National College Athletics Association (NCAA) lighting requirements
Before any stadium or arena can host college tournament games in the United States, there are standards set by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) that must be met. Part of the standards includes the lighting of the games according to the place and the sport that is broadcast on television. Some requirements for some games are covered below.
Basketball
According to the NCAA, all basketball game lamps must have a standard color temperature of 3600 degrees Kelvin and a lower color rendering index of 65. But since the venues used for the NCAA Division I tournament are different, where field houses, NBA arenas and domes football stadiums are used, the lighting requirements are not the same. Cottages with a capacity of about 10,000 spectators require 125 foot-candles per square foot. NBA stadiums with seating capacities between 15,000 and 20,000 require 200, while domed stadiums that can hold about 70,000 spectators require 250.
Soccer
The main determinant of lighting requirements for NCAA football games is television coverage. Non-televised games require 50 foot candles, while regional broadcast games require 75. If a game will be broadcast for a national audience, the lighting requirement is 100 while 125 is required for championship games. .
Hockey
Standard televised college hockey games are lit by 100-foot candles, but Division I Frozen Four and lower division championships require 125.
Lacrosse and soccer
Since lacrosse games are commonly played on soccer fields, the lighting conditions are the same. For a standard game, 50 foot-light candles are required, 75 for a regional broadcast, 100 for a national broadcast, and 125 for championship games.
Baseball and Softball
These two sets also use the same field, making their lighting requirements the same. For standard games, the infield should be lit with 70 foot candles and 50 for outfields. Games to be broadcast regionally and nationally require 100 for base paths and 70 for outfield lawns. For the duration of the championship rounds, the field requires 125 in the infield and 100 in the outfield.
Fight, boxing and volleyball
These three games use 80 foot sails for each standard and regional broadcast, 100 for national broadcast and 125 for championships.
Swimming and water polo
These two games require 50 standing candles for standard matches or competitions, 75 for regional broadcasts, 100 for national broadcasts, and 125 for championships.