From college football stadiums to municipal celebrations, drone light shows are increasingly replacing traditional fireworks displays as schools and local governments look for safer, more flexible entertainment options.

The University of Arizona joined that growing trend in the fall, launching 500 drones over Casino Del Sol Stadium during a halftime show that traced the history of Arizona athletics logos in the night sky.

Similar to a recent proposal in the Village of Lansing, Michigan, where officials are considering a drone light show in place of traditional fireworks, communities like Tucson, which regularly face wildfire concerns around Fourth of July celebrations, could look to drones as a safer alternative for public events.

The UA’s “Retro Night”-themed show in September showcased the school’s logos past and present. The drones were launched from Sitton Field at the UA’s South Recreation Center, with several organizations playing a role in the production of the show.

“The goal was to share the story of the history of Arizona logos throughout the years, starting off in the 1920s and 30s with some of our more traditional logos and through the era of how our logos have changed and adapted over time,” said Director of Marketing and Fan Experience Carson Luttenegger.

Arizona Athletics coordinated with Grizzly Entertainment, which provided the drones, and with campus event management and risk management to secure approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

UA campus art director Laura Jones worked with assets provided by Arizona Athletics to shape the appearance of the images.

“I had a few vintage logos that I had sourced from the university's special collections and turned into vector shapes,” Jones said. “The rest came from our vintage art sheet that we use for the trademarks and licensing department.”

The licensing team worked with the athletics department to ensure approval of the images displayed in the aerial show.

“These are logos that some people remember from university having used them in the past, and others, like the Wilbur with a lasso, came from vintage yearbooks,” Jones said.

The timing of the show was essential in coordinating the drone movements with the school soundtrack performed by the Pride of Arizona Marching Band.

Director of Athletic Bands Chad Shoopman led 260 eager musicians in an on-field performance while an announcer introduced the logos over the stadium’s public address system as they lit up the sky, Luttenegger said.

The band’s hit tunes — “Dr. Who,” “Bear Down Arizona” and “Fight! Wildcats! Fight!” — played as drones moved in synchronized patterns overhead.

Luttenegger said the performance received positive feedback and that the Athletics Department will seek potential sponsors for future events.

“It’s definitely something that we’ll regroup about after the season and talk about if we want to continue that into next season and moving forward,” Luttenegger said.

While the UA brought drone technology to the college football field, cities and towns across the country are adopting similar displays for large-scale public celebrations.

In addition to Lansing’s potential transition from traditional fireworks to drone shows, communities in Central Florida incorporated high-tech drone shows into their New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Organizers in Portland also replaced traditional fireworks with choreographed drone light shows for New Year’s Eve celebrations, using about 250 drones to create aerial displays over Pioneer Courthouse Square. Officials said the drone shows are a safer alternative to fireworks, reducing fire risk and loud noises that can distress people and animals.

“It’s one way that we can celebrate and still have a festive experience without terrifying our pets or folks that are impacted by that sound,” Amanda Park, a senior project manager with Prosper Portland’s Portland Events and Film Office, told Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Municipalities in Arizona are also making the move, including in Pima County.

The Town of Sahuarita introduced a hybrid drone and fireworks show for its 2025 Stars and Stripes celebration, which included a synchronized performance combining high-tech drone choreography, mounted pyrotechnics and ground-level fireworks.

Town officials said the change was due to the relocation of the event site and the need to meet fire safety and fallout zone requirements. The show featured pyrotechnics launched from drones designed to complement the aerial drone choreography.

This wasn’t the town’s first time using drones, and it won’t be the last. Fiesta Sahuarita returns Saturday, April 18, and will feature a signature themed drone show after sunset.

The free, all-ages event includes more than 100 vendors, carnival rides and a food truck lineup, with the drone display serving as the evening’s finale.

With more communities experimenting with the technology, drone shows are becoming a familiar sight at everything from stadiums to citywide celebrations.

Trevor Gribble is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact him at tjgribble@arizona.edu.

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