Lighting Case Study: Spartan Sports Park Increased Energy Cost Savings by 65% and Enhanced Light Levels

The Backstory:

Spartan Sports Park recognized that their existing 1000-watt metal halide fixtures were falling short on the field. Suboptimal light levels negatively impacted player performance, while the energy demands of the outdated system drove operating costs higher than necessary. They reached out to LED Lighting Supply seeking a custom solution built for their baseball field requirements.

The Customer’s Challenge:

The metal halide fixtures were inefficient, resulting in a significant energy expense. Additionally, uneven light levels on the field created safety risks for both players and sideliners. The aging metal halide system created several challenges for the baseball field:

• Uneven lighting on the field and in the stands reduced visibility for both players and spectators. This created potential safety and performance concerns or complaints
• High operating temperatures result in premature fixture failure and damage
• Frequent maintenance is required, complicated by the lighting pole height and weather, which adds ongoing costs

The Strategy & Solution:

LED Lighting Supply’s Product Specialist, Charlie DuBeau, worked closely with the customer to understand the project requirements and provide the most suitable product recommendation for the field. The customer defined the target foot candle (fc) levels required (20 fc for the infield and 10 fc for the outfield), the mounting heights (25 feet), and the level of competition (recreation). From there, a custom lighting plan was created to illustrate light levels across the field, giving decision-makers a clear picture of expected performance before a single fixture was installed.

Charlie’s custom recommendation included replacing the old 1000 Watt fixtures with 400 Watt LED Area Flood Lights.

The Results:

As a result of switching over to LED lighting, Spartan Sports Park was able to obtain an economical, energy-saving upgrade that reduced the lighting costs. The upgrade decreases Spartan Sports Park’s energy consumption by 65% and increases fixture lifespan by up to 36 years. Because of their newly installed fixtures, the park and its players play day and night games safely. The upgrade reaches an average foot candle reading of 20 fc in the infield and 13 fc in the outfield, meeting the customer's request.

The savings are emphasized through the field's annual maintenance savings of $630, annual energy savings of $11,040, and total savings reaching over $34,630 after five years with the upgrade.

Savings and payback the facility will benefit from:

By upgrading to LED fixtures, the park achieved:

• $34K+ total savings after 5 years
• Maintenance savings of $630 every year
• Energy saving of $11,040 annually
• Lower operating temperatures preserve fixtures and protect internal components despite outdoor exposure
• Precise lighting across the field and audience areas enhances visibility, eliminating safety risks and improving the overall experience

This case study illustrates how strategic planning paired with LED technology can modernize an outdated stadium lighting system into a more efficient and cost-effective solution. Through a consultative approach and a customized lighting design, LED Lighting Supply delivered a solution specifically tailored to the baseball field’s unique requirements.

Direct Customer Feedback:

Spartan Sports Park’s manager described the experience working with LED Lighting Supply through a Trustpilot 5-star review:

“My sales rep was very easy to deal with from beginning to end, answering all my questions and talking through my goals to get to the best, most cost-effective product. Would definitely use them again.”

Spartan Sports Park is a longstanding partner with us across various projects. If operational safety and efficiency are essential factors, LED Lighting Supply is your ideal partner for Commercial & Industrial Lighting Solutions.