How to Predict How Many Stadium Lights a Stadium Will Need

• The benefits of LED lights over traditional HID lights

• The UEFA illuminance levels and requirements for different types of stadiums

• The illuminance design guidelines for players, officials, and spectators

Benefits of LED lights over traditional HID lights

• Energy efficiency: LED lights can replace the most powerful Metal Halide lights one for one, with 60% or greater energy savings. LED lights also consume less power than HPS lights, which have a lower luminous efficacy (the ratio of lumens to watts).

• Lifespan: LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours, which is 10 times longer than MH lights and 5 times longer than HPS lights. This means less frequent replacement and lower maintenance costs.

• Maintenance: LED lights require less maintenance than HID lights, as they do not need ballasts, starters, or capacitors, which can fail or degrade over time. LED lights also have a lower failure rate and a higher resistance to shock and vibration.

• Brightness: LED lights can produce a higher luminous flux (the amount of light emitted) than HID lights, which means they can illuminate a larger area with fewer fixtures. LED lights also have a higher color rendering index (CRI), which measures how accurately the light reveals the colors of objects. A higher CRI means better visibility and contrast for players and spectators.

• Color rendering: LED lights can produce a range of colors, from warm white to cool white, depending on the color temperature (the hue of the light). LED lights can also change colors dynamically, creating different effects and moods for different events. HID lights have a fixed color temperature, which is usually warm white for HPS lights and cool white for MH lights.

• Dimming: LED lights can be dimmed easily and smoothly, without affecting the color temperature or the CRI. This allows for more flexibility and control over the lighting levels and the energy consumption. HID lights can be dimmed, but only to a certain extent, and with a loss of color quality and efficiency.

• Instant on/off: LED lights can be turned on and off instantly, without any warm-up or cool-down time. This means they can respond quickly to changes in the lighting needs and the weather conditions. HID lights take several minutes to reach full brightness, and they need to cool down before they can be turned on again. This can cause delays and interruptions in the game.

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UEFA illuminance levels and requirements for different types of stadiums

The horizontal illuminance is the illuminance on the horizontal plane of the field, measured at 1 meter above the ground. The vertical illuminance is the illuminance on the vertical plane of the players, measured at 1.5 meters above the ground. The uniformity ratio is the ratio of the minimum to the average illuminance, which indicates how evenly the light is distributed. The glare rating is a measure of the discomfort caused by the direct view of the light sources, which should be minimized. The color temperature is the hue of the light, which affects the perception of the colors. The color rendering index is a measure of how accurately the light reveals the colors of objects, which should be high.

The UEFA illuminance levels and requirements vary depending on the following factors:

• Size of the field: The larger the field, the more lights are needed to achieve the required illuminance levels. The UEFA recommends a field size of 105 x 68 meters for Elite level A and level A stadiums, and 100 x 64 meters for level B, level C, and level D stadiums.

• Level of competition: The higher the level of competition, the higher the illuminance levels are required. The UEFA distinguishes between five levels of competition: Elite level A, level A, level B, level C, and level D. Elite level A is for the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League finals, level A is for the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League group stage and knockout phase, level B is for the UEFA Nations League, the UEFA European Qualifiers, and the UEFA European Championship, level C is for the UEFA Youth League and the UEFA Women`s Champions League, and level D is for the UEFA Regions` Cup and the UEFA Development Tournaments.

• Type of broadcast: The type of broadcast affects the illuminance levels and requirements, as different cameras and lenses have different sensitivities and specifications. The UEFA distinguishes between three types of broadcast: HD (high definition), UHD (ultra high definition), and HDR (high dynamic range). HD is the standard format for most broadcasts, UHD is the format for higher resolution and quality broadcasts, and HDR is the format for higher contrast and color range broadcasts. The UEFA requires higher illuminance levels and color rendering indexes for UHD and HDR broadcasts than for HD broadcasts.

• Type of roof: The type of roof affects the illuminance levels and requirements, as it can reflect, absorb, or transmit the light. The UEFA distinguishes between three types of roof: open, closed, and retractable. Open roofs have no cover or structure above the field, closed roofs have a fixed cover or structure above the field, and retractable roofs have a movable cover or structure above the field. The UEFA requires higher illuminance levels for closed and retractable roofs than for open roofs, as they can reduce the natural light and create shadows and contrasts.

