Written by Jordan Davila
Introduction:
The prestigious Q2 Stadium is nestled deep in the heart of Texas, providing a home for the Austin FC MLS team. The state-of-the-art facility is renowned for its premium technology, namely the stadium’s next-gen LED lights. Provided by Sportsbeams, these lights bring Verde to the community of Austin in a whole new way. We were honored to have partnered with this staple in our community, and thrilled to have Austin FC President, Andy Loughnane, join us to speak on the topic of fan engagement at the Q2 Stadium.
Interview Transcript
The Importance of Fan Experience:
Jordan Davila (Sportsbeams Lighting): ” The Q2 Stadium holds the record for the most sold-out games in MLS history. How much of an impact has fan experience had on Austin FC?”
Andy Loughnane (Austin FC): “Fan experience is an enormous part of operating a major league team. You want to have the very best atmosphere inside your stadium, and that comes with so many ingredients: the product on the field, the structure of the stadium, the experience of the food and beverage environment, the sound, the music you hear, and of course, the technology you use. There’s so much that goes into it, but having a world-class atmosphere is something that we strive for at Q2 Stadium.”
The Meaning Behind Verde Lights and Austin FC’s Identity:
Jordan: “Sportsbeams was honored to bring Verde lights to Austin FC. It feels like the color Verde is starting to transform into a culture here in Austin. How would you say that Verde is playing a role in the branding, culture, and community around Austin FC?”
Andy: “When we first launched Austin FC, we had to create an identity—the name of the team, the crest, and the colors. One of the things we wanted to do was set ourselves apart from the rest of Texas professional sports. You don’t find a lot of green in the major league sports landscape within Texas, where many of the teams feature either red, white, blue, stars, or orange within their visual identity. For us, a vibrant shade green could be used to represent Austin perfectly. From day one, we wanted to set ourselves apart from the rest of the Texas professional landscape. Green captures what Austin is—this beautiful, lush city with so much green space and tree canopy. For us, it represents vibrancy and yes, it has become a part of our culture, and something we’re proud of because it distinguishes us from others in Texas.”
Q2 Stadium’s Next-Gen Lighting Technology:
Jordan: “The Q2 Stadium is one of three stadiums in the world with full RGB color technology and broadcast white [capabilities]. How would you say that color lights have affected the Q2 Stadium?”
Andy: “RGB LED lights from Sportsbeams was one of our commitments to technology, to have a world-class lighting configuration. From day one, we knew we wanted to set ourselves apart from our competitive landscape. At that time, I believe we were the very first stadium to install 100% of our lights as RGB LEDs. This was part of the vision to be both tech-forward and to adapt green. There was really only one way to accomplish that effectively… with our sports lights. So, this was a deliberate commitment from the start to be tech-forward and to embrace Verde. Sportsbeams has provided an incredible asset for us that has become a mainstay in our matchday atmosphere. League-wide and maybe even worldwide people have seen how impressive this looks. It’s not just in stadium, it also has this beautiful broadcast effect [on television]. For us, this was one of the most important investments that we’ve made in terms of creating a matchday atmosphere.”
Afterthoughts:
Austin FC continues to break MLS attendance records; captivating fans game after game. We are proud of our partnership with Austin FC, contributing to the Verde community with unique, vivid green stadium lights. Our patented and innovative Chromabeams™ lights give the team the opportunity to instantaneously switch from broadcast white to Verde (or millions of other pre-mixed colors) in an instant. These lights not only enhance the visual appeal of the Q2 Stadium, but they contribute significantly to the overall fan experience (both in stadium and on broadcast television).
Sportsbeams Lighting is proud to call Austin home. We’re honored to support Austin FC in creating an electrifying atmosphere that resonates with fans and players alike. For more information on the lights used for this project, read here. Make sure to visit an Austin FC game at the Q2 Stadium this season to see our lights in action!
