Baseball Field Lights Suggestions

When it comes to finding the right lighting solutions, every location has its own unique considerations. Baseball field lighting needs to be bright enough to provide visibility and positioned properly to avoid blinding both the players on the field and the fans in the stadium. When looking for baseball field lighting, here are a few tips.

1. Use LED

Baseball games were originally only played during the day because there wasn’t a suitable lighting solution on the market to allow for night games. When metal halide became the standard for outdoor lighting in high capacities, games started being played at night. While metal halides were ideal for the job because they were sturdy and capable of producing appropriate levels of illumination, they have been generally replaced by LED technology. LED lights offer the best return on lumen output for the wattage consumed, and they are also longer lasting overall for a better value.

2. Consider size

Since not all baseball fields are the same size, the area that needs to be illuminated is an important factor to consider when choosing lighting. For example, a professional MLB field isn’t the same size as a field used for little league games, so the lighting needs are drastically different. While there aren’t hard and fast rules regarding how many lumens per square foot are deemed appropriate for most playing fields, you want to make sure you take the size of the space into account to avoid a lumen output that is too much or too little for the area.

3. Watch out for glares

LED lighting can be a powerful solution which can create glare just like any other type of fixture. The best way to avoid glare is to make sure the lights are positioned so that the direct output shines straight down and also keep in mind where light falls in general. You can also install diffusers to help with reducing glare.

4. Install timers

There is no denying that the costs of operating lights can be a concern for any field owner. With timers, you can be sure the lights turn off at the end of the game to avoid operating them when they aren’t needed. Timers can also be used to turn lights on at dusk so you don't need to have a designated employee for that function.