Another good investment is irrigation systems that do not waste water or oversoak fields; smart systems with rain sensors are able to detect rainfall and automatically shut off sprinklers( or keep them from turning on).
Perhaps the best investment in a facility, however, is a solid maintenance plan. No field, no matter what it costs to build or rehab, will remain playable without a well-defined maintenance schedule that includes work done on a daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual basis. Care includes looking at the facility holistically. Athlete performance and experience depends on an understanding of the interconnectedness of the grass and the soil, the weather and the use patterns, the seasons and any risks or problems that might present themselves.
Photo courtesy of Rettler Corporation
LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO SAVE MONEY LED lighting has been shown to be not only better aesthetically, with good color rendering, but more easily aimable— meaning fewer complaints from neighbors about light spill or sky glow. Perhaps the most remarkable of all of LED’ s advantages is its energy-efficiency, which translates into cost savings. In general, an LED system can help field owners leverage 50 percent in energy savings over the use of older lighting such as high-intensity discharge( metal halide). A lighting contractor can provide information as it pertains to a specific facility, taking into consideration operating hours and seasonal use.
Another way of saving money in terms of lighting installations is to have the lighting contractor evaluate the efficacy of installing the new lights on any existing poles. This will save time and money. The lighting vendor will be able to evaluate the condition of the existing
Photo courtesy of Fisher Tracks, Inc.
poles, and to make recommendations on the height and positioning of the new fixtures on them.
Over the years, LED systems have come down in price, thanks to more widespread manufacturing and better availability of systems. A number of vendors provide sport-specific systems; seek those, rather than lighting for more general use.
Unfortunately, one of the downfalls of this has been the prevalence of pop-up ads that show LED systems at incredibly low costs. Before clicking on such ads, remember that the systems they advertise tend to have limited functionality and may not provide what your facility needs. sportsfieldmanagementonline. com December 2025 | SportsField Management
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