Cree IG Series LED Lighting Transforms Parking Garage Experience for American Airlines Center Fans

DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

American Airlines Center, the Dallas area's premier sports and entertainment arena, selected Cree, Inc. CREE lighting to provide a better lighting experience for fans as they enter and exit the world-class arena. Cree^® IG Series LED luminaires were chosen to replace the high-pressure sodium and metal halide light fixtures in its parking garages, establishing a welcome first impression with improved light quality that enhances visitors' sense of security, safety and comfort. The arena's switch to Cree LED parking garage lighting will generate an anticipated 66 percent reduction in energy consumption and $1.26 million in energy savings annually.

Located in the Victory Park neighborhood near downtown Dallas, American Airlines Center features a façade of brick, granite and limestone to fit the aesthetic of the area. In aligning with the arena's mission, American Airlines Center sought a parking structure lighting solution that would create an inviting atmosphere and enhance visitor's feelings of security while reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs.

"American Airlines Center has set the precedent for superior sporting and live entertainment events in the area since 2001," said Leroy Juel, American Airlines Center master electrician. "The fan experience begins and ends in a parking garage for us, so the lighting has to look fantastic, perform exceptionally and enhance the feeling of safety and security in the space."

The space's original system contained 150-watt high pressure sodium and 175-watt metal halide fixtures that cast inconsistent colors and uneven illumination, causing deep shadows in corners and between cars throughout the deck. Cree replaced these products with 66-watt IG Series luminaires for a test installation, which demonstrated a significantly improved lighting experience right away.

Today, American Airlines Center's parking facilities are illuminated by 782 Cree IG Series LED luminaires with WaveMax^® Technology. The IG Series addresses challenges particular to parking garages. WaveMax Technology offers an unparalleled lighting experience by distributing visually comfortable light with exceptional uniformity, high efficiency, precise control and design appeal. The breakthrough waveguide technology banishes shadows by distributing light below the fixture and around the perimeter to create well-lit, welcoming space.

Please visit: http://lighting.cree.com/american-airlines-center to read the full case study and view images of the installation.

About Cree

Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, lighting products and semiconductor products for power and radio frequency (RF) applications. Cree believes in better light experiences and is delivering new innovative LED technology that transforms the way people experience light through high-quality interior and exterior LED lighting solutions.

Cree's product families include LED lighting systems and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and RF devices. Cree's products are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, electronic signs and signals, power supplies and inverters.

This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including the risk that actual savings and lifetimes will vary from expectations; the risk we may be unable to manufacture these new products with sufficiently low cost to offer them at competitive prices or with acceptable margins; the risk we may encounter delays or other difficulties in ramping up production of our new products; customer acceptance of our new products; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Cree's products obsolete; and other factors discussed in Cree's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 26, 2016, and subsequent filings.

Please refer to www.cree.com for additional product and Company information.

Cree^® and WaveMax^® are registered trademarks of Cree, Inc. American Airlines Center^® is a registered trademark of American Airlines, Inc.

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