Arena lighting has improved since changes have been made. Overall lighting is better.
What's missing I think is a more direct source of light. You can tell "where" the light
is coming from in the arena but it comes across more of an "ambient" light
than a directional light.
Look at the difference in lighting in these two examples:
The first is at 2:30 in the afternoon on a clear day in the arena. Without using the shadows,
where is the sun ?? It's more of an ambient light, soft, omni directional. It isn't focused.

The second is frenchys beautiful Jug from IL-2.
There is NO question where the sun is. It's focused direct light. You could point to where it is. It's right there...

That would be a great thing to fiddle with. Something about that being "right"
makes the candy go quite far.