Discover the Proper Strategies for Lighting a Basketball Court

We’ve all heard someone say, “it’s just a game,” when talking about basketball or other sports. That may still ring true for recreational facilities with courts, but when you get to college and professional levels, it becomes much more. Once you’ve reached this tier, basketball is big business as well as entertainment. From the player and spectator experience to high-definition televised events, court lighting matters. Continue reading this article to learn about adequately lighting a basketball court and:

The Best Lights for Indoor Basketball Courts
The Best Lights for Outdoor Basketball Courts
The Benefits of LED Lights for Basketball Courts

The Best Lights for Indoor Basketball Courts

The lighting at basketball courts directly affects gameplay and the fan experience. Without the right lighting design, light levels, and angles, you risk glares and dark spots negatively impacting the game’s outcome and spectator enjoyment.

The best lights for indoor basketball courts are those with lower wattage levels. One significant reason for that is the reflective nature of the floor. There’s no way to illuminate a stadium, arena, or gymnasium without some glare on the floor. But compared to other types of lighting, like halogen lamps, LED lights for basketball courts more evenly distribute lumens.

Lighting Design

Installing LED lights for basketball courts is only the first step in lighting design. You must also focus on light placement to create an environment that promotes the highest quality of play and superior visual appeal for spectators.

When lighting a basketball court, you should always use indirect lighting. Indirect LED basketball court lighting provides ample amounts of illumination over the playing surface without causing distracting glares. It also provides the proper lighting level for audience members to see all the action from anywhere in the house clearly.

Color Rendering

The best lights for indoor basketball courts, or virtually any sports arena, are those with cooler tones. Using blue-white or white color tones creates a visual focal point that stands out because of a crisper, brighter look.

The Best Lights for Outdoor Basketball Courts

Illumination requirements differ for lighting basketball courts in outdoor residential and recreation areas. One focal point of the best lights for outdoor basketball courts is surge protection and IP rating. LED lights for outdoor courts are susceptible to surges caused by weather conditions. A power surge can damage or ruin LEDs.

A sudden blackout can cause unsafe conditions for players and spectators and financial loss if league games or events must be canceled or postponed to lighting issues. That means LED lights for basketball courts must be water and dust-proof and stand up to ingress protection (IP) standards. Guidelines for outdoor basketball lighting require an IP rating of IP65 to ensure proper protection from weather events and longevity.

Another critical factor in lighting basketball courts that are outside is light pollution. Lighting angles should not bother or affect nearby residents if your playing surface is in or near a residential area. In fact, many municipalities have regulations about brightness and lighting height to ensure it doesn’t inconvenience those living in the area.

The clear, bright light emitted from LED lights is ideal for outdoor courts. It also eliminates glare concerns, so players aren’t distracted and can compete at their highest levels.

The Benefits of LED Lights for Basketball Courts

Lighting a basketball court with LEDs does more than improving illumination for players and spectators. LED lights for basketball courts, indoor and outdoor, provide numerous benefits, including:

Longevity: When lighting a basketball court, you don’t want to worry about replacing light bulbs on a nightly basis. LED bulbs have an expected lifespan of 80,000 hours. That’s over 30 years if used an average of 6 to 7 hours daily. Comparatively, metal halide lighting averages 6,000 to 15,000 of useful life.
Cost Savings: Using LED lights for basketball courts cuts down on replacement costs because of their longevity, but it’s not the only way they lower prices. LEDs are energy-efficient, so you’re sure to notice a decrease in your utility bills. You can also dim the light levels during low-usage times to increase your savings.
Ease of replacement: Another advantage that makes LED the best light for outdoor basketball courts is the simple replacement process. All it takes is a simple one-to-one replacement.

Make NGU Your Partner for Lighting a Basketball Court

Lighting a basketball court takes strategy, expertise, and experience. The NGU Sports Lighting team uses all three aspects to ensure you choose the best light for your indoor or outdoor basketball court. We’re here to develop custom solutions that increase efficiency, value, and illumination.

Reach out to NGU today to discuss our basketball court lighting solutions and how they can improve everyone’s experience at your venue.

Discover the Proper Strategies for Lighting a Basketball Court

The Best Lights for Indoor Basketball Courts

Lighting Design

Color Rendering

The Best Lights for Outdoor Basketball Courts

The Benefits of LED Lights for Basketball Courts

Make NGU Your Partner for Lighting a Basketball Court

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