The University of Mississippi Football Practice Fields Lighting

In need of upgrades to their football practice fields, The University of Mississippi Athletic Department turned to CDFL to provide a two-phase solution that would fully illuminate the fields and address issues of drainage and irrigation.

Prior to Phase 1, the fields used two, small pole-mounted fixture arrangements located in the center of the fields. CDFL proposed completely eliminating the poles from the playing surface area and providing lighting from the perimeter. Each field’s lighting is controlled independently and a total of nine poles surround the playing surfaces, allowing for full illumination during evening practices.

The new lighting system can be operated via cell phone, greatly helping facilities management operate the fixtures and verify the status of the system without having to physically be on the field. This new lighting approach creates an evenly lit field with no glare issues and virtually no light spill over to adjacent facilities. The final piece of Phase I was the enlargement of the north field, previously 60% of regulation size field, to become full sized.

The Phase 2 effort, initiated upon the completion of the 2015 season, replaced the north field’s playing surface with artificial turf. This phase also includes improvements to the fields’ drainage and irrigation systems, along with the addition of new coaching towers. These towers will provide coaches with a platform that allows for data access, filming of practice, and work space. A total of five towers are planned, with a single central tower and the infrastructure for the additional four towers being constructed during Phase 2.

CDFL teamed with Holcombe Norton Partners on this project.