It seems the whole world is behind the effort to make sure everything we do is sustainable for future generations. Every bit of energy we use is being accounted for, even more so after experiencing the energy crisis over the last year.
Football is no different, and football stadiums have joined the battle of becoming self-sufficient, with some even going ‘fully green'. Sceptics will say it is just a ploy to keep on the good side of the public, with some being dismayed by the amount of money spent on the modern game.
That being said, any move to having sustainable football stadiums is a good one, no matter what the motive is for the clubs. Here are a few of the stadiums around the world that have already started going green.
The fight against football clubs flying to matches
While the clubs listed below are all doing their bit to become more sustainable via various stadium gimmicks and initiatives, some of them are also guilty of undoing their good work by chartering fights for domestic football matches.
There has been a push in England over the past couple of seasons to pressure clubs into stopping these flights. The argument is that a three-hour train journey really isn't the end of the world and that 40-minute flights across the country are completely unjustified, particularly when you consider the environmental implications.
In August 2023, Pledgeball launched the Sustainable Travel Charter alongside the Football Supporters Association. The Charter seeks to help provide guidance to clubs on the most sustainable ways to travel to domestic matches and so far nine clubs in the EFL have signed up to the scheme.
At the time of its launch, the CEO of Pledgeball, Katie Cross, said:
“Football clubs’ reliance on short-haul flights is a thorn in the side of their wider sustainability strategies. This Charter seeks to address the elephant in the room and help clubs incorporate more sustainable travel practices into their operations and lead by example in showing fans and the public that climate action means walking the talk.”
Sustainable football stadiums
Amsterdam Arena – Ajax (Netherlands)
The Netherlands is known for its windmills, but that's not what powers the Amsterdam Arena; a modern wind turbine and 4,200 solar panels do the job.
The stadium has also installed an energy storage system powered by second-hand batteries from used electric cars. This xStorage system not only powers the stadium but also generates power for nearby neighbourhoods.
Other energy-saving moves made by the club include collecting rainwater from the stadium rooftop and using it to water the grass on the pitch. Residual heat is also used to ensure frost is not an issue during the winter months, meaning no additional energy is used.
The club also offers discounts on train tickets to match-goers while encouraging the use of electric cars by having charging ports in the stadium car park.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atalanta United (USA)
MLS club Atlanta United plays at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, one which prides itself on its sustainability and low energy usage. The stadium uses 29% less energy than most other stadiums worldwide.
How does it do this? It uses LED lighting and has 4,000 rooftop solar panels. They are involved in numerous renewable energy projects, making it one of the leading stadiums in the effort to become greener.
Sports fans who attend the stadium are encouraged to walk or cycle, and charging ports for electric cars are also available.
The New Lawn – Forest Green Rovers (England)
Forest Green Rovers are well-known in the footballing world for their green innovations, supporting projects such as vegan-based food on matchdays and removing red meat from the menu. Even their name would suggest that they are an eco-friendly club! The New Lawn stadium is one of the most energy-sufficient stadiums in the country.
While the stadium was not always like this, it underwent a huge refit of eco-technology, and now 10% of the electricity usage comes from its 180 solar panels.
It also has the weird but proud achievement of being the first British football club to use a robot lawn mower and to use rainwater collected from under the pitch for irrigation.
Forest Green Rovers are moving into a new eco-friendly stadium. Read more about it here.
The Princes Park Stadium – Dartford FC (England)
Staying in England, we visit another of the country's most eco-friendly stadiums. The Princes Park Stadium, located in Kent and used by lower league side Dartford FC, looks like a garden centre.
The stadium's roof is known as a ‘living roof', with a filtration system and solar panels installed. Rainwater is also collected and stored in lakes and used to water the pitch all year round. It is recognised as the UK's first sustainable purpose-built small stadium, and it only cost £6.5 million to build.
Maracana – Fluminense FC (Brazil)
The Maracana in Brazil is a well-known stadium for its brilliant samba-style atmosphere, but it is also very eco-friendly. FIFA used it as an experiment to show what a huge stadium would look like if it were to go green, installing 1,500 solar panels and a rainwater pitch irrigation system.
One weird fact about the Maracana is that the urinals in the bathroom only pump as much water as they are supposed to, based on the number of people who have entered the stadium. The new eco-friendly technology that was installed cost $390 million.
Throughout the world, football clubs are trying to progress in how their stadiums use energy and thinking of new ways to save on usage whilst making sustainable football stadiums. Projects in places like China, Saudi Arabia, and the US are underway to install new technology into stadiums. Will Premier League clubs follow suit and become more eco-friendly in the future? Let's hope so.
Oxford United New Electric Stadium – Oxford, UK
From the Manor Ground to Kassam Stadium in 2001, Oxford United are once again looking into the future beyond 2026 when they expected to move to a new electric ground. The contract lease of Kassam Stadium is set to expire in 2026 and there is no option to renew.
The New Oxf0rd United all-electric Stadium will be the first of its kind in the UK. Plans are underway to make it a 16,000-capacity venue, ostensibly an increase of 3,500 seats. The stadium is also said to have a conference centre, wellness and health centres, and a 180-bed hotel.
Oxford’s contract with the Kassam Stadium expires in 2026, and with no option to renew the lease, the club has confirmed that it is planning to move to a brand-new stadium. The electric stadium should be available ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Tottenham Hotspur New Stadium – London
The stadium is situated in London and has been dubbed one of the best green sporting arenas in the world today. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was completed in 2019, and the environmental impact was a key consideration in the details. It is a host stadium for the 2028 European Championship.
Today, Tottenham Hotspur New Stadium is regarded as the greenest EPL stadium, thanks to 100% renewable energy usage, with zero emissions. Water filters through the solar screens in the Tottenham New Stadium and is later channelled to the washrooms.
Allianz Riviera-Nice, France
Football stadiums worldwide are embracing green architecture, and Allianz Riviera, home ground to Nice in France, is one exceptional example. The stadium cost 250 million Euros to construct and features 3D lamellar wood structures and solar energy usage. Wind energy is tapped from the surrounding valley, and rainwater is used, including a geothermal energy plant used during cold seasons.
Kaohsiung World Stadium -Taiwan
Kaohsiung World Stadium in Taiwan, built in 2009 to host IX World Games, is a perfect example of a futurist sporting arena embracing green energy and architecture. Often referred to as World Games Stadium, the Tanaipei National Team stadium boasts total sustainability, thanks to the materials used to construct it such as wood, and photovoltaic panels.
The solar panels provide 75% of the stadium's energy needs, with the Taiwanese government selling about 1.14 million kWh of the energy produced at the sporting facility to third parties.