CS121 Bridgestone Achieves Perfect Display on Ice Case Study 20160208 ©2016 Lumileds Holding B.V. All rights reserved.

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competitor’s LEDs, where players actually complained that

the light was so bright that it was interfering with their ability

to play. In contrast, Ephesus and Lumileds engineered the

proper spectrum to provide the best quality of light.

Using LUXEON LEDs from Lumileds in Ephesus Arena Pro

fixtures, the arena now delivers high color fidelity and is

able to maintain constant light output while tuning to color

temperatures between 3500K and 6500K. The LED lighting

provides instant ON and instant OFF, key functionality for all

games and shows. These ultrahigh efficacy LEDs deliver high

flux levels in directional applications, that when combined

with precise optical control in Arena Pro fixtures, eliminate

the problem of shadows caused by scoreboards and other

obstructions in the stadium. The result is improved visibility

while keeping the light level at the playing surface constant

at 200 footcandles. The light can be tuned for CCT, while

delivering high color fidelity, color consistency and light

uniformity. LUXEON LEDs also perfectly balance efficiency and

system cost, speeding the return on investment of the arena’s

120 Arena Pro fixtures.

“Our lighting consultants worked with

the leading sports broadcast networks

to ensure that current and evolving

requirements for HDTV would be met

by our CCT tunable technology.”

— Joe Casper, Chief Technology Officer

Ephesus Lighting Inc.

Results and Benefits

The benefits of the LED solution over metal halide are

extensive – from vastly longer lifetime to excellent energy

efficiency and dramatically reduced maintenance cost.

The color spectrum of the LUXEON LEDs in the Arena Pro

fixture caters to the needs of HDTV broadcasters as well as

spectators. Feedback from camera crews and spectators

indicates the Arena Pro system enables greatly improved

visibility at a variety of events. The Arena Pro fixtures provide

shadow-free illumination on the ice rink while limiting light

spill to the arena seats. Warmer color temperatures and

lower light levels can now be accomplished for events such

as Casino Night, and stark differences in light levels can be

achieved, for instance, between player tables and bar areas.

Metal halide lamps tend to fade as they age, providing

uneven brightness and color quality. In the arena, they were

typically replaced annually. The Ephesus fixtures with LUXEON

LEDs carry a five year warranty and are expected to last 15

years or longer. The fixtures feature excellent flux and color

consistency from one end of the arena to the other, freeing

up technician’s time normally spent on balancing and color

correcting the light. Interestingly, the metal halide lamps,

despite their distance from the playing surface, also generated

enough radiative heat to not only increase the refrigeration

load on the ice, but also interfere with the ice recrystallization

process during Zamboni resurfacing. Players have commented

on the improved consistency and quality of the ice after the

transition to LED lighting.

The Arena Pro fixtures provide a very robust solution with

mounting brackets that ensure the lights will not move once

installed. With the LED fixtures, the overall weight on the

rafters is also drastically reduced. This burden on the rafters

is significant because performance acts bring and install

their own lights each time, which increases the overall load.

The Ephesus Arena Pro fixtures using LUXEON LEDs (see left) deliver high color fidelity, color consistency and light uniformity.

Compared to the old metal halide lighting (see right), the Ephesus Arena Pro fixtures also demonstrate a

much better viewing experience for spectators as well as HDTV broadcast.