The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events in sports, drawing millions of fans from around the world to watch the biggest game in American football. As the event continues to grow in popularity, the importance of ensuring that the host venue for the Super Bowl is sustainable and environmentally friendly becomes increasingly important, not only for the host city but also for the sports industry. You may wonder why… well it’s because sports arenas are an important part of many communities, providing a space for fans to come together and enjoy their favorite teams and athletes. However, as more attention is focused on sustainability, it’s important for these venues to take steps to reduce their environmental impact. In this short blog, we will discuss various sports arenas around the world and how they are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact.
Let’s look at State Farm Stadium, located in Glendale, Arizona, the host venue for the upcoming Super Bowl LVII. The stadium has implemented several sustainable efforts to reduce its environmental impact. For example, the stadium has a large solar panel array on its roof, which generates enough energy to power all non-game day operations, including lighting and HVAC systems. This not only reduces the stadium’s carbon footprint but also serves as an example of how renewable energy can be effectively utilized in large sports venues.
In addition to its use of solar energy, State Farm Stadium also has a comprehensive recycling program in place to minimize waste generated by the venue. The stadium encourages fans to recycle and compost during events and has bins throughout the facility to make it easy for fans to do their part in reducing waste. In result, the stadium was able to divert nearly 2.5 million pounds of waste from landfills in 2022!
There are several other sports arenas around the world that have implemented sustainable practices. Some examples include:
- The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, which is home to the Atlanta Falcons NFL team and Atlanta United FC soccer team. The stadium received LEED Platinum Certification, the first professional sports venue in USA to achieve this! LEED Platinum Certification targets renewable energy, energy reduction, water efficiency and stormwater. The stadium is equipped with 4,000 solar PV panels which generate enough energy to power all of stadium’s non-game day operation at approximately 1.6 million kilowatt hours energy per year!
- The Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the San Francisco 49ers NFL team, it was the first NFL stadium to receive LEED Gold certification, the stadium is equipped with a solar panel system that generates enough energy to power all non-game day operations and also uses reclaimed water for irrigation and to flush toilets. In addition, the stadium is located on a sustainable site with multiple avenues of public transportation and bike paths to reduce greenhouse gases.
- The Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota is the home of the Minnesota Wild NHL team, and it has implemented several sustainable efforts to reduce its environmental impact as they purchased 2.1 million kWh of Windsource for renewable energy and with their solar panel they were able to generate over 5.3 million kWh. The venue also uses energy-efficient lighting and appliances throughout the facility to further reduce its energy consumption where they were able to reduce it by 37% and encourages fans to recycle and compost during events (in 2022 they recycled and composted nearly 58% of all waste – that is nearly 450 tons!).
- The Climate Pledge Arena, formerly known as the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, is a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue that is set to become one of the most sustainable arenas in the world. This new building has ambitious goals as they strive to be fully carbon zero! The arena is designed to be carbon neutral and is the first arena in the world to achieve zero-carbon certification under the Living Building Challenge. This is achieved through a variety of sustainable features, such as a rainwater harvesting system that captures and recycles water for use in the toilets and irrigation. This water-conservative program, which includes a rainwater-to-rink system, helps to reduce water usage by up to 15,000 gallons per game, making the arena’s ice the most sustainable in the NHL. In addition, the arena is committed to becoming the first arena to eliminate 100% single-use plastic by 2024. As their recycling program, the venue instead is actively encouraging their fans to bring their own reusable water bottles and containers, instead of relying on disposable cups and bottles.
- Outside of North America we got stadiums such as the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, home of FC Bayern Munich soccer team, it is the first stadium in the world to be illuminated entirely by LED lights, which consume up to 60% less electricity than conventional floodlights. The stadium also uses geothermal energy to heat and cool the building – are 30 to 35% lower versus other comparable arenas. The arena also has a rainwater harvesting system that captures and recycles water for use in the toilets and irrigation!
- The Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, home of the Irish rugby team, features a rainwater harvesting system, and uses natural ventilation to reduce the need for air conditioning, and it also has a green roof. Aviva announced their ambitious goal to be net zero by 2040! You can find Avia’s sustainability ambition here.
These are a few examples of sports arenas around the globe that have implemented sustainable practices. It’s clear that many sports teams and organizations are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact and be more sustainable in their operations. As mentioned, to reduce their environmental impact, arenas can invest in renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy. They can also reduce waste by implementing recycling and composting programs, reducing single-use plastics, and encouraging fans to bring reusable water bottles and containers. Additionally, arenas can promote sustainable transportation options, such as public transportation, biking, and carpooling, and lead the way in sustainable design and construction using environmentally friendly materials. By taking these steps, sports arenas can make a positive impact on the environment and their communities.