LIGHTING
NCAA MARCH MADNESS Indianapolis, USA Images: Bill Brennan & Paul Hoffman
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he National Collegiate Athletic Association
The BMFL Spots were positioned around the field of play, the
(NCAA) 2021 March Madness tournament is a
pitch perimeter and along the team benches to add ambient
single-elimination college basketball tournament
‘fallout’ light for the matches, as well as the performance by
played each spring with 68 teams competing
Miley Cyrus, which was staged during the men’s Final Four
for the national championship. It has been lit – seven
section.
courts across six venues in total – for the last three years by
Bill chose BMFL Spots due to their “brightness, predictability,
renowned broadcast live events specialist, Bill Brennan.
cold consistency and uniform flat beam field,” as well as
The 2021 Final Four was staged at the Lucas Oil Stadium
their “exceptional performance and reliability.”
in Indianapolis, USA, with Bill specifiying 60 Robe BMFLs
The lighting was programmed by Paul Hoffman using a MA
- a combination of BMFL Spots and BMFL Blades - for the
Lighting grandMA2.
supplemental rig this year, which were supplied, together
“They are solidly designed and built, frequently requested by
with other lights, by Nashville-based Pulse Lighting, whose
designers and the support from Robe North America is good,”
Paul Hoffman was also the event’s lead lighting programmer.
Paul added.
Pulse has been working with Bill since 2007 on a diversity
Paul was one of seven lighting crew working on the NCAA
of sporting events. Naturally, everyone was delighted to be
event. Joining him at the Lucas Oil Stadium were crew chief,
back working at this year’s March Madness after the many
Andrew Smith, plus Dan Grabus and Ryan Chesney. Pulse also
challenges of 2020.
supplied equipment for another venue, the Indiana Farmer’s
Bill’s main consideration for lighting the Lucas Oil Stadium
Coliseum, which was crew chiefed by Alex “Herm” Schneider
was to successfully transform it from a professional football
who was also the programmer / operator, working alongside
venue to a premium basketball court, as well as to satisfy
Joel Surbe and Shane Beasley.
the needs of multiple media organisations, with the event
As basketball fans themselves, to work with the NCAA on the
attracting intense coverage.
Final Four is “always an honor” Paul enthused, but, apart
To assist with this, in addition to the stadium’s in-house
from that, this particular year, they were thrilled and felt a
lighting rig, a serious number of high-powered fixtures were
huge sense of pride and accomplishment in being one of a
required, with Bill choosing the BMFL Spots.
very small number of lighting companies to supply a sizeable
The biggest challenges were balancing the backgrounds and
project.
properly managing the daylight spill from the venue, which
“Not only was it critical to our bottom line, but it was just
has a retractable roof and a large retractable window at one
fabulous to be able to call up some crew and offer them
end, allowing play both indoors and outdoors.
work!” Paul concluded.
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