Case Study: Kaseya Center

Background

Kaseya Center, located on Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami, is a world-class sports and entertainment arena and the home of the NBA’s Miami Heat. The venue hosts over 80 events annually, including concerts, family shows, national conferences, and award ceremonies, highlighting its versatility. It has been central to multiple NBA Finals and championship celebrations and is consistently ranked among the top arenas in the United States. Over the years, Kaseya Center has become an iconic cultural destination, playing a key role in shaping Miami’s downtown entertainment landscape.

 

The Challenge

Like many arenas nationwide, Kaseya Center was operating with outdated and unsupported Musco Lighting Microlite control panels, a legacy platform no longer maintained by the manufacturer. This presented a significant challenge for a facility that hosts a wide variety of large-scale events as maintenance would become costly and unsustainable. On any given day, the arena might stage a monster truck rally and, with a short turnaround, an ice show the next. The venue’s active schedule demanded lighting solutions that were not only time-sensitive and cost-effective but also provided modern, reliable control capabilities to support its diverse and high-capacity events.

 

The Solution

To provide a scalable, cost-effective solution, ILC considered these questions:
  1. How can the facility’s lighting be controlled in a way familiar to Kaseya Center employees while implementing current technology?
  2. Which lighting control solution offers the lowest possible cost for the arena?
  3. What is the cost comparison between a full lighting control panel replacement (including new piping, wiring, and labor) vs. a lighting control panel retrofit that reuses existing enclosures and wiring?
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The clear answer was to retrofit with ILC’s LightLEEDer Relay Panel Retrofit Insert. This solution took something Kaseya Center was familiar with and made it even better. By designing ILC gear to a specifically sized backplate, a contractor or electrician can efficiently replace the MicroLite interior with the retrofitted LightLEEDer interior and secure the plate.
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The upgrade also included a new touchscreen interface (GUI), enabling control of both sports and house lighting through a combination of relay and DMX systems, accessible via a phone app.

Results

The LightLEEDer Retrofit Solution provided Kaseya Center with several key benefits:

  • Lower Material and Installation Costs: Reduced the need for new components and minimized installation expenses, providing a cost-effective solution.
  • Reduced Labor Time: Streamlined wiring and backplate design allowed electricians to complete installation more efficiently.
  • Simplified User Experience: The upgraded interface and controls created intuitive operation for staff and operators.
  • Enhanced Technology and Aesthetics: Modernized panels and touchscreen interface improved the overall look and feel of the facility.

Ultimately, the LightLEEDer Retrofit provided Kaseya Center with a cost-effective, efficient, and high-performing solution that exceeded expectations and enhanced both installation and operation.