Feature By Kathy Bates
Shine Bright Like a Diamond
In the classic baseball film Field of Dreams, a voice reaches out to Kevin Costner’s Ray Kinsella in a cornfield: “If you build it, he will come.” And you can build it, but no athletes—living or deceased—are coming without the proper illumination of the playing field.
Collegiate and Minor League baseball diamonds across the U.S. are game-planning for upgrades to brighter footcandle (fc) levels. The old playbook called for 70 fc in the infield and 50 fc in the outfield. But now? The new standard is swinging for the fences: 100 fc in the infield and 70 fc in the outfield (100/70).
So, why is the upgrade necessary? One of the main reasons is player visibility. Imagine players tracking the ball with eagle-eye accuracy or hitters attempting to view if a pitch is a curveball or a change-up. Enhanced brightness means fewer errors, safer play, and lightning-fast reactions. Fans crave excitement and nothing delivers quite like a field under bright lights. Let’s not forget the RGB fan experience that is delivering dynamic scenes, Americana, and memorable home runs—all captured on our Instagram and Snapchat accounts.
Increasing light levels can get difficult if the stadium has an aged infrastructure. I’m not saying that if your poles were erected in the Bon Jovi-era you are livin’ on a prayer; however, you may need to perform a structural analysis to be on the safe side. The good news is there are LED fixtures that have a lower effective projected area than those of the old HID fixtures. Also, higher LED wattages make it obtainable to meet the new 100/70 standards and even light the bullpens to 50 fc with the same number or fewer fixtures than what currently exists, which is wonderful news to stadium owners with older infrastructure.
The Hudson Valley Renegades (in New York) successfully upgraded to the desired light levels a few years ago. Have you noticed that some ballfields with center-field distances over 350 ft use six poles, while others use eight? Hudson Valley employs eight poles—a choice some lighting designers prefer to improve outfield uniformity. However, more poles mean additional structural inspections. During these inspections, the overall condition of each pole is evaluated, including welds, anchor bolts (if applicable), signs of rust, and the integrity of galvanization. Thanks to a robust infrastructure, the Renegades were able to install new cross arms and achieve brighter, more uniform lighting.
The upgrade included not only new LED lights but also brand-new wireless controls. Fixtures can be programmed to operate at 100% during games and dimmed to 50% for maintenance and post-game cleanup. They can even be assigned special effects—such as a quick sparkle for a home run or a paparazzi-style flash when the Renegades celebrate a win. Modern LED sports lighting adds excitement and engagement for both players and spectators.
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte faced the challenge of increasing light levels on its baseball field last year. The difficulty stemmed from a particular pole that became hard to access after the stadium’s press box expansion. As a sports lighting installer, avoiding lifts and cranes on the field is critical since even driving on the warning track can cause damage. To overcome this, we secured a tall crane and paired it with a skilled operator to remove the old cross arm and install a new one equipped with 1,200-W LED fixtures. The crane operator worked in tandem with the lift operator, while electricians on the lift steadied the cross arms and made the necessary electrical connections to power the fixtures.
Seeing all the fixtures illuminate was a moment of celebration for sheer dedication and teamwork. Turning the Forty-Niners’ field UNC-Charlotte green brought excitement to players, coaches, and faculty alike. Watching the transformation, the softball players had one question: “Will our field be able to do that?” The answer was yes—their field would soon glow green as well.
NC State’s Doak Field achieved the NCAA-required 100/70 standard two years ago. During the upgrade, the poles and service cages were reused after careful consideration of weights and fixture EPAs. The school has since conducted a major overhaul on its press box and relocated a pole that illuminates the infield but shines bright red, as many victories have come for the Wolfpack.
I learned a lot while taking light levels at Doak Field. There was an issue with the aiming of a fixture in the outfield, and having players on the field during lighting adjustments proved invaluable. Listening to their feedback and staying until the aiming met their expectations was a great experience. That night, we exceeded both light level and uniformity requirements, and everyone left the stadium satisfied.
If ownership is considering upgrading light levels, here are a few key recommendations. Consider the structural needs of the project. It may be necessary to hire a firm to evaluate your poles, cross arms, or cages/platforms. The electrical requirements need to be studied too. With LED fixtures consuming less power, most panels will be up to the challenge; however, checking the pole wiring is an important component to ensure that it is in tip-top condition. FInally, the controls of the project should be evaluated. If you are operating your lights via timer clocks, manual switches, or photocells, it may be time to upgrade to wireless controls such as programmable light fixtures that can be meshed in a network to have individual control. Allowing the fixtures to be zoned and designed for scenes to celebrate player introductions, home runs, and wins, as well as dimmed down for maintenance, makes the field shine like the athletes patrolling them.
Baseball’s next chapter will be brighter than ever. Upgrading to brighter, smarter LED systems isn’t just about meeting NCAA standards; it’s about creating unforgettable experiences—where every pitch, home run, and celebration is as brilliant as the dreams that built the game.
THE AUTHOR
Kathy Bates is a regional sales manager at GigaTera Lighting. She has been involved with sports lighting for 25 years and worked for major manufacturers who specialize in big, bright lights.