Tom Brady wasn’t the only MVP of Super Bowl XLIX. LED lighting happened to make a huge debut, as Super Bowl XLIX was the first to be played under LED lights. The University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale, Arizona recently replaced their 780 HID lights with 312 LED lighting fixtures to illuminate the field and enhance the viewing experience of it’s upcoming bowl games. Both fans and networks were skeptical about the switch because they didn’t know how it would affect the broadcasting of games. However, LED lighting has proven itself one more time by increasing the broadcast viewing quality and decreasing energy costs and environmental impact.

The Advantages of LED Lighting at the Super Bowl

LED lighting’s debut at Super Bowl XLIX was not only about saving money, but also about the entire experience for the players, referees, and viewers. With about 114 million people tuning into the big game, LED lighting made the game clearer on television and gave viewers and referees more vivid detail. The University of Phoenix switched its stadium to LED lighting, cutting down on the number of lighting fixtures by more than half, and using 75% less energy than the old HID fixtures. In addition to using less energy, LED lights take no time warming up or cooling down, making pre and postgame procedures highly efficient.

Growth of LED Lighting

Because previous skepticism had been proven wrong, LED lighting is beginning to expand across other sports such as baseball, hockey, and basketball. Venues are beginning to realize the positive affects of LED lighting on viewing experience, energy costs, and environmental impact. Even though LED technology is costly upfront, the long-term return on investment can help save thousands in energy, maintenance, and repair costs.

As LED technology continues to improve, we will see more organizations making the switch to LED lighting, saving a lot of money and making the world a greener place.