When the Los Angeles Clippers took the court at Intuit Dome after the 2025 NBA All-Star break, fans were treated to more than just basketball. A brand-new Elation lighting system transformed the arena into a fully immersive environment guided by the organization’s vision of excellence and the efforts of Clippers’ lighting designer Robert Sanders.
A Fresh Start for a New Home
Intuit Dome, which officially opened in August 2024 in Inglewood, California, is the Clippers’ first true home after decades of sharing Crypto.com Arena with the Los Angeles Lakers. With a clean slate, the team had the opportunity to create a unique identity and fan experience and the franchise naturally wanted to define what game presentation looks like in the building.
Sanders, who joined the team in October 2024, was tasked with designing and managing the entire lighting program. Initially brought on to run the moving light and sport light system, he quickly expanded his role to oversee all programming and design: in-game lighting, hype moments, halftime, team-related performances, and even the architectural lighting that defines the arena’s exterior.
“With a basketball arena, something that makes us different is the impact we want to provide as far as the fan experience,” Sanders explained, noting that while many venues lean heavily on ballyhoos, they aim to create a more theatrical atmosphere. “We take you on a journey and give you an immersive light show experience.”
The Need for an Upgrade
The original moving light system, purchased in 2019 but installed just before the Dome’s opening, was already showing its age. Dust from ongoing construction, worn-out lamps, and outdated LED technology left the fixtures dull and unreliable.
“When I came in, the system just didn’t have the punch or reliability we needed,” said Sanders. “Lighting technology, especially beam quality and LED technology, had really advanced since 2019. We needed something that could cut through sports lighting, look great on camera, and hold up in a high-pressure environment.”
Elation and JRLX
Determined to find the right solution, Sanders organized demos and shootouts with leading manufacturers. He quickly gravitated toward IP-rated fixtures and Elation, working closely with John Dunn of Elation and Jason Reberski of JRLX to identify fixtures that could meet the Dome’s demands. “I’ve worked with Jason Reberski at JRLX for years and he has a great rapport with the Elation team. If we need his assistance in any way, he is always there and was a great help on this project.”
Gear That Can Cut Through
Sanders conducted shootouts with the court lights on so he could see what looks good with deep colors, textures, and patterns. “There aren’t a lot of ‘lights out’ moments so we need gear that can cut through. That was a tough test, but the Elation gear pushed through.”
In just one week in February, the team replaced 200 aging fixtures with 208 units, all mounted on the arena’s signature Halo—a double-sided, circular LED scoreboard that dominates the center of the arena.
- 60 PROTEUS MAXIMUS
- 40 PROTEUS HYBRID MAX
- 28 PULSE PANEL FX
- 24 PULSE BAR S
- 16 FUZE WASH 500
- 12 NETRON RP2
- 12 ADJ Focus Flex L7
- 8 ADJ Jolt Panel FX IP
With the Halo scoreboard serving as the mounting point for every fixture and the only access via rope or boom lift, reliability was essential with most fixtures IP-rated for maintenance purposes. “The gear is built like a tank. I’ve never had an issue with the equipment,” Sanders affirms. “The quality, the support, the reliability—it’s all there.”
The rig now enables the designer to create multiple layers of effects with fans more fully immersed and part of the action. “There’s nothing this rig can’t do,” he says. The entertainment lighting is designed to work with the video content playing on the Halo, audio, effects, etc. for maximum fan engagement.
The Debut: A Pivotal Moment
The impact was immediate. At the first game with the new system, Clippers’ management instantly noticed the difference.
“There’s an intro video about the Intuit Dome, and we programmed the lights to sync perfectly,” Sanders recalls. “We started with a water ripple effect in blue across the court and lower bowl using the MAXIMUS and HYBRID MAX animation with a blue glass gobo. When the lights came up, a bold red, white, and blue display took over. Seeing those saturated beams carry across the arena and register on camera was incredible. Fans were wowed, and I was told that management was blown away by how it transformed the space. That was a pivotal moment.”
