Football floodlights: how much do they really cost?

Whether you’re upgrading an existing football floodlighting system, or installing an entirely new one, it’s only natural that you’re going to have a few questions before you get started.

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Some of those might be technical: “what kind of lux levels and uniformity should we aim for?”. Some may relate to the running of the system, like the amount of power it will use and how often maintenance is likely to be required. In some – very specific – cases, it’ll be necessary to think about things like strong winds and atmospheric conditions.

One question that we get asked more than any other is “how much is this going to cost?” – and that’s completely understandable.

The nature of a football field can make that question a little hard to answer. Unlike hockey, for example, football fields don’t have a standard size, instead needing to conform to a minimum and maximum measurement only. Combined with flexibility around things like mast numbers and locations, cost quickly becomes a very bespoke issue.

That said – with some caveats stated and some broad generalisations made (see below) – it is still possible to provide some good answers to that question. That’s why, in this post, I’m going to tell you just how much football floodlights really cost.

Retrofit vs new build – what’s the difference?

At Midstream, we work on both retrofit and new build lighting solutions. Before we start to look at the costs of each, it’s important to explain the difference between those two types of installation.

When we refer to a retrofit solution, we’re talking about a club that has an existing lighting system that needs to be upgraded or replaced. In this situation, chances are that there are some items that can be reused – wiring, control systems, and masts or columns amongst them. Naturally, that tends to have a positive impact on the overall cost of a project.

A new build solution is exactly as it sounds, and is typically only used when a club is developing a new training or academy complex (or is in the incredibly rare situation of moving grounds). A new build scenario demands a “from the ground up” approach to lighting, with everything from masts, cabling, and groundworks required to get things up and running. Costs are higher as a result.

What’s the cost of a retrofit floodlighting solution?

The average cost of a retrofit football floodlighting solution is around £25,000 - £35,000 plus VAT. Let’s look at how that breaks down.

Floodlights

Most of the cost for a retrofit system lies in the luminaires (Floodlighting units) themselves. From that £25,000 - £35,000 total, approximately 70% will be spent here.

While it can be tempting to assume that there’ll be a difference in cost depending on the number of masts present, that’s not the case. Unless there’s a specific consideration – such as a mast being situated in an unusual location – the quantity of luminaires remains the same no matter if a club has four, six, or eight masts.

Installation

Installation accounts for the remaining 30% of the project cost, around £7,500 - £10,500 in this instance.

Covered here are the…

• Removal and disposal of old luminaires.

• Fitting of new luminaires.

• Replacement of the electrical gear in the base of each mast.

• Integration of the new floodlights with existing controls (although modifications and an upgrade to a wireless system are also possible here).

• Independent testing and commissioning, to governing body and NICEIC standards where required.

What’s the cost of a new build football floodlighting solution?

The average cost of a new build football floodlighting solution is around £70,000 - £115,000 plus VAT. What’s involved:

Fixtures

As well as the luminaires, we also have masts to take into account here. With that in mind, costs here rise to around £35,000 - £45,000 – around half of the project as a whole.

Of that £35,000 - £45,000, the manufacture and supply of the luminaires will account for around £20,000 - £30,000. The remaining amount is reserved for the masts and all associated electrical items. This cost is based on the manufacture and supply of six masts, which tends to be the most common number seen in new build projects today in the UK.

Installation

With no existing infrastructure to work with, a new build installation has more involved than in a retrofit solution. As a result, a typical installation is likely to cost around £35,000 - £65,000.

What will my project cost?

As mentioned above, we’ve made some very general assumptions to provide some ballpark figures.

Throughout, we’ve assumed a value of 200 lux, for instance – enough to cover any club all the way from grassroots up to National League. For clubs operating at a higher tier, costs can change, and we have given a rough indication below.

Regardless of the level you play at, it remains essential to seek out expert guidance about the best way to approach your own lighting project.

Installation

With no existing infrastructure to work with, a new build installation has more involved than in a retrofit solution. As a result, a typical install is likely to cost around £35,000 - £65,000.

That cost will typically be allocated as follows:

• Foundations and trenching (£10,000 - £20,000)

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  Also known as groundwork civils. Included here are the concrete foundations, and the digging of trenches  that allow for cables to be run from each mast to the supply point. Also included here should be a fieldside cabinet, connected to a distribution board.

• Installation of masts onto foundations (£20,000 - £35,000)

  
  

  Which involves erecting the masts, fitting and wiring floodlights, and adding protective gear to the base of each mast.

• Supply and install of switchgear and controls (£5,000 - £10,000)

  
  

  Options here include cross-play switching, remote switching, the addition of a time clock, kWh meter, and an “hours run” meter. Not all of these may be required, which may reduce costs a little here.

Retrofit

100 Lux

200 Lux

500 Lux

800 Lux

1000 Lux

New install

200 Lux

500 Lux

800 Lux

1000 Lux

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Hopefully, this guide has provided some useful information about what you can expect your own football floodlights to cost. If you’d like to get a specific quote then get in touch.

 Why have costs gone up?

Prices have increased over the last year driven primarily by macroeconomic events such as the squeezed supply chain post-COVID. The energy cost increase after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the inflationary pressures caused by monetary policy in the EU and USA. The result is that this has increased prices on everything from raw materials and components to shipping, packaging, and assembly rates. The energy forward curve is suggesting that prices will remain high for the next 24-36 months at least, continuing to drive up the price of finished goods at least until 2025.

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