The Paris La Défense Arena is the largest indoor arena in Europe. Opened in 2017 and designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc, it is located near the La Défense business district, in the north‑west area of Paris, and stands as a leading multifunctional venue capable of hosting major concerts, corporate events and Racing 92 rugby matches, as well as major international sporting events.
Among the most prestigious events hosted by the arena is also a major tournament on the ATP World Tour. In this high-level context,PERFORMANCE iN LIGHTING was selected to design and deliver the indoor lighting system for the Paris tournament over the period 2025-2035. The main court, three secondary courts, and the areas dedicated to training and warm‑up were illuminated with the aim of ensuring excellent playing conditions for athletes, outstanding visual quality for spectators, and optimal performance for television broadcasting.
To meet the demanding requirements of the event, WIN PRO L3 professional floodlights with asymmetric optics (A32) were used, selected for their high photometric performance, energy efficiency and reliability in intensive operating conditions. A total of 81 floodlights, installed on suspended structures and controlled via the digital DMX protocol, ensured the required lighting levels while also enabling the creation of dynamic lighting scenes fully aligned with the event’s identity.
ATP-level lighting performance
The main technical requirement of the project was to exceed the 2000 lux of horizontal illuminance required by the ATP 2025 protocols across the 15 official measurement points. The lighting design also included a system capable of optimising vertical illuminance and supporting high-definition and super slow‑motion broadcasting, taking into account the position of each camera.
The results achieved confirmed the excellence of the lighting system across all playing areas. The main court reaches illuminance levels exceeding 2600 lux, with a uniformity ratio (Emin/Eav) of 0.82, ensuring optimal conditions for TV broadcasting. The secondary courts achieve levels above 2200 lux, with uniformity ranging from 0.80 to 0.92.
Optimized installation
The choice to adopt a single luminaire fitting type made it possible to optimise logistics and simplify the technical management of the system, also considering annual assembly and dismantling operations. From an engineering standpoint, this approach enabled a single aiming setup for all floodlights, carried out at ground level before lifting the supporting structures to a height of approximately 23 metres. In addition to simplifying installation, this configuration, with floodlights set in a horizontal position, improves visual comfort for both players and spectators by reducing the apparent luminous surface and glare.
All the floodlights were supplied in a custom version, equipped with quick‑connect connectors (GWP20004) to speed up connection, installation and reconfiguration operations.
Custom flight cases were also developed to transport five complete floodlights with their drivers, ensuring equipment protection and efficient logistics for all tournament editions through 2035.
Optimal lighting for tennis courts
Thanks to the high optical and photometric quality of WIN PRO L3 floodlights, the entire tennis complex set up inside the Paris La Défense Arena provides a perfectly illuminated playing environment, capable of meeting athletes’ requirements and enhancing every detail of the game. A system that fully complies with international broadcasting standards and helps deliver a visually compelling experience to millions of viewers worldwide.
