Croke Park's new €2m floodlights to be switched on later this year
Croke Park are in the process of replacing their floodlights for the first time since they were installed in 2007.
Costing just over €2 million, the revamped lights are expected to be debuted for the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 28.
Musco, who have installed floodlights in several GAA stadia such as Chadwicks Wexford Park and Pearse Stadium, won the contract for Croke Park. They have also fitted lights in Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, the Aviva Stadium, Principality Stadium and Twickenham.
'This is a 10 to 20-year investment for ourselves,' explained GAA stadium and commercial director Peter McKenna. 'The incandescent bulb we had is being replaced by the LED (light emitting diode).
'We were finding it harder and harder to replace the incandescent bulbs and they are expensive to turn on. The LED Is more economical, environmental and easier to replace.'
The LED light can be up to 90% more efficient and McKenna said it is also 'slightly brighter' meaning there will be an all-round improvement for the supporters and players.
There will be less leakage with the new lights too. 'They are a little more targeted than what we have now,' he said. 'We were happy enough with the light we had but it has become less efficient.'
Croke Park's floodlights were launched on February 3, 2007 by then GAA president Nickey Brennan and director general Liam Mulvihill when Dublin and Tyrone faced off. They were used eight days later in the inaugural rugby game at GAA HQ between Ireland and France in the Six Nations.
Costing €5m, the original system was designed by Thorn Lighting who had also supplied lighting for that year's Superbowl in Miami's Dolphin Stadium. There are 463 floodlight lamps in Croke Park, 435 attached to the roof and 28 attached to a mast behind Dineen Hill 16. Each lamp is 2,000 watts.
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