In many ways, Super Bowl XLVII was perhaps one of the most memorable and unique big games in recent history. Not only did it pit two brothers against each other as head coaches, but it featured a 34-minute power outage in the third quarter, leading to a complete blackout of the lights at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
While the malfunction confused the players, coaches, and fans in the stadium, it left many of us asking ourselves the question once the game had finished: Why?
At National E Solutions, we’re experts in LED sports and stadium lighting as well as industrial and commercial lighting. We have extensive experience with providing high-quality lighting for ballfields and sports facilities across the country. Let’s examine exactly what went wrong that year.
A Conspiracy?
After that legendary game, a host of conspiracy theories abounded and took over national headlines. Some blamed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Some blamed the 49ers. There were suspicions of a possible cyber-terrorist attack on the power grid. Some even claimed that the halftime performance from Beyonce overloaded the system’s power. It seemed that no one was safe from accusation or doubt.
HID (The Real Culprit)
So what really happened that day in New Orleans? Simply put, outdated lighting was to blame. A significant majority of stadiums across the country rely on high-intensity discharge lighting (HID) which is typically comprised of 1500 watt metal halide lights.
The problem with these lights is that the mercury vapor inside them must be heated before they can emit light. This process can take as long as 20 minutes for the lights to reach full strength. Additionally, the lights need to cool before they can be turned back on again. So, the inefficiency and outdated technology of metal halide lights turned out to be the true culprits of the “Blackout Bowl.”
The LED Revolution
Light emitting diodes (LEDs), by comparison, are much more energy-efficient than metal halide lights. In fact, they can save up to 75% of energy through their increased efficiency, leading to substantial savings on utilities for stadiums. They also employ instant-on technology, which means they simply turn on, requiring no warm-up time like HID lights. And just two years after that fateful day in Louisiana, LED sports lighting fixtures we featured at Super Bowl XLIX.
In fact, hundreds of sports stadiums and facilities across the world have made the switch to the improved technology and capabilities of LED lighting to upgrade the thrilling experience of attending a live sporting event. Clearly, the era of LED technology has begun
And if the LED revolution is underway, then we’re leading the charge. At National E Solutions, we provide complete turnkey LED and lighting controls packages for all types of facilities including manufacturing plants, warehouses, parking garages, and you guessed it, stadiums and arenas.
This technology not only adds vibrancy and energy to any sporting event, but it also improves player safety and even performance. Combined with lower maintenance requirements, reduced environmental impact, and decreased energy consumption compared to HID lighting, and you can clearly see that LED technology is the superior choice.
Color Changing Excitement
LED lights aren’t just perfect for players and facilities. They can also enhance the fan experience. This technology features impressive color changing effects that add style and flair to any game, making it more exciting for fans in the stands as well as those watching from home.
These lights have advanced capabilities like color-temperature tuning technology and full-spectrum RGB capabilities for customizable entertainment options. So, instead of a Super Bowl blackout, you can make it a “blue out,” “green out,” or even a “yellow out” with our color changing entertainment options!
To schedule a facility lighting audit to see how we can improve your facility with state of the art LED technology, call us at 877-445-5900 today!