Illuminance design guidelines for players, officials, and spectators

• Number of light poles and fixtures: The number of light poles and fixtures depends on the size of the field, the illuminance levels and requirements, and the budget. The more light poles and fixtures, the higher the illuminance and the uniformity, but also the higher the cost and the maintenance. The UEFA recommends a minimum of four light poles and a maximum of eight light poles for each stadium, with a minimum of 20 fixtures and a maximum of 60 fixtures per light pole. The light poles should be evenly distributed around the field, and the fixtures should be symmetrically arranged on the light poles. The light poles and fixtures should also be compatible with the roof structure and the wind load.

• Position, height, and angle of the light poles and fixtures: The position, height, and angle of the light poles and fixtures affect the illuminance, the uniformity, the glare, and the shadows. The light poles should be positioned outside the field, at a distance of at least 6 meters from the sidelines and 10 meters from the goal lines. The height of the light poles should be between 25 and 50 meters, depending on the size of the field and the type of roof. The angle of the light poles should be between 15 and 25 degrees, depending on the height of the light poles and the distance from the field. The fixtures should be mounted on the light poles at a height of at least 20 meters, and at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees, depending on the position of the light poles and the size of the field. The fixtures should also be tilted slightly downwards, to avoid direct glare and light spillage.

• Type and size of the lenses and reflectors: The type and size of the lenses and reflectors affect the distribution and direction of the light beams. The lenses and reflectors should be designed to produce a narrow, focused, and uniform light beam, that covers the entire field and the surrounding areas. The lenses and reflectors should also be made of high-quality materials, such as glass, polycarbonate, or aluminum, that are resistant to UV rays, dust, moisture, and corrosion.

• Distribution and direction of the light beams: The distribution and direction of the light beams affect the illuminance, the uniformity, the glare, and the shadows. The light beams should be distributed evenly across the field, with no gaps or overlaps. The light beams should also be directed towards the center of the field, with a slight cross-over, to ensure a balanced and symmetrical lighting. The light beams should also be oriented perpendicular to the main camera axis, to avoid backlighting and overexposure.

• Control and dimming options: The control and dimming options affect the flexibility and efficiency of the lighting system. The lighting system should be equipped with a smart and user-friendly control system, that allows for easy and remote adjustment of the lighting levels, the color temperature, and the color effects. The lighting system should also have a dimming option, that allows for reducing the lighting levels when the stadium is not in use, or when the natural light is sufficient. This can save energy and extend the lifespan of the LED lights.

• Wembley Stadium in London, England: Wembley Stadium is the largest stadium in the UK, with a capacity of 90,000 seats. It has a retractable roof and a circular LED lighting system, that consists of 228 light poles and 1,728 fixtures. The lighting system can produce 2,500 lux of horizontal illuminance and 1,500 lux of vertical illuminance, with a CRI of 90 and a color temperature of 5,600 K. The lighting system can also create different color effects and patterns, such as the national flags of the teams, or the logo of the event. The lighting system was used for the UEFA Champions League final in 2011 and 2013, and the UEFA European Championship in 2016.

• Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany: Allianz Arena is the home stadium of FC Bayern Munich, with a capacity of 75,000 seats. It has a closed roof and a unique LED lighting system, that consists of 300,000 LED lights embedded in the roof membrane. The lighting system can produce 1,400 lux of horizontal illuminance and 1,000 lux of vertical illuminance, with a CRI of 80 and a color temperature of 5,600 K. The lighting system can also change the color of the roof, depending on the team or the event. The lighting system was used for the UEFA Champions League final in 2012, and the FIFA World Cup in 2006.

• Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Maracanã Stadium is the iconic stadium of Brazil, with a capacity of 78,000 seats. It has an open roof and a modern LED lighting system, that consists of 396 light poles and 2,376 fixtures. The lighting system can produce 2,000 lux of horizontal illuminance and 1,400 lux of vertical illuminance, with a CRI of 80 and a color temperature of 5,600 K. The lighting system can also create different color effects and moods, such as the Brazilian flag, or the Olympic rings. The lighting system was used for the FIFA World Cup in 2014, and the Olympic Games in 2016.

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