FC Cincinnati is less than two months away from christening the West End Stadium with its first-ever Major League Soccer match but the club officially lit the exterior stadium lights up for the first time on Thursday.
The LED-light fins that line almost the entire exterior of the stadium were illuminated during three separate shows on Thursday night.
The dancing light displays caught the attention of locals and were then disseminated more broadly via social media. There, the signature feature of FC Cincinnati's new home stadium clearly made a great first impression.
There's more to the fins and LED lights than meets the eye, though.
Here are five things to know about the stadium LED fin lighting system:
• When exactly will the LED fin lighting system be in use at West End Stadium?
While some locals caught glimpses of test runs in recent weeks, the lighting system was turned on and programmed for the first time on Thursday. The system will not be used regularly until mid-April.
Most importantly, the stadium's facade lighting system will be functional daily from dusk to 1 a.m. Following stadium events and on non-event days, the lighting will be at what's described as a "passive level."
The lights also face east over Central Parkway and toward Over-the-Rhine and Downtown. The lights face away from the directly adjacent West End neighborhood to prevent ambient lighting from flooding the neighborhood.
• What will be shown on the fins and by the lighting system?
"We have a number of animations that will be rotated and customized based on game days, cultural activities, and civic holidays," officials told The Enquirer.
• What happens if an individual light or an entire LED fin goes out?
The system is built around a quick-connect system and comes with a five-year parts and factory labor warranty. If a light does go out, the maintenance team will be able to replace the fixture very quickly.
• Are there 513 fins, as first described at earlier stages in the stadium's development?
Yes and no. There are 385 total and 287 of the feature LED lighting. The number of fins was reduced as part of cost-cutting measures at the stadium.
However, team president Jeff Berding said on Thursday that there are actually 513 fin portions or sections. So, in a way, FC Cincinnati still delivered on paying homage to the 513 area code through the number of fins.
• Will fans inside West End Stadium be able to experience the lighting effects?
Yes. During a panel discussion on Thursday prior to the light displays, officials explained ambient light from the LED fin system, as well as some direct light wrapping around the sides of the fins, should be visible while inside West End Stadium.
• Bonus: Small changes to the exterior of the stadium still to come
Berding explained that the stadium's name, which should more than likely include a naming-rights partner, will be permanently affixed to the side of the venue via separate lighted fixtures. These lighted fixtures will be placed in several places around the stadium's exterior but won't detract from the LED displays.
The stadium's name, as well as the FC Cincinnati name, will also be displayed by the LED fins.
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