Michigan football: Inside the new light show coming to the Big House
Michigan Stadium will feature a new LED lighting system for the 2023-24 season as renovations head into the home stretch at the Big House. A state-of-the-art system has been installed that has been custom designed to improve the on-field lighting, reduce the energy footprint and enhance the production around football games.
The LED light upgrade replaces the previous set of lights at Michigan Stadium, which where installed in 2010 to go with the new east and west towers at the venue. Before then, U-M used temporary lights when needed for games.
The new system was designed by Musco Lightning and will feature its Show-Light Pro Venue special effects technology. The new lights will allow for customized light shows at the Big House with color-changing abilities and light-to-music synchronization.
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“Adding the new Musco lighting system provides us with an additional tool to enhance the gameday atmosphere at Michigan Stadium,” said Jake Stocker, Director of Game Presentation & Fan Experience at the University of Michigan via a statement. “The ability to use special effects lighting in conjunction with video board content, key game moments, and special performances will create a unique and memorable experience for Michigan football fans of all ages.”
Project leaders estimate that the new LED lights will reduce energy consumption by 31% compared to the previous light kits while also increasing brightness and output. Musco has also done projects at Notre Dame, USC, Alabama and more.
”Replacing the original lighting system, which had been in place for well over a decade, with the latest LED technology is an important upgrade to Michigan Stadium,” said Paul Dunlop, Associate Athletic Director for Facility Operations at the University of Michigan. “The new lighting system will use less energy and provide outstanding light coverage for fans in the stadium and those watching at home on TV.”
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Michigan Stadium projects hit home stretch
The new light system goes hand in hand with the new video boards at Michigan Stadium, as well as sound system upgrades in the north scoreboard.
The structures that support the boards in both end zones measure 179 feet by 62 feet, an 85% increase in size from the previous boards (109 feet by 50 feet). The videoboards themselves measure in at 152 feet by 55 feet, an 118% increase from what was there before (85 feet by 45 feet). The boards contain 135 video cabinets that weigh between 400 and 800 pounds.
The size of each board is the third largest in college football behind Auburn and Purdue, respectively, though both of those stadiums have only one board. Michigan has two structures on both the north and south endzones. The video boards are manufactured by Mitsubishi, known best for their work at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The boards are capable of 4K and 8K resolution but depends on the broadcast source.
All of the new projects are expected to be functional in time for the season opener on Sept. 2 against East Carolina. Cleanup work will take place after then, bringing the project at the Big House to a close.
