As part of recent updates at FedExForum in Memphis to ensure the best lighting for arena users, Bandit Lites, Inc. of Knoxville has installed a complement of Claypaky Axcor Beam 300 LED fixtures above the basketball court. FedExForum is home to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis men’s basketball team.
“The intent was to provide the Grizzlies Lighting Designer with the tools to light more of the arena with new fixtures that were brighter, had larger feature sets and required less maintenance,” explains John Cameron Carter, Installation Service Specialist at Bandit Lites. “With the new fixture install, FedExForum can have bigger and brighter looks for team player intros, timeouts and crowd hype.”
The Axcor Beam 300s are the primary beam fixtures in the install. The LEDs are hung from two catwalks running the length of the basketball court.
“Entertainment lighting has always relied on strong looks with bright, crisp beams that stand out in a crowd,” Carter says. “The Axcor Beam 300 is a great solution in this particular setting, not only due to its LED engine, which keeps maintenance down, but also its light weight. With its speed and output, the Axcor Beam 300s give the LD the strong beams needed to stand out and cut through everything happening in the arena.”
He adds that, “Coming in at under 40 lbs, the Axcor Beam 300 thoroughly impressed me with how much it could do when hung 100 feet above the deck. For years output was synonymous with size, but the LED engine combined with the optics of this fixture give it a crisp beam that is easily spotted throughout the arena.”
At Bandit Lites Chris Barbee is the Director of Sales and Installations and Roth Edwards the Director of Special Operations.