When the court lights flicker on at the US Open, tennis stars shine under illumination designed to cut light pollution. The wedge-shaped lamps around the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows direct light onto the players without spewing it into the surrounding skies, reports the AP. The stadium complex is the only professional sports venue certified by a group that's trying to preserve the night sky around the world. Across North America and Canada, schools and local parks have also swapped out their lights on baseball fields, running tracks, and other recreation grounds to preserve their view of the stars and protect local wildlife.
In renovations over the past decade, the US Tennis Association swapped metal halide bulbs for shielded LED lights. The complex's 17 tournament courts—including Arthur Ashe Stadium—and five practice courts were approved as dark sky-friendly last year. The approval comes from DarkSky International, a nonprofit that gives similar designations to cities and national parks. The group widened its focus to include sports arenas in recent years and has certified over 30 venues since 2019—including high school football fields and youth soccer fields.
Renovating a field with dark skies in mind can cost about 5% to 10% more than traditional sports lighting, according to James Brigagliano, who runs DarkSky's outdoor sports lighting program. Venues may require a few extra fixtures since the light shining from them is more targeted. Most arenas make the change during scheduled maintenance and renovation, working with sports lighting company Musco. The company lights over 3,000 venues a year, including college football stadiums, tennis courts, and rail yards.
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