Solar in Sports: Super Bowl LVII Goes Solar

As millions of football fans gather around their screens for the biggest game of the year, it's important to note that the Kansas City and Philadelphia teams have a unique quality: their stadiums are powered by the sun. In fact, this is the fifth time in the history of the Super Bowl that both teams have solar-powered stadiums.

According to recent data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), more than 40 million Americans attended a solar-powered sporting event in the last year. The NFL leads the way with 32% of its stadiums powered by the sun, followed closely by the MLB and the NBA at 30%. These massive venues consume a huge amount of energy, with up to 10 megawatts of electricity used per game, which is enough to power over 1,700 homes for it's duration. Solar panels are helping sports teams cut down on electricity costs and reduce emissions.

The solar powered soccer stadium at America First Field where Real Salt Lake play. Photo courtesy of Real Salt Lake.

Currently, 47 major league teams in America have solar panels, which is about one-third of all teams SEIA tracked. President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Abigail Ross Hopper says:

“By 2032, there will be five times the amount of solar that’s installed today, which is enough electricity to power every home east of the Mississippi River. People in every zip code will be breathing cleaner air and working in stable, family-supporting clean energy careers."

As the clean energy revolution continues to gain momentum, it's likely that even more teams will invest in renewable energy in the coming years. This year's Super Bowl is not just a historic moment for the sport of football, but also for the power of solar energy.

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