Full colour lighting for a major stadium

An LED lighting upgrade at Adelaide Oval has taken out a top award from the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA).

Local company CME Group won the Perpetual award for best South Australian project as well as the Lighting Design & Construct award in the South Australian division of the NECA Awards.

The NECA Awards recognise outstanding achievement and innovation at both a state and national level. As the winner of the state award, CME Group will now progress to the national NECA Awards, to be held on 28 November in Melbourne.

During an eight-week lights-out period, the CME team switched the stadium’s aging high-intensity discharge (HID) tower lighting system to LED — making Adelaide Oval the only major stadium in Australia equipped with both white broadcast sports lighting and full-colour light show capabilities, the company said.

Work in progress on the Adelaide Oval LED update.

The new lights are also approximately 40% more energy efficient, aligning with Adelaide Oval’s sustainability goals.

CME Group CEO Chris Mattner said the award recognised his team’s ability to deliver world-class outcomes for world-class venues.

“This project is a testament to CME Group’s commitment to innovation and excellence in stadium lighting,” Mattner said.

“Our goal was to not only complete a seamless upgrade of the technology, but to enhance the Adelaide Oval fan experience while also contributing to the venue’s sustainability goals.

“We are thrilled to have been recognised by NECA SA/NT, highlighting our team’s hard work and dedication to complete such a high-profile project in a short delivery timeframe,” he said.

CME Group CEO Chris Matter (centre) is presented with the Perpetual Award for best SA project at the NECA Awards.

The new system has instant switching ability (known as dynamic lighting control), elite uniformity lighting levels across the field, and crowd-pleasing features such as colour, flash and animation.

The full-colour lighting capabilities had their debut during the New Year’s Eve Big Bash League fixture, where the Adelaide Strikers faced off against the Melbourne Stars.

“We undertook this major upgrade because we are committed to continually reinvesting in our fan experience, while also delivering on our goals across technology and sustainability,” said Adelaide Oval Chief Financial & Commercial Officer Tommy Pavic.

“CME Group aligned to those goals from day one and worked tirelessly to ensure the project was delivered without disrupting game days or daily operations.

“It’s been fantastic to see the awe on fans’ faces at events such as the Strikers’ New Year’s Eve game, AFL Gather Round and Matildas vs China PR fixture as the new light show takes over the venue.”

South Australian owned and operated, CME Group was established by the Mattner family in 1985 and specialises in integrated electrical solutions, including stadium lighting, sustainable energy and electrical services.

Under Mattner’s leadership since 2012, the company has reportedly increased its revenue by 17 times, illuminated over 400 sports fields and installed over 40 MW of renewable energy.

Mattner was recently named winner of the Inspiring Future Leaders Award at the InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards, which celebrate young leaders who demonstrate exceptional vision, thought leadership and achievements in the public or private sector.

Top image caption: Adelaide Oval displaying the new LED tower lighting system. All images courtesy CME Group.