Because You Asked: Why do the DBAP lights stay on all night?

This is the first in what will hopefully become a regular feature at Bull City Rising: "Because You Asked," in which we'll attempt to get to the bottom of a question you've had about life around Durham.

BCR reader Jon wrote in a while back with the following very good question that, truth be told, I don't think he was the only one asking:

I'm wondering if you know what's up with the lights being on all night long at the DBAP. I often am working late and drive by the park at 3 or 4 am. The lights are almost always on. This bugs me--isn't it a huge waste of energy??

Good question, Jon. We too have seen the lights on very late at night, well after pitchers and catchers reported their last strikes, after batters have celebrated their homers (or cried over their double plays grounded into) with a beer and gone to bed, after Adam Sobsey has completed his last magnum opus on the previous night's Bulls game.

So what's up with that? Bulls PR guy Matt DeMargel has the short and sweet answer:

The lights are left on for the cleaning crew. They work overnight to get the stadium ready for the next day’s game.

You know, this actually probably explains why I've heard music coming from the park in the early morning hours, too. Who wants to clean up a ballpark late at night without some tunes?

And dear readers, think twice before the next time you leave that funnel cake plate or Wool E. Bull souvenir cup at your seat. Your action = longer to clean the park = longer use of lighting = more energy use = a baby seal dying, somewhere.

Have a Bull City question you've been itching to know the answer to? Write us at info@bullcityrising.com.  --Ed.

Comments

[ACW]

...That makes sense, but still doesn't explain why last year, when I took the freeway every day, the lights were still on hours after the sun was up...

[Syd]

So leaving a cup in the cup holder is causing baby seals to die?...wow. Who knew?

[Crash Davis]

It has been explained to me that the lights need to stay on once a year for a week to test the new bulbs.

[Upset With Wasted Electricity]

I heard a rumor that it was actually to keep birds off the field. Not sure if that is true too, but I work in the DVII building and they aren't on during the day? At least that is somewhat hopeful...