A Cutting-Edge Rig
The installation includes 60 PROTEUS MAXIMUS fixtures, a versatile powerhouse capable of spot, profile, and framing functions. According to Sanders, he can now project a red pattern onto the court that remains clearly visible even with the arena’s sports lighting on—something the original system couldn’t achieve.
The 40 PROTEUS HYBRID MAX units deliver the power needed, Sanders says. “The 550W lamp is so punchy. We are limited with haze in the room, but the beam is still so powerful in whites and reds and blues,” the team colors he needs for the Clippers.
With 28 multi-functional PULSE PANEL FX units, he can bathe the entire arena in bold colors or use them for strobe or eye-candy effects. Sanders crafts dynamic back-and-forth movements and takes advantage of the fixtures’ continuous 360° pan and spin, often deploying them during the teams’ first run-outs. In one standout look, as beam fixtures create lines chasing each other from the entryway to halfcourt in Clippers blue, he positions the PULSE units half tilted inward, half outward with the spin effect, producing a rolling motion reminiscent of a bouncing basketball.
The 24 linear PULSE BAR S units tilt inward and are primarily used for visual flair. They can be used to create pixel effects, wash the court in color, or add strobe effects.
Of the 16 FUZE WASH 500 LED Fresnel moving heads, Sanders says they are his favorite units. “Because we do a lot of presentation-style lighting, I need to illuminate the court like a stage and ensure it looks great on camera. Skin tones, makeup, costumes, outfits—everything has to look perfect for broadcast. With this fixture’s high CRI and excellent color mixing, I can achieve the ideal color temperature right from the front of the light. It fills a niche, and we use it sparingly, but it’s a beautiful light.”
“That’s what I love about Elation,” the designer sums up. “Profile, hybrid, strobe, effects or eye-candy—they had a fixture for everything I needed.”
Smart Building, Smart Lighting
The rig also plays a role in interactive fan features. The arena features integrated LED lighting and interactive elements in the seats, developed by PixMob. Each seat includes a game controller, and one popular game is a guess-the-color challenge called the Mentalist. During breaks, the lights dim, and the arena is washed in the winning color using the PULSE PANEL FX, PULSE BARs and ADJ Jolt Panels at full intensity. “It’s always a fun moment,” Sanders shares.
For the designer, Elation was a natural fit for Intuit Dome itself. “This is a smart building, one of the most technologically advanced arenas in the world and Elation mirrors that same commitment to innovation,” Sanders said. “That was a big proponent for choosing Elation. It was a good fit.”
JRLX’s Jason Reberski adds, “Having worked previously on several large arena projects, it was an honor to be a part of the Intuit Dome’s success. It is truly an impressive building and Robert’s design prowess is unparalleled. Elation’s support has been stellar, and the new lighting rig is one of the most impactful arena rigs anywhere in the country!”
Beyond Clippers games, the system supports concerts and special events. Visiting shows inherit a professional-grade lighting rig that’s both powerful and flexible.
“We’ve built a system that can deliver energy and emotion every night,” Sanders concludes. “Fans don’t just watch a Clippers game; they’re part of the experience.”
About JRLX
JRLX provides systems integration, sales, touring production, lighting, and visual solutions with top-notch support on a national scale—an industry-leading company focused on bespoke solutions, technical excellence, and customer support. www.JRLXinc.com.
About Elation
At Elation, we collaborate with leading professionals in the lighting industry to help bring extraordinary experiences to life. As a designer and manufacturer of a wide range of high-performance entertainment lighting products, we’re proud to be a trusted partner to top lighting professionals and rental houses around the world. Our commitment to quality, innovation, and creative solutions has made us a go-to resource in the industry. We also offer an advanced line of lighting control products through Obsidian Control Systems, and a full range of dependable specialty effects called Magmatic. Elation serves clients worldwide through offices in Los Angeles, Mexico City, and the Netherlands. We invite you to take a closer look at elationlighting.com.
