WSJ.com: And then there are the lights. The arena actually has two sports lighting systems: one for the Nets and one for everyone else. The one for everyone else is a metal-halide system, which is the sort of bright, white lighting used at most sports arenas. When the Harlem Globetrotters played the first basketball game at Barclays earlier this month, arena officials turned these lights on. They also will be used when Barclays is host to college basketball—and that includes Kentucky's game against Maryland in November. (Yes, even John Calipari will have to settle for the regular lights.)
The Nets lights are different: Six flying trusses, suspended 75 feet above the court, will house 468 tungsten-halogen fixtures that will beam a warm glow squarely onto the court. Karen Goldstick, the principal at White Plains-based Goldstick Lighting Design, which was in charge of the project, said the effect is that the playing surface will pop like a stage—"theater-like," she said—and the rest of the arena will go dark. "You'll notice a big difference in color," said Goldstick, who also works as the NBA's official venue lighting consultant.
9 comments:
Arenas are becoming more sophisticated and specialized, yet remain that great special space. Its interesting to read how much design and home team considerations go into an arena. Audience involvement and reaction in a shop is significant, but it makes even more sense when the spectators are 20 feet away compared to 50 feet. The lighting system is absolutely shocking as you wouldn't think it would change that much. If people are used the the coloring and cant adapt well, that will be an oddity, It might give them a home advantage, but the other team might adapt well when they have to play in the same lighting. Hopefully it wont cause a disadvantage because they have adjusted to their new lighting compared to the other nasty lighting when they travel.
First of all, I just want to say that no basketball court should cost 1 billion dollars, though I see how that is possible. I agree with AJ in my surprise for how important the lighting is for the team. The fact that it could possibly be an advantage to a home team in some way is quite cool. Articles such as these are pretty cool because it brings those studying theater in to the real world where our skills are useful for so many aspects of the entertainment industry, very much including the sports business.
I think it's fabulous how skills that we learn in the performing arts and at Carnegie Mellon can have such a wide array of implementations in the "real world".
I've been to several basketball games, and even for the audience, the lighting makes a huge difference. Some arena's lower the lights on the audience and pump the court lights up during the game, in a very theatrical way. Others keep the audience lights up at full blast the whole time. I think this article makes some interesting points about the role of the audience in each case, and also the idea of a home court advantage
Also, any lighting that puts John Calipari at a disadvantage and annoys him should be used universally.
why shouldn't a basketball court cost a billion dollar simone? does a theatre space not cost that? its the same thing just different fields. regardless - on a sports note... usually the idea of dimming the rest of the arena to create a home court advantage doesn't work. thats what they do in LA for the games and the game atmosphere turns into a theatrical performance opposed to an engaging atmosphere. in a situation where the audience is set to watch the action rather than be apart of it.. the fans will get less into the game than they hope. it encourages a wine and cheese type crowd opposed to a die hard fan environment.
I have seen other arenas design the space for a specific use like basketball, hockey, concerts. In the long run this tends to be a problem. Without considering all of the ways that the space maybe used the organization has added time and serious headaches to their work. For example, this arena could have been built for basketball purposes only, so no consideration was given to the loading doc. What happens when they want to host a concert? I am not saying that is the case for the Barclay Center, but it is possible.
I am looking forward to the chance to see a game at this arena. I worked next door to the construction all summer, it would be nice to see the final product.
While good points have been made for both arguments, I think it is pretty cool that they getting such a sophisticated system. Clearly e old way wasn't working so its certainly worth trying a new configuration! As we know all too well, lighting can certainly make or break a show, or in this case, maybe a game as well. As Johnson was quoted in the article, "That's one of the things we wanted—that Broadway feel, where the focus and the lighting is all on the floor." Drawing the focus to the floor and creating a more energetic environment should certainly help with the home team advantage goal.
While the lighting system may be a bit unnecessary I still think it's cool. Having a specialized lighting set up that lights up the court In just the right way could possibly be useful but mostly it would just make it look nice. Using tungsten bulbs would make the lighting more natural and warm feeling which would make it look great for the audience and on to but I can't say I understand why it would help the team perform better in any way. So while it's cool i don't think it was necessary to spend the amount of money that they did.
All basketball courts should cost 1 billion dollars, because basketball courts will actually bring in 1 billion dollars.
Lighting is an incredibly important part of any indoor sporting event, especially one like basketball or other televised events. For those who have not been to a basketball game, the game is live on TV for the entire game because the game stops for the commercials. In that time there are promo events, the cheerleaders do dances, people can try and win things doing half-court shots, et cetera. Watching a half court shot attempt is so much more engaging when there is environmental build-up (sounds, lighting). Dance is more theatrical when there is lighting. Overall, what makes a live game more than just the sport is all those two-minute events. Lighting is not about the game or affecting the players on either team, lighting is an important enhancer of the commercial breaks so yes, a beyond state-of-the-art lighting system is a valuable investment for the Barclay Center.
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