Design & Development

Adelaide Oval debuts new A$5m LED tower lighting upgrade 

Featured image credit: Adelaide Oval

Adelaide Oval has recently unveiled a new A$5m (£2.7m/€3.1m/$3.4m) LED upgrade to its tower lighting system, replacing the high intensity discharge (HID) lighting that was last updated in 2014. 

The transition to LED will allow for the instant switch on and off of a focused, consistent lighting level across the field of play, as well as new capabilities including colour, flash and animation. Not only this, but the new lights will use roughly 40% less power, contributing to the 53,500-capacity Adelaide Oval’s sustainability goals. 

“Adelaide Oval has a well-earned reputation as a world-class events and entertainment destination and this upgrade goes a long way to keeping us at the forefront of stadia globally,” said chief executive Nick Addison. 

“We are committed to continually reinvesting in our fan experience to ensure it’s the best it can be, while also delivering on our goals across technology and sustainability. The opportunities this opens up are really exciting – both in terms of giving fans an electric event day experience and helping us attract new and different events to South Australia.”

The new full colour lighting capabilities were debuted at the New Year’s Eve Big Bash League (BBL) cricket fixture between Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars. 

Installation was completed in 11 weeks by a team led by electrical solutions company CME and the venue’s longtime project management partner Mott MacDonald. Lighting was supplied by Signify Australia, while sports lighting specialist Kojo will programme and operate the new lights. 

“The previous stadium lighting system was the right solution at the time and has served us well for over a decade,” added Nick. “LED has since evolved to become the gold standard, and we need to invest in the very best to keep Adelaide Oval and South Australia competitive in the national and international events market. 

“The team has done an exceptional job to deliver in such a tight timeframe without disrupting game days or daily operations. As far as we’re concerned, Adelaide Oval is one of the world’s best and most iconic stadiums, and we’re determined to keep it that way.”