity, you may be able to avoid maintaining the stadium lights for the whole season.

Diminished Glare

Look for LED lights with a CRI value higher than 70 to lessen glare. This helps guarantee that colours are correct both on TV and in real time on the pitch.


Simple Installation


LED stadium lighting is designed to be simple to install, saving money and time.

Extra Features


Selecting LED products that work with wireless controllers is something to think about. You may modify the colour intensity and brightness levels using the settings. Additionally, wireless controls may extend the life of the lightbulb and lower total energy use.


Speak with Us About Retrofitting Your LED Stadium Lighting


Your LED stadium lighting upgrade may be planned and carried out with the assistance of Benwei Lighting. We can assist you at every stage, from finding the appropriate items to the final installation.

Let the professionals at Benwei Lighting assist you if you're thinking about retrofitting your stadium with LED lighting. To discuss your Turn-Key LED Retrofit choices, give +8618878216759 a call, send an email to bwzm6@ledbenweilighting.com, or arrange a call.

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