Alabama A&M University (AAMU) football fans were excited to cheer on their beloved Bulldogs at the 2025 season opener. What they didn’t know was that the season was about to become a whole lot more electrifying.
The Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama, received a major lighting upgrade designed to lower the stadium’s energy use, enhance visibility for night games, increase fan experience, and support a safer, more vibrant environment—thanks to AAMU, Aramark Facilities Management, and their industry partners.
“We have enjoyed a longstanding partnership with AAMU for decades,” said Jeff Watson, Director of Business Development, Aramark Facilities Management, which oversees groundskeeping, custodial, maintenance and operations and energy management for AAMU. “When we learned the university wanted to upgrade the stadium lighting, we requested an invitation to bid on the project.”
The Aramark Facilities Management team has maintained a strong relationship with LED Lighting Solutions, based in Birmingham, Alabama. The Aramark team proposed a new LED solution with lights that can be programmed in a full range of colors—including the Bulldogs’ crimson and white.
Unlike traditional white stadium lights, the new LED lights can be individually controlled to allow a range of exciting lighting scenarios. They also create a safer environment for night games, offering illumination in the tailgate areas around the stadium.
In the end, the Aramark Facilities Management proposal provided was less expensive than the closest competitor, which offered limited features with only white lighting.
What’s more, the project was eligible for a more than $162,000 rebate incentive through Huntsville Utilities from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s EnergyRight program. Read more.
“We estimate that the new lights will provide about a 50% reduction in energy usage over the old halide lights,” said Watson. “Our client has been very pleased. It’s a big step forward in campus sustainability priorities—and it makes games extra special.”
The new system was installed over the summer and was primed for the stadium’s first home opener on September 9th against Lane College.
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