Comparing Stadium Lighting Proposals?

If you’ve ever compared multiple sports lighting proposals and felt more confused than confident, you’re not alone. One bid highlights wattage. Another talks about “equivalent to metal halide.” A third shows a glossy rendering but doesn’t explain what the field will actually look like at night. And somehow, all of them come in at very different prices.

The problem isn’t the number of bids. The problem is how they’re usually compared.

If you want a fair, transparent way to evaluate sports lighting proposals, use Cost per foot-candle.

This single number connects what you pay for the light to the light your field actually receives. Once you understand it, comparing bids becomes much simpler and far more accurate.

Need help making sense of competing proposals? Speak with an AEON lighting specialist and get a clear explanation of what each design really delivers.

Why Sports Lighting Bids Rarely Line Up

Both proposals claim to serve the same field but rely on different assumptions; one seeks brighter light, the other focuses on illuminating a smaller area.

One could deliver immediate brightness from day one, whereas another focuses on sustained performance throughout the system’s lifespan.

When those variables change, comparing total price, fixture count, or wattage becomes meaningless. You’re no longer looking at equivalent designs even if they’re labeled that way.

What Is a Foot-Candle?

A foot-candle (fc) measures illumination, or how much light actually reaches the playing surface. One foot-candle equals one lumen per square foot.

Players don’t experience watts. Spectators don’t notice fixture counts. Cameras don’t care about “HID equivalency.” What everyone experiences is the amount of light on the field. That’s why foot-candles matter.

Cost per foot-candle is a price-to-performance metric. It shows how much you’re paying for each unit of delivered illumination across the playing surface. Instead of comparing marketing language or electrical input, you’re comparing real output on equal terms.

To calculate it, you need just three numbers from each proposal:

1. Total project cost
2. Average maintained foot-candles
3. The exact area being lit

The formula is simple:

Cost per foot-candle = Total Cost ÷ (Average Maintained FC × Area)

Before You Compare Anything, Ask These Three Questions

Cost per foot-candle is valid only if the bids are based on the same assumptions. Before running the math, confirm these three things…

First, ensure that each proposal lights up the same area. When a design covers the outfield, foul territory, and safety zones, it can’t be directly compared to one that only illuminates the main playing rectangle.

Second, confirm if the foot-candles shown are initial or maintained. Initial values are day-one brightness; maintained values are long-term performance after depreciation. Two bids claiming “50 fc” may produce very different results over time.

Third, verify that all designs target the same level of play, as competition, practice, and recreational fields have different lighting needs. If levels aren’t aligned, the comparison isn’t valid.

Why the Lowest Price Isn’t Always the Best Value

Imagine a field measuring 360 feet by 160 feet, totaling about 57,600 square feet.

One proposal costs $220,000 and delivers an average of 50 maintained foot-candles. Another costs $195,000 and delivers 42 maintained foot-candles. At first glance, the second option appears to be the better deal.

But when you calculate cost per foot-candle, the picture changes.

The first design provides more illumination per dollar, enabling better margins, tighter tolerances, and improved future performance. The lower-cost bid costs more per unit of usable light, underscoring why cost per foot-candle reflects value beyond total price.

What to Check After the Math

Cost per foot-candle tells you how efficiently a proposal converts dollars into light. But quality lighting is about more than brightness alone.

Uniformity is critical. Two fields may average the same foot-candles, yet feel completely different if one has dark corners and hot spots while the other is evenly lit.

Glare management is also important. Excessive lighting or misaligned fixtures can hinder visibility, particularly during quick plays and pop-ups.

Spill light and light trespass are equally important. A strong design keeps light on the field and out of nearby neighborhoods, roads, and parking areas.

If your venue records, streams, or broadcasts games, flicker can ruin video quality even if the field looks fine to the eye. Facilities often choose the lowest price without fully understanding what that price includes. Fixture counts, wattage, and “equivalent to” claims distract from on-field performance.

A Smarter Way to Compare Sports Lighting Bids

Sports lighting is a long-term investment. Player safety, visibility, broadcast quality, and community impact depend on selecting the right system. Instead of comparing numbers that don’t reflect true performance, focus on what actually reaches the field.

Cost per foot-candle provides the most accurate, clear comparison for sports lighting proposals, making the best design evident and the decision easier to justify.

Ready to compare your bids with confidence? Request a catalog, use our cost calculator, or request a free lighting design layout to put every proposal on equal footing.