Sharks with Laser Beams at NeylandOur Dark Mode Show for Tennessee Football

On Saturday night, November 7, Neyland Stadium went dark for Tennessee’s Dark Mode game against Kentucky. Then 101,915 fans watched the field come alive in laser light. It was one of the proudest nights in our company’s history, and we are grateful to the University of Tennessee for trusting us with one of the great stadiums in the world.

We mounted two rooftop Lightwave Laser arrays at the 50-yard line: 2,400 watts of laser power aimed at a single field. From those two positions the entire field, end zone to end zone, reads as one canvas. Across it we drew DARK MODE, the Power T, end-zone-style checkerboards, the Tennessee flag, ROCKY TOP, General Neyland’s maxim “Carry the fight,” the line “I will give my all to Tennessee today,” and a checkerboard Tennessee. Then came the sharks. Tennessee assembled the soundtrack, opening with Metallica’s “One.”

We pitched Tennessee two directions: a more abstract design, or sharks with laser beams, and let them choose. “When they picked the sharks, I cheered and clapped in an otherwise very professional meeting,” said George Dodworth of Lightwave International.

The sharks are drawn on the field from a 3D model, so they move like sharks, not cartoons. Then they do exactly what Dr. Evil always wanted: they fire actual, functional laser beams across the stadium, over the heads of more than 100,000 people. These are not drawings of laser beams. They are the real thing. The extreme power of our bespoke laser projectors and our patented new laser techniques made them readable even in daylight. Watch the full show: Sharks with Laser Beams at Neyland.

Every cue in the show was programmed in Lightwave Studio, the software we built in-house. We had about two weeks from the green light to show night.

We produced the show with our partners at Volt Live: Matt Elefant, Duke Barnett, and Greg Crossey. We are grateful to them for building this night with us. Lasers were one part of a bigger night, and we are proud to share Neyland with Bandit Lites on lighting, Pyro Shows on pyrotechnics, and Coca-Cola Consolidated, which helped bring the Dark Mode light show to life. Thank you to Tennessee Athletics and its marketing and fan experience team for the trust and the creative freedom.

The Risk That Gave the Sharks Their Lasers

Tennessee approved the sharks, and we drew them, and we loved how clever they were. But the day before the show came a bigger idea: what if actual, functional laser beams shot from their heads?

On the day before the show, we were fully set up, aligned, and focused, essentially show-ready. But that afternoon I had a profound idea that challenged how we operate every show. It was a huge risk, but I decided to completely reconfigure the laser rig. It meant excruciating hours of realignment and new programming. It's also the genesis of the sharks with functional laser beams.

As the sun rose over Neyland on game day, I still wasn't ready, and I was regretting my decision to disturb an otherwise beautiful show. But as the sun continued to rise, I realized the lasers were still perfectly visible on Neyland's turf, so work continued. The punch list grew shorter, and the sharks with laser beams came to life there in broad sunlight. I could see the effect of the beams even in the sunlight, but they had never been seen in darkness.

My reaction at night, when the show took place and I saw it for the first time, will be difficult to match again. I'm so grateful for a team that believes in me and allowed me to take these creative risks. I hope they are just as happy as I am!

— George Dodworth, Lightwave International

Laser shows are no longer only for nighttime. The extreme power of our bespoke laser projectors and our patented new laser techniques made these beams readable even in daylight. The photos below were taken in the final hours of setup and focus, as the sun was rising over the stadium.

Darkness still hits harder, and the full show belongs to the night. But daylight visibility opens new doors for sponsors and storytelling shows. Full show video: watch on YouTube.

Special thanks to Alex Becker of Bandit Lites, who programmed the stadium light show, and to Bandit Lites for generously donating the lights.

Special thanks to Jimmy Delaney, Associate Athletics Director | Marketing and Fan Experience at Tennessee Athletics, who led this partnership from the first creative brief through game day; to Jess Roseberry of Tennessee Athletics for keeping the multi-partner coordination on track; to Evan Ford, Director of Branding and Design at 151 Creative, whose brand work helped shape the look of the show; to Gary Topmiller, Director of Creative Video at Tennessee Athletics, and his amazing media team for capturing the show and documenting the behind-the-scenes build; to James Barr Jr., Senior Associate Athletics Director of Facilities & Event Operations, Kyle Koncar, Assistant Athletics Director for Facilities, and Matt Bedenbaugh, Associate Director of Athletic Facilities, for welcoming us onto Neyland’s rooftops; and to Carter Mills of Tennessee Athletics for working alongside us on show night.