Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

 

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Planning and Development Services Staff

 

Date:

April 8, 2014 CC mtg

 

RE:

RCP – Lighting Plan, KU Athletic Schedule

 

 

Attached are schedules of the last few years for KU soccer and softball seasons.  While the special use permit does not limit the number of times KU uses the lights for athletic events, KU has provided this information to inform the commission and neighbors of the anticipated number of times the field lights would be used in a typical year.

 

Sport

Number of times per year where lights would likely be used (games scheduled 5 p.m. or later)

Avg. approximate number of evenings, years 2011 thru 2014 seasons, where lights were/would be used

 

Softball

 

2011 – 2

2012 – 7

2013 – 6

2014 – 4

 

5

 

Soccer (since inception of the program at KU there have been no lights at the soccer stadium; therefore, there is much to understand on how lights at RCP will be used,)

 

 

2011 – 5

2012 – 7

2013/14 – 3

 

5

 

Track and Field

 

Intent to hold 2-4 collegiate meets per year.  Traditional track meets are Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday events.  Lights are generally required on one of the two days.  Championship type meets would be 2-4 days.  Similar to KU Relays.

 

3-4

KU Relays

4 nights in 2014

4

 

Of note:

  1. This information does not establish a limit for KU’s use of lights for sporting events or practices.  It is meant to provide a realistic schedule of use for the lights at the facility.  These schedules are subject to change at KU’s discretion.
  2. Any use of lights for non-sporting related events is required to obtain a Temporary Special Event Permit.
  3. Per the Special Use Permit, the KU field lights are required to be turned off by 11:30 p.m.
  4. Lights will be used during certain practices as well, though there are NCAA time constraints which are very strict on practice times and number of days. The following provides typical scenarios for softball and soccer as they relate to use of the lights:
    1. Soccer:  a traditional soccer week would look like this: Monday off. Tuesday practice approximately 4-6. Wed 4-6. Thursday travel or light practice. Friday eve game. Saturday mid-day walk thru (short practice). Sunday game around noon or 1p. 
    2. Softball: A typical softball week when the sport is in season (spring semester) & playing at home: Monday off. Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday practice over by 6:00. Friday-game at 5:00 or 6:00. Saturday-game at 2:00. Sunday-game at noon. Note - if weather is ever an issue on a practice day, team would use indoor practice facility, so no outdoor lights. Also, there may be an occasional double-header or a weather delay that would necessitate the lights being on.
  5. It would not be typical to have fields not in use to have their lights on.  In other words, the track lights would not be on during a softball game if no activity were occurring at the track.