NEW YORK. Tennis stars at the US Open are now playing under stadium lights designed to reduce light pollution while keeping the courts brightly illuminated.
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, home of the US Open, is the only professional sports venue in the world certified by DarkSky International, a nonprofit group that promotes responsible lighting to preserve the night sky and protect wildlife.
The wedge-shaped, shielded LED lamps direct light onto the courts without spilling it into the skies or nearby neighborhoods. Installed during renovations over the past decade, the lighting system was approved last year as dark sky-friendly across 17 tournament courts, including Arthur Ashe Stadium, and five practice courts.
“This is an international event that has an impact on the community. Let’s minimize that and make sure that everybody’s happy with it,” said Chuck Jettmar, managing director of capital projects and engineering at the USTA.
Experts warn that traditional sports field lights disrupt bird migration, confuse nocturnal animals like frogs and fireflies, and often shine into residential areas. DarkSky-approved systems aim to reduce these effects while still providing visibility for athletes, spectators, and television broadcasts.
Though the new fixtures cost about 5% to 10% more than traditional lights, USTA officials said the balance of performance and environmental responsibility was worth the investment.
DarkSky International has certified over 30 venues across North America since 2019, including high school football fields, youth soccer complexes, and municipal parks. The group’s spokesperson, Drew Reagan, said the goal is to encourage communities to enjoy nighttime sports responsibly: “That’s a beautiful thing and there’s a way to do that responsibly.”
Despite the improvements, experts acknowledge that even the best systems still contribute to light pollution. “You can have the absolute best, most carefully designed stadium lighting in the world, and you’re still creating light pollution,” said UCLA urban light pollution expert Travis Longcore.
Still, advocates believe every step makes a difference. With the US Open taking a leading role, they hope other professional sports venues will follow.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
