Location: Hoover, AL
Background
Alabama Power (a division of Southern Company) which provides power to more than 1.4 million customers in the southern two-thirds of the state, worked in partnership with the City of Hoover to convert five major sports facilities from antiquated legacy lighting to an energy-efficient digital lighting solution. In addition to the limitations and inconsistencies of these facilities’ current lighting systems, the ability to retrofit the five facilities simultaneously ensured operational efficiency, consistency, and adherence to the city’s new energy efficiency codes. Based upon their track record of handling similar large citywide projects and its ability to provide unique solutions for a variety of different sports fields of all sites, Ephesus Sports Lighting was awarded the project.
Facility Overview
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium (aka The Hoover Met) is a 10,800-seat stadium in Birmingham which serves as the host field for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) college baseball tournament as well as the primary home field for Hoover High School football. Built in 1988 it was the home field for the Birmingham Barons minor-league baseball team for more than two decades including in 1994 when Michael Jordan played for the team. To ensure The Hoover Met remains compliant with NCAA broadcast lighting levels for broadcasts on ESPN and SEC Network, the facility operators understood the time had come to replace the antiquated H.I.D lighting initially installed in 1988.
The four other venues feature a pair of artificial turf multipurpose fields at the Hoover Met Complex; a combined 13 baseball and softball fields at Shades Mountain Community Park and Spain Park Sports Complex; and six tennis courts at Simmons Middle School. Each of the facilities was illuminated with a legacy lighting solution that did not adhere to the city code. Additionally, since each lighting system was installed independently at varying times in the past 50 years, there was no consistency for facility operators when it came to maintenance or operations.
Solution
At The Hoover Met, Ephesus was able to increase light levels by more than 50 percent to satisfy SEC Tournament broadcast standards and NCAA Tournament requirements which will open the venue up to potentially hosting NCAA Regional Championship games. The increase in lighting levels were accomplished while simultaneously decreasing energy usage by more than 60 percent by replacing the 1500-watt metal halide fixtures with 150 LumaSport 16 fixtures and 24 Prism RBGA fixtures. To help streamline the installation Ephesus was able to affix it’s pre-wired crossarms to the existing poles. The innovative wireless AirMesh control system allows facility operators to switch seamlessly from baseball lighting to high school football settings. Additionally, combined with the RGBA fixtures, the control system will allow for an unlimited number of entertaining and colorful light shows.
Hoover Met Complex Multipurpose Fields: The wireless AirMesh control system will control the 24 LumaSport 8 fixtures which were installed on the existing poles and crossarms
Shades Mountain Park Baseball/Softball Fields: A total of 255 LumaSport 8 fixtures were installed on the existing poles and crossarms to illuminate the nine baseball and softball fields. Each field lighting can be controlled individually with the wireless AirMesh control system.
Simmons Middle School Tennis Courts: New pre-wired crossarms and 24 LumaSport 8 fixtures were affixed to the existing poles to light the six tennis courts.
Spain Park Sports Complex Baseball/Softball Fields: New pre-wired crossarms and 224 LumaSport 8 fixtures were affixed to the existing poles to light the two baseball and two softball fields. Each field lighting can be controlled individually with the wireless AirMesh control system.
