Before the announcer introduced the LSU men’s basketball team Jan. 8, many students and other fans were stunned to see the lights in the PMAC go out and hear loud, exhilarating music blare over the loudspeakers.
Prior to that game, the PMAC did not have the capabilities to turn the arena lights on and off quickly to do a lighting show, said Dan Radakovich, senior associate athletics director.
“The problem before was that the lights in there were Mercury vapor lights,” said Herb Vincent, associate athletics director for external affairs. “So, to turn them off, it took a certain amount of time for them to come back on. So you couldn’t turn them off and turn them right back on.”
The old lights took several minutes to warm up and come back on after being shut off.
A $156,000 grant from Tiger Athletic Foundation bought the PMAC new lights with the capability to turn off and on quickly, Vincent said.
During the new pregame lighting show, many of the lights actually do not turn off completely. Instead, newly installed shutters cover the lights to prevent them from illuminating the arena.
Although both the women’s and men’s basketball games already feature the new pregame lighting show, the Athletic Department still is trying to work out a few kinks.
Vincent said when they used the lights for the first time at the men’s game against the University of Houston, the Athletic Department discovered the PMAC could not get completely dark because of the bright advertisements at the top of the mid-arena scoreboard.
Nathan Henson, PMAC operations manager, said he anticipated the problem, but did not realize the small lights from the advertisements would be a big issue.
He assures fans the small problem soon will be fixed and is excited about the new addition to the PMAC.
“We’re one of the last arenas to have these capabilities,” said Henson. “I think it’s going to add to the atmosphere. We have a great atmosphere to begin with, and this really adds to it.”
Students and other fans responded positively and enthusiastically to the new pregame show.
“I felt like I was at an NBA game with all the lights and effects,” said Kerri McGimsey, a mass communication sophomore. “It really made our team look professional, and I think we played better because of it.”
The new lighting capabilities now will be utilized for all sporting events held in the PMAC and also can be used for other assembly center events.