By Mary Helen Sprecher
Mention the topic of sports facilities and you are likely to hear a discourse on what amounts to evolution or, more specifically, the challenges of the industry and the way manufacturers have created products—and builders have developed methods—to ameliorate those issues. Examples include noise-reduction products and systems in pickleball, which came in response to complaints from neighbors living near facilities, as well as the recycling of synthetic turf.
Lighting is no exception to this developmental arc. According to the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the organization for sports facility design, construction, and supply, a few key trends have been identified as drivers in the industry. Sport-specific methods and products continue to increase athlete function and spectator enjoyment—although some of the most significant recent advancements have been in the containment of light and the reduction of spill, glare, and overhead glow, all of which are chief causes of complaints from neighbors of athletic facilities.
“Shorter mounting heights for fixtures can have less impact on neighbors and keep the price down for materials and foundations while still meeting the lighting requirements,” noted Bill Hein, founder and partner of NLS Lighting. Awareness is also growing, said Hein, “that light skims off the surface of a court or a field. As a result, windscreens are a necessity.” Unfortunately, he added that many facility managers, upon hearing complaints from neighbors about light trespass or sky glow, will measure the readings only for horizontal footcandles within the playing area and not perform a study of light outside that territory. There is, say lighting manufacturers, more to sports lighting than what a light meter shows.
Even when field or court owners purchase more energy-efficient and easily aimable LED systems, the use of poles that are too tall can counteract the positive impact the new systems are intended to bring; in numerous cases, this is because the old poles, which formerly held high-intensity discharge lamps, are reused to save money.
Sports facility contractors and lighting manufacturers are increasingly concerned over the impact of lighting on local wildlife, wetlands, and tidal areas, leading to the need for studies that show both what stands to be affected and how to lessen the impact of illumination, such as through dimmable lighting. Lighting systems that can be controlled offsite via a mobile app, and those with motion detectors, are gaining in popularity, particularly when security is a concern.
Areas where dark-sky tourism is a selling point require communication with community representatives, conservation groups, and others so that an acceptable lighting plan can be developed. “For outdoor sports lighting, environmentally friendly lighting is a trend generally being influenced by cities, towns, and municipalities that have adopted more-responsible lighting practices,” said Bruce Frasure, founder, owner, and president of Frasure Sports Reps. “In many cases, they are implementing these practices into their local zoning ordinances. The intent is to minimize glare, reduce light trespass, and limit lighting that pollutes the night sky.”
Frasure added that those ordinances are being backed up by organizations with solid expertise in environmental impact. “Organizations such as DarkSky and Design Lights Consortium offer testing programs that allow lighting manufacturers to certify their products as being environmentally friendly. Various court-based sport projects are in or near residential areas, HOAs, and resorts where minimizing the impact of the lighting system is critical. Advancements in the optical capabilities of LED fixtures allow for the added control.”
One safety trend that has emerged has been the padding of light poles to keep athletes safe. Additionally, new technology, including LED systems that cover more playing area, as well as the use of netting in place of fencing, have led to a need for fewer poles and fixtures, saving money for facility owners on materials, installation, and foundation costs.
“One of the leading trends in sports lighting for outdoor facilities is the implementation of linear fence-mounted LED lighting systems,” noted Nick Schultz, channel sales manager of 10-S Supply and Tweener Lighting Systems. The technology provides the ability to leverage cost savings and often allows facility owners to bypass structural permitting requirements.
For indoor sports facilities, LED systems are now prevalent in new construction and renovation and are the preferred approach; however, other systems are still used. Lighting can be direct, indirect, or a combination of both. Direct lighting produces better modeling (or 3-D definition) but has greater potential to create glare; particular attention must be paid to the location and shielding of direct lighting fixtures so that players are not blinded by light during a game. There is growing awareness of the importance of this in sports where players must follow the overhead trajectory of the ball, such as in volleyball and tennis. (Another drawback of direct-only lighting systems is that the low illumination of a ceiling surface can create a darker atmosphere.)
Indirect lighting, or uplighting, involving the installation of fixtures aimed at a highly reflective ceiling, provides the least amount of glare and produces very uniform illumination. However, the shadowless illumination produced by an indirect lighting system provides very little modeling, which can make it difficult for the player to detect spin and/or the direction of travel of the ball or to separate the ball from its background.
The best combination of performance characteristics is supplied via a direct/indirect system; as a result, this trend is being seen increasingly in everything from fieldhouses to indoor tennis centers. At least 30% of the total light distribution should be provided as the indirect component; 40% is preferred. The indirect component of the lighting system makes the facility appear spacious and open by adding luminance to the ceiling and upper walls and enhances the uniform distribution of light. The direct component improves modeling.
Contractors are moving away from placing ceiling-mounted luminaires directly over playing areas in indoor facilities. For example, in facilities with multiple basketball, tennis, or volleyball courts, this means placing lighting between the courts and away from the corners to maintain proper uniformity of the primary playing area.
There is also a growing understanding that luminaires must be built to withstand damage from balls that fly too high. With sports such as racquetball, squash, padel, and tennis, facility owners and managers should utilize luminaires that are constructed so that balls do not lodge in or on top of them. An additional development is the need for non-breakable or impact-resistant lenses.
Lighting levels for sports are generally dictated by the governing body for each sport; the required amount of lighting may also vary depending upon the competitive level of the sport being played. For example, a professional volleyball game requires a higher lighting level than a high school game. ANSI/IES RP-6-22, Lighting Sports and Recreational Areas, provides full information on recommended lighting levels for all sports.
Other considerations include the need for additional lighting if events will be televised and/or livestreamed. In these cases, higher levels of lighting affect not only the visibility of the players and the overall view of the playing field but also the overall quality of the broadcast. Higher levels of lighting allow cameras to capture clear, sharp images without shadows or glare, which can detract from the viewing experience.
An unfortunate trend noted by many lighting manufacturers is the propensity of facility owners to purchase lighting inexpensively from pop-up ads online—only to discover the equipment does not include domestic customer support, something that can be invaluable if things go wrong. “Consumers are generally looking for technical expertise,” said Frasure.
However, it’s not the only challenge facing the sports lighting industry, according to Lucy Lee, CEO and vice president of Sales for Shinetoo Lighting USA LLC. Lee cited “improper fixtures, lighting footcandle levels and a lack of uniformity regulation, no glare control, and fixtures that are not compatible with smart controls.”
The sports lighting industry will continue to evolve. High-visibility events like the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. as well as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will drive public awareness of modern sports facilities and the amenities—including lighting—that make them great.
THE AUTHOR | Mary Helen Sprecher has been a technical writer for more than 35 years with the American Sports Builders Association, the national association of designers, builders, and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities. She is also the managing editor of Sports Destination Management.