Floodlights

This article was generously provided to ClubFootball by the British Council, which operates in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy.

Let there be light! Floodlit sport is now routine, but the world's first ever floodlit match in Sheffield, England, in October 1878, created a huge stir.
 
In the USA, baseball night games started using floodlights at a similar time in 1880.
 
Modern day floodlights are highly sophisticated and have developed significantly since they were first introduced. They are often of high performance and specially designed to create the right conditions for colour television, without dazzling the crowds and without lighting up the entire neighbourhood. This is a major consideration in places like Britain and Italy, where stadia are often located in the middle of dense, urban areas.
 
Until recently most stadia had four tall pylons to support the floodlights. Now, many clubs mount the lights along the edges of stand roofs. That makes maintenance easier, but without the pylons it means visitors can no longer spot the stadium from miles away.

May 2001