Why Are The Lights In Stadiums Always On?
If you've ever driven by a stadium at night, you may have observed that, even in the absence of a game or other event, the lights are almost always on. The reason for this may be a mystery to you, but it's not as simple as you would imagine.
First off, since maintenance workers must tend to the stadium, lights are often on during non-game times. This involves maintaining the field's grass, cleaning the stands, and fixing any damaged gear. They must have the lights on in order to see what they are doing.
Furthermore, in order to give the field enough time to cure before the following game, work on it, such as painting or resodding, is often done at night or in the early morning.
Stadium lighting is also often turned on for security and safety purposes. Keeping the lights on always helps to ward off vandals and criminals who may find large, deserted stadiums to be a tempting target. In order to ensure safety, it's also critical that everyone present in the stadium after hours, including security or cleaning workers, be able to see their surroundings well.
The money that may be made from advertising is one of the main reasons stadium lights are left on all the time. Many stadiums lease space for advertising, and in order for the advertisements to be visible, even when there isn't a game or event going on, they must be lighted. For instance, the roof of a football stadium may contain an LED display that showcases advertisements for various goods and services. The lights have to be on for those advertisements to work.
And lastly, there are special reasons why some stadiums never turn off the lights. For instance, there is a unique arrangement between the Federal Aviation Administration and the famous Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Because of its proximity to an airport and its use by the FAA as a visual reference point for pilots landing their planes, the stadium is only allowed to turn off its lights five nights a year.
In summary, there are a variety of reasons why stadium lights might be left on constantly, ranging from practical issues like upkeep and security to generating income through advertising and special agreements like the one the Rose Bowl has with the FAA. The reasons for keeping the lights on when there isn't a game or event going on are frequently more complicated than we might initially think. It may seem wasteful to do so.
