Over the years, there have been increases in the demand for both indoor and outdoor sports facilities. To meet the increase in demand, lighting is a cost effective way to extend hours of play during hours of darkness. Lighting is also required for indoor sporting facilities during the day. With increasing power and operational costs, energy efficiency should be a key consideration when designing a lighting system.

The purpose of IES RP-6-15 Sports and Recreational Area Lighting is to provide the reader with recommendations to aid in the design of sports lighting systems. Popular sports, such as baseball, tennis, basketball and football as well as recreational social activities, such as horseshoe pitching and croquet are covered. Venues for spectators of amateur, collegiate, and professional sports are complex facilities that should provide not only for the spectators, but also the equipment used in modern sports broadcasting. This document does not address those needs, so the reader should look for guidance from the sports league or the project consultant.