Bandit Lites Illuminates Neyland Stadium with Tribute in Light for 25th Anniversary of 9/11Knoxville's Neyland Stadium became the setting for the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, as Bandit Lites provided a large-scale Tribute in Light honoring the lives lost and the enduring spirit of those affected by the tragedy. Two columns of light representing the Twin Towers rose above the stadium, offering a moment of reflection before the University of Tennessee's game-day festivities. The idea for the tribute originated with Bandit Lites founder and owner Michael Strickland, who reached out directly to University of Tennessee athletic director Danny White. White immediately embraced the idea. UT associate athletic director Jimmy Delany took the lead, coordinating the many details necessary to bring the vision to life. Behind the scenes, Bandit's Alex Becker served as lighting director for the event, with Giff Swart acting as Bandit crew chief. "Twenty-five years later, the significance of September 11 is still deeply felt," Strickland says. "We wanted to create something simple, powerful, and respectful: two beams of light rising above Neyland as a reminder of the lives lost, the people who stepped forward to help, and the strength that followed. It's an honor for Bandit to work with the University of Tennessee to bring this tribute to life." Bandit provides lighting and production support for UT's game-day experience, including the stadium's light shows. The scale of Neyland Stadium presented a unique technical challenge: creating beams powerful enough to maintain their definition and visual impact across one of the largest stadiums in the country. "We selected the Ayrton EagleStrike because its intensity and tightly defined beam could hold its shape across the enormous scale of Neyland Stadium," says Bandit Lites chief technology officer Jake Tickle. "Using two groups of five fixtures allowed us to create two powerful columns of light, a respectful and unmistakable tribute to the Twin Towers." 
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