University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign —
Irwin Indoor Football Practice Arena

The Challenge

As part of an effort to upgrade its athletic facilities, the University of Illinois had recently repainted and returfed its $12 million Irwin Indoor Football Practice Arena. To finish bringing the facility up to date, University staff wanted to upgrade to LED sports lighting that would not only provide superb illumination on the playing surface, but also create an environment that would stand out in the minds of prospective recruits. Project leaders had a vision of installing color-changing lights to wash the facility in school colors and perform spectacular light shows for visiting student-athletes. Ideally, any new system would also be easy to use and offer dependable support from the manufacturer.

The Solution

Having developed a strong relationship while working together to light Demirjian Park Stadium, the University of Illinois turned to Musco to provide a solution for Irwin Indoor Football Practice Arena. Optimal light levels were determined and achieved by factory-aiming a custom TLC for LED® system based on photometric designs created by Musco’s lighting application engineers. Color-changing RGBA fixtures along the center of the building’s roof wash the arena in Illini orange and blue and can be synced to music with the Show-Light® Pro Venue special effects package for unforgettable light shows. Remote smartphone controls and 24/7 call center support are provided by the Control-Link® service, and Musco’s long-term warranty covers every part and all labor on the system for 10 years.