TFC: At the Toulouse Stadium, this daytime lighting that makes people talk
Before, during and after the match between the TFC and OGC Nice, Sunday August 7, the subject of the floodlights on in the middle of the afternoon challenged. Especially in a period when energy reductions are requested.
“Can someone explain to me why there is lighting at the Stadium during a match at 1 p.m. in the middle of summer?”. On social networks, many spectators who attended the meeting between TFC and OGC Nice on Sunday August 7 asked themselves this question. While the thermometer showed nearly 35 degrees at kick-off, the 12 projectors installed on the roof of the Stade Municipal de Toulouse were running at full speed. This observation comes at a time when ecology is paramount and energy savings are highly recommended. Lighting stroke.
The Minister of Sports launches the debate
In recent weeks, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the Minister of Sports has spoken about the “energy sobriety” plan that the government wishes to put in place as part of the fight against energy consumption in France. By 2050, the objective would be to reduce the latter by 40%, by applying it to many sectors, including sports.
“All the actors will be associated with the development of the national sports plan in the face of climate change, which will include a double dimension of energy sobriety and adaptation of the practice to global warming, in a logic of securing practitioners, whether they let’s be amateurs or professionals”, she declared to the sports daily L’Equipe at the end of July.
Thus, in order to save lighting, the question of the elimination of sporting events in the evening from next winter is being studied. A subject that raises a question when we observe the floodlights of a stadium like that of the Stadium lit during a match at 1 p.m. under 35 degrees.
The floodlights on 4 hours before the start of the match
In its regulations, the Professional Football League provides for a component offered for lighting. We can then find the following article there: “The clubs of Ligue 1 Uber Eats, referred to in article 101, must have a lighting installation classified at least in level E2 with a source of supply of substitution ( generator for example) allowing matches to be played at night in accordance with the FFF pitch lighting regulations.”
In our columns, the TFC club indicated about this lighting at the beginning of the afternoon that it is “the LFP regulations”, indicating that “it is necessary to guarantee a certain level of lighting which imposes homogeneity minimum illumination”. The cities are then responsible for respecting the specifications drawn up by the League. It includes in particular “the lighting of the honor ground (the Stadium, editor’s note) on match days” which is set up four hours before the start of it, specifies the city of Toulouse. While the Stadium is made up of 12 floodlights (4 on each side and 2 behind each goal), their optimum lighting is not achieved until after they have been switched on. specify the city.
Also, a 20-minute wait would be necessary in case of premature shutdown. While this situation has been going on for a long time, and the Stadium floodlights were already on during the TFC 3 p.m. matches last season, things are starting to change. “We made the request to find out the reasons for this lighting”, indicates the Pink City. “We are not the only ones,” she slips. She continues: “We know that the Professional Football League is working on an argument concerning this daytime lighting because several cities have contacted it to find out more precisely the reasons…” A beginning of an answer?