Musco Lighting Named Official LA28 Partner: Powering the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Venues
Musco Lighting has been confirmed as an official partner of LA28, the organizing committee for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The alliance highlights Musco’s deep experience in advanced stadium illumination and reinforces LA28’s focus on delivering a safe, sustainable and visually compelling Games. As preparations accelerate across Los Angeles, Musco’s role will center on deploying modern, energy-conscious lighting systems across select competition and training facilities.
Partnership Priority Areas
- Deployment of energy-efficient, high-performance lighting systems
- Seamless coordination with broadcast, streaming and venue operations
- Improved athlete visibility and spectator sightlines
- Alignment with LA28’s sustainability commitments and legacy planning
What Musco Brings to LA28
Musco will supply purpose-designed LED solutions and control platforms optimized for the unique demands of multi-sport events. Beyond brightening fields and arenas, these systems are built to support live television and digital production requirements, reduce maintenance burdens, and minimize environmental impact through lower energy use and recyclable components.
| Capability | Result |
|---|---|
| Modern LED arrays | Substantially lower power draw with consistent color quality |
| Adaptive control and scheduling | Lights tuned to event needs and broadcast windows |
| Remote diagnostics | Faster repairs, less downtime |
Transforming Athlete and Spectator Experiences
Lighting for elite sport must balance multiple goals: accurate color reproduction for broadcasters, glare-free sightlines for competitors, and an engaging atmosphere for fans. Musco’s systems are engineered to meet these competing demands by offering precise dimming, high color rendering and rapid scene changes for ceremonies or special effects.
Features Designed for Performance
- Fine-grain dimming and scene control that adapts instantly to game flow or broadcast cues
- Reduced shortwave blue content options to lessen athlete eye strain during late sessions
- Scheduling integration so lighting aligns with event calendars, rehearsals and live broadcasts
- High Color Rendering Index (CRI) for accurate skin tones and team colors on camera
| Technology | Advantage | Audience Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Programmable LED banks | Custom lighting scenes | Better athlete focus; richer fan experience |
| Low-glare optics | Improved sightlines | Fewer distractions for competitors and cameras |
| Integrated broadcast presets | Camera-ready illumination | Cleaner TV and streaming imagery |
Sustainability, Energy Efficiency and Legacy Benefits
One of the central pillars of the LA28 program is sustainability. Modern sports lighting is a high-impact area for emissions reduction: replacing legacy metal-halide systems with LED technology typically halves — and in many installations reduces by up to 70% — the electricity consumed for venue lighting, depending on configuration and controls. Musco’s approach couples efficient hardware with smart control logic and recyclable components to shrink operational carbon and leave a durable local legacy.
How the Savings Add Up
- Energy reduction: LEDs and precise controls reduce fixture wattage and runtime compared with older systems.
- Lower maintenance: Longer component lifespans and remote monitoring cut service calls and replacement frequency.
- Material stewardship: Design-for-reuse and recyclable parts minimize waste when systems are retired.
- Community uplift: Reduced venue operating costs free up resources for post-Games local sports programs or facility upgrades.
| Component | Typical Benefit | Long-term Impact |
|---|---|---|
| LED Fixtures | 50–70% lower energy consumption (varies by site) | Significant operating cost reductions |
| Smart Sensors & Controls | Lights respond to occupancy, daylight and schedule | Further energy savings and user convenience |
| Recyclable Parts | Reduced landfill impact | Stronger sustainability credentials |
Implementation and Testing Strategy
Delivering high-performance lighting for a major multi-sport event requires careful phasing, cross-discipline coordination and rigorous testing. Musco’s playbook combines upfront audits, simulation-led design and staged commissioning to ensure each venue meets competition, broadcast and operational needs well ahead of LA28’s opening ceremonies.
Recommended Project Phases
| Phase | Typical Timeline | Main Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Site Evaluation & Concept Design | 3–6 weeks | Light level audits, stakeholder workshops, preliminary layouts |
| Detailed Engineering & Procurement | 6–8 weeks | Final specs, procurement, fabrication scheduling |
| Installation & System Integration | 4–10 weeks (venue-dependent) | Mounting, cabling, control network setup |
| Calibration, Testing & Broadcast Rehearsals | 3–5 weeks | Photometric tuning, camera tests, durability checks |
| Handover & Operational Training | 1–2 weeks | Staff training, documentation, maintenance schedules |
Close collaboration among venue operators, broadcast engineers and event planners is essential. For example, scheduling joint camera-and-lighting rehearsals months before competition helps identify glare issues or color balance adjustments that only appear on high-speed and HDR cameras.
Practical Recommendations for Venues
- Start early: Begin lighting audits and integration planning well before construction milestones to avoid costly rework.
- Prioritize control systems: Networked controls and presets make it simple to switch between competition, rehearsal and broadcast modes.
- Plan for broadcasts: Test with production teams using the actual camera formats (HDR, slow-motion, 4K/8K) that will cover the events.
- Use data-driven maintenance: Enable remote monitoring and predictive alerts so teams can service fixtures before failures affect an event.
Illustrative example: a mid-sized stadium that installed networked LEDs and predictive sensors reduced emergency fixture failures by over 80% in the first year of operations, translating into fewer event interruptions and lower service costs.
Looking Ahead
Musco Lighting’s partnership with LA28 signals a broader shift in how major events approach technical infrastructure: performance, broadcast quality and sustainability must all be baked into design decisions. As Los Angeles prepares to host athletes and fans from around the world, advanced lighting systems will play a major role in shaping the visual identity and long-term benefits of the Games.
With integrated, energy-efficient solutions and a coordinated delivery plan, Musco and LA28 aim to set new standards for environmentally responsible event lighting that continues to benefit local communities long after the medals are awarded.
