Solar Power in Sports and Entertainment (2025) | 8MSolar
Venues and events powered by solar energy enjoy reduced operating costs and improved reliability. The technology''s continued evolution promises even greater advantages
Sports arenas and stadiums are massive venues that typically host more than 65,000 spectators per game, which can result in up to 10 megawatts (MW) of electricity used every game. To put that into perspective, 10 MW of solar electricity is enough to power more than 1,700 homes.
Last year, more than 40 million Americans attended a solar-powered sporting event, according to new analysis from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The research shows that the NFL may have the highest percentage of stadiums with solar at 32%, but MLB and the NBA don't trail far behind, tying at 30%.
Since the first edition of the BEF/NRDC Solar Guide was published, the installation of solar arrays has proliferated at professional and collegiate sports facilities. As of this writing, there are 18 solar installations at pro sports facilities in North America (11 of which were installed since 2010) and many more around the world.
A 1-megawatt (MW) installation will generate approximately 1,174,000 kilowatt hours (kWh is how electricity usage is measured on your utility bill) each year. A 1-MW system will generally require about six acres of land for 3,000 to 4,000 individual solar panels and will cost $2 million to $3 million to build.
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