I wonder how forum members feel about the incessant and intrusive light beams splattering across the night sky each night. I might feel differently if they were drawing attention to some special event, like the Luminato Festival. But they're not. To me, they are as welcome as a neighbour's loud stereo.
I think they add some excitement to the skyline by night. Searchlights are also commonly used seasonally for events at The Docks and CNE / TFC.
If they were to interfere to a great degree by shining into people's homes (as I have seen when used at Dundas Square, Pride weekend etc.) then I might be sympathetic.
In that area, I don't find them intrusive at all. As dt_toronto_geek said, as long as they're not shining into people's homes, I don't see a problem with having them on to call attention to games/events at the ACC.
In fact, I love the search lights at the CNE coming from the National Trade Centre. The CN Tower should install one on the tip of the tower pointing straight up... that would be cool!
The very tip? I don't know if that would be possible, given how often the CN Tower is struck by lightning. You would need some kind of metal lightning conductor surrounding the searchlight, which would at least partly block the light beam.
i loved the search lights that were on during LuminaTO. i thought it really gave the area something special.
the searchlights at the ACC can't be on for more than 3 or 4 hours whenever the raps or leafs are playing, so i can't see them being that big of a problem.
The very tip? I don't know if that would be possible, given how often the CN Tower is struck by lightning. You would need some kind of metal lightning conductor surrounding the searchlight, which would at least partly block the light beam.
Paris does it with the Eiffel Tower. Their light actually sweeps across the city and lights up the major tourist attractions so that way while you're in the tower you can see where Notre Dame, Scare Coeur and the Pantheon are.
Mind you, it's much easier to pull that off in Paris than it would be in Toronto due to the uniform building heights there. Here, too many buildings would get in the way, and you'd end up shining spotlights into people's condos.
