Lighting Up a Legend: Mitchell Stadium Gets a Major Upgrade
Mitchell Stadium in Bluefield, West Virginia — named America’s Best High School Football Stadium — just received a lighting transformation worthy of its legacy. Originally built in 1935, the 10,000+ seat venue is now shining brighter than ever thanks to a cutting-edge collaboration between Sportsbeams Lighting, Inc. and Helios Energy.
As part of the 2023 upgrade, the stadium replaced 80 outdated 1500W metal halide fixtures with Sportsbeams Chromabeams™, the only RGBAW sports lighting fixture in the world capable of delivering both glare-free white light and full-spectrum color from a single unit. This same lighting platform powers venues like Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The comprehensive retrofit went beyond new lights. It included:
1,200+ feet of new underground conduit and electrical wiring
New utility transformers and electrical panels
Six power and control stations for wireless + DMX light control
A leap in brightness, increasing average foot candles from 28 to over 87 on the field
The result? A stadium that now offers high-performance Mitchell Stadium lighting with the ability to produce vibrant, synchronized color scenes for pre-game hype, halftime shows, and post-touchdown celebrations.
The lighting serves not just one team, but many — Bluefield High School, Bluefield University, and Bluefield State College all share the stadium. The improved visibility and show-quality lighting have sparked renewed pride across the community and positioned Mitchell Stadium to potentially host future West Virginia state championship games.
“The change in the lighting levels on the playing surface is remarkable and the color capability is a game changer for Bluefield football!”
— Cecil Marson, City Manager, Bluefield, WV
Whether under crisp white light or a full stadium color wash, Mitchell Stadium lighting is now among the best in the region — and Sportsbeams is proud to be part of its enduring story.
📩 For free project inquiries, visit: sportsbeams.com/budgetary-quote