An unusual pink glow has caught the attention of residents in Greater Manchester over the past few nights, sparking widespread speculation about its origins. Initially mistaken for the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), the mysterious phenomenon turned out to be far from natural.
The pink glow that has been spotted over Bolton and Manchester is caused by LED lights used for pitch maintenance at Manchester City's stadiums - the Etihad and Joie Stadium - as well as the Toughsheet Community Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers.
Bolton's head of grounds, Chris Simm, explained to BBC Manchester that it is modern technology used to improve the quality of the grass.
"There were a few smiles when we heard about the Northern Lights rumours, but the lighting above the stadium is just part of our job," said Simm.
He explained that grass needs light and heat to carry out the photosynthesis process, while the high stands of stadiums, although offering excellent views for fans, block the natural rays of the sun.
“Shade is our biggest enemy. We first focus on the most worn areas of the pitch, such as the goal and the warm-up areas, before treating the entire pitch, especially when temperatures drop,” he added.
According to Simm, modern demands on the quality of pitches are extremely high and without these devices it would be impossible to guarantee a surface suitable for professional football every week.
“We are essentially creating a summer day in the middle of a Lancashire winter,” he concluded.
The pink lighting comes as a result of updated LED technology, as recent studies have shown that the most effective combination of colors to mimic sunlight produces precisely this characteristic hue. /Express newspaper
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