Richmond City Soccer Stadium Field Lighting
Richmond, Virginia
Overview
Richmond City Stadium is a historic sports venue and home of the Richmond Kickers, serving professional soccer and community events in the City of Richmond. As part of a broader modernization of the nearly century-old stadium, the project replaced the existing field lighting with a high-performance LED sports-lighting system designed to improve visibility for players and spectators, support high-definition broadcasts, and enhance the overall matchday experience. Thompson Consulting Engineers provided electrical design services, coordinating the new lighting infrastructure and relocation of existing light poles from in front of the grandstands to locations behind the seating areas to improve spectator sightlines. The upgraded system provides modern, energy-efficient field illumination while controlling glare and spill light to reduce impacts on surrounding residential properties.
Challenges
- Replacing outdated stadium lighting infrastructure within an active, historic sports venue.
- Improving field light levels to meet modern broadcast standards while minimizing glare and light trespass.
- Relocating light poles to improve sight lines and enhance the fan viewing experience.
Goals
- Delivered a high-performance LED sports lighting system tailored to professional soccer standards.
- Improved uniformity, brightness, and overall lighting quality for players, spectators, and broadcasters.
- Reduced spill light and glare impacts on nearby properties through precise fixture selection and aiming.
Project Team
- Owner: City of Richmond
- Lighting Consultant: Musco Lighting
- Civil Engineer: Draper Aden Associates
- Contractor: E.J. Wade Construction
Results
- Successfully upgraded all field lighting to a new LED system designed for enhanced performance and efficiency.
- Improved field visibility, broadcast quality, and spectator sightlines by relocating light poles from in front of the grandstands to positions behind the seating areas.
- Provided a modern, energy-efficient lighting solution that supported long-term stadium operations.
