Changing the Game:
Keystone Transforms Lighting at
Cooperstown Dreams Park
Cooperstown, New York, is synonymous with baseball. It’s home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame—a pilgrimage site for fans and players alike.
And a few miles down the road sits Cooperstown Dreams Park, a sprawling, privately owned complex with a different mission: giving young players from around the world a chance to live out their own baseball dreams.
With thousands of players cycling through each summer, Dreams Park is one of the largest youth baseball facilities in the country, hosting weekly tournaments that bring together more than 100 teams from across the United States. The complex has more than 20 fields and a fully built-out “baseball village,” all designed to deliver a high-level playing experience for athletes 12 and under.
Dreams Park was founded in 1996, a time when metal halide lighting was dominant. But as lighting has evolved to LED, so has Dreams Park, as it has upgraded its facilities with state-of-the-art systems and materials.
To maintain that standard, the park began upgrading its field lighting systems in partnership with Drogen Electric Supply, its long-time distributor. Drogan’s choice for the field lighting: Keystone.
The Challenge:
Metal halide just wasn’t feasible anymore, said Chris Puerile, Owner and President of Drogan Electric.
“It’s almost impossible to get your hands on the ballasts, or even the lamps,” he said, noting that the system was not only aging but also increasingly impractical to maintain. Fields had to be relamped repeatedly, and the high usage of the complex—driven by a dense tournament schedule—only accelerated wear.
The environment added another layer of difficulty, both the natural world—lightning is a regular occurrence—and that of the game, in which young sluggers launch drives directly at the lights. Historically, that meant ongoing repairs and replacements, observed Jesse Ingalls, who oversees installation and maintenance for Cooperstown Dreams.
The Keystone Solution
Drogen recommended Keystone LED lighting based on prior experience with the company. Rather than commit to a full conversion of its ballpark lighting immediately, the facility adopted a phased approach, beginning with a single field.
As confidence in the system grew, the project expanded to additional fields. To date, approximately five fields have been upgraded, including the complex’s championship “TV Field,” used for marquee matchups.
The installation utilized Keystone’s 500W XFit Sports Light, a powerful stadium light capable of 70,000 lumens. Early on, installation followed a one-for-one replacement model, per Cooperstown Dreams’ direction, swapping existing metal halide fixtures with LED units. Later installations adjusted fixture counts and distribution thanks to Keystone’s complimentary lighting layouts. The layouts provided a better view of beam angles tailored to each field’s layout to match output and coverage needs.
Installation was straightforward, in part because the system was able to work with existing wiring and pole infrastructure. More importantly, Keystone’s integrated fixture design, including a detachable driver, simplified both installation and maintenance.
Ingalls decided against separating driver and lamp assembly—”If I’m going up there to work on this fixture, I want it all complete,” he said—but appreciated the convenience of having the option.
It was above and beyond of what we and the park expected.
Chris Puerile, Owner and President of Drogan Electric
The Result:
Vibrant
Bold Light
With the lower energy
usage, the 70,000-lumen
fixtures provided
outstanding light for
the Championship
Field opener.
Long Life:
Simple Maintenance
Each Sports Light fixture has
an L70 of more than 100,000
hours—at minimum, more
than 11 years of 24/7
operation.
Keystone Quality & Service
“Keystone people
always go the
extra mile,”
says distributor
Chris Puerile.
The transition to LED lighting has delivered measurable improvements.
The initial one-for-one replacements on the championship field resulted in noticeably higher brightness than anticipated, testament to the performance of the Sports Light. In response, the Cooperstown Dreams team opted to use Keystone’s lighting layouts for other fields, which led to more balanced illumination using fewer fixtures.
Either way, the lighting dazzled, especially compared to the previous metal halides, delivering strong visibility.
You’re able to read the word ‘Rawlings’ on the ball as it flies through the air.
Chris Puerile, Owner and President of Drogan Electric
Ingalls says he’s had a good experience with Keystone. “I’ve been through a pile of different companies,” he said. “I’m happy with Keystone. I try to stick to one product if it works.”
Puerile agrees.
“Keystone always focuses on quality,” he said.
Ingalls expects the fixtures to face demanding conditions. Between the weather and well-hit drives, “I go through … over 20 lenses and 20 bulbs a season” with older fixtures, he noted. “They’re going to get tested.”
Sports Light’s heavy-duty die-cast aluminum housing and IP65 rating should ensure the fixture’s endurance.
Expectations at the park are high. With teams traveling to Cooperstown from across the country and games played constantly, consistent lighting performance is essential—not only for gameplay, but for the overall experience. By starting with a limited scope and expanding based on performance, the facility has been able to transition away from aging metal halide systems while minimizing risk.
I’m happy with Keystone. I try to stick to one product if it works.
Jesse Ingalls, Cooperstown Dreams
Additional fields are planned for conversion and the upgrade is ongoing. As it continues, Keystone’s role within one of the most visible environments in youth baseball is expected to grow.
As Puerile noted, “Keystone couldn’t ask for a better place to have their name.”
Products Used:
- XFit 500W Sports Light
