CME Group upgrade to Adelaide Oval lighting system shines at NECA Awards

CME Group’s groundbreaking LED tower lighting upgrade at Adelaide Oval has been recognised at the prestigious South Australian NECA Awards, taking home the Lighting Design & Construct award as well as the evening’s top accolade, the perpetual award for best South Australian project.

The NECA Awards are the electrical and communications industry’s highest accolade, recognising outstanding achievement and innovation at both a state and national level.

As the winner of the state award, CME Group now progresses to the national NECA Awards, to be held on Thursday 28th November in Melbourne.

In just an eight-week lights-out period in 2023, the CME team switched the venue’s ageing high-intensity discharge (HID) tower lighting system to LED, making Adelaide Oval the only major stadium in Australia equipped with both immaculate white broadcast sports lighting and full-colour light show' capabilities.

Importantly, the new lights are approximately 40% more energy-efficient, aligning with Adelaide Oval's sustainability goals and not only enhancing the venue's capabilities but also setting a new benchmark for stadium lighting in Australia.

Receiving the award and noting how it recognises his team’s capacity to deliver world-class outcomes for world-class venues, CME Group Chief Executive, Chris Mattner stated "this project is a testament to CME Group’s commitment to innovation and excellence in stadium lighting.

“Our goal was to not only complete a seamless upgrade of the technology, but to enhance the Adelaide Oval fan experience while also contributing to the venue’s sustainability goals.

"We are thrilled to have been recognised by NECA SA/NT, highlighting our team's hard work and dedication to complete such a high-profile project in a short delivery timeframe. We’re immensely proud of the outcome and that has been cemented with this accolade.”

The new system has instant switching ability known as dynamic lighting control, elite uniformity lighting levels across the field, and exciting features such as colour, flash and animation.

The full-colour lighting capabilities debuted during the highly anticipated New Year's Eve Big Bash League fixture, where the Adelaide Strikers faced off against the Melbourne Stars.

Commenting on the program, Adelaide Oval Chief Financial and Commercial Officer, Tommy Pavic “we undertook this major upgrade because we are committed to continually reinvesting in our fan experience, while also delivering on our goals across technology and sustainability.

“CME Group aligned to those goals from day one and worked tirelessly to ensure the project was delivered without disrupting game days or daily operations.

“It’s been fantastic to see the awe on fans’ faces at events such as the Strikers’ New Year’s Eve game, AFL Gather Round and Matildas vs China PR fixture as the new light show takes over the venue.”

The NECA Award win comes on the back of Mattner’s recent win at the InDaily 40 Under 40 Awards, named the winner of the Inspiring Future Leaders Award.

This accolade celebrates young leaders who demonstrate exceptional vision, thought leadership, and achievements in the public or private sectors.

South Australian owned and operated, CME Group was established by the Mattner family in 1985 and has become a leader in integrated electrical solutions, specialising in stadium lighting, sustainable energy and electrical services.

Under Chris Mattner’s leadership since 2012, the company has seen remarkable growth, increasing revenue by 17 times, illuminating over 400 sports fields and installing over 40MW of renewable energy.

The CME Group team will now turn their attention to the Sports Venue Business LIVE Conference & Exhibition at Dublin’s Croke Park, where they will showcase the Adelaide Oval project to other global venues.

Images: CME Group's installation at the Adelaide Oval (top and below) and CME Group’s Chris Mattner (at right) is awarded the NECA Award for Excellence in Lighting Design & Construct and the Perpetual Award for South Australian Project of the Year Adelaide.