Assuming, of course, there will be bumpers for 2013?
It is an interesting idea, but yeah, the number area of the bumper is a high-impact area. You are thinking between the pool noodle and the cloth? Just a square EL, or cutting out for the shape of the numbers? (That might be a wiring nightmare!)
I'm also wondering how much brighter the EL will be under the field lights? Will it really show up?
I'm just thinking back to 2009's field grounding issues -- imagining an EL panel not quite sealed hitting a field point -- zzzzzzap!