University of Phoenix Consciously Lights the Way for Future Stadiums

LED light fixtures will be a game changer this Super Bowl

By Phalon Joy Evergreen

January 30, 2015

Fans attending an Arizona Cardinals game played under Ephesus LED Lighting.jpg

Photo courtesy of Ephesus Lighting.

There’s something different about this year’s Super Bowl (held this Sunday at the University of Phoenix in Glendale, Arizona) and it’s not the DeflateGate controversy. This Super Bowl is the first to be lit entirely by LED energy-efficient lights.

The University of Phoenix equipped their football field with 312 high-performance LED light fixtures in 2014, replacing the nearly 800 high-intensity discharge fixtures previously used. The updated lights draw 310 kilowatts; a 75 percent energy decrease from the former bulbs. They also activate instantly, in contrast to the 15 to 20 minute warm-up required by the other lights.

The environmentally-conscious renovation saves the stadium an estimated $139 an hour. This does not include the assessed 30 percent decrease in cooling costs, as the LED lights generate less heat than the high-intensity system.

For those who will be enjoying the game from their high-definition televisions at home, the new LED lights also allow for better picture quality, improved color representation, and a higher level of detail.

“[The University of Phoenix] believes this is a trend that other sports venues will explore in the future,” says Dale Sweetnam, a Public Affairs Specialist the U.S. Department of Energy. In fact, the NRG stadium in Houston, Texas, recently introduced 650,000 LED lights to help illuminate its field.

Learn more about green initiatives in football stadiums across the nation.