European football stadiums and renewable energy

This study applies diffusion of innovation theory to examine the adoption of renewable energy sources and the achievement of carbon neutrality among top professional football stadiums in Europe. Sport stadiums are among the most energy-intensive buildings in cities and increasingly face pressure to reduce their environmental impact.

The authors analyzed 323 football stadiums from major European leagues across Germany, England, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and the Netherlands. They examined renewable energy adoption patterns, carbon neutrality status, and the influence of factors such as stadium age, ownership type, country, and local competition.

Among the 305 facilities with available data, 42% had adopted at least one renewable energy source by 2024, with solar energy emerging as the dominant technology. Only 22% of facilities with known status had achieved carbon neutrality, and the diffusion model predicted full renewable energy saturation across European football stadiums by 2059. Newly built stadiums and facilities located in Germany, the United Kingdom, and France were significantly more likely to adopt renewable energy and achieve carbon neutrality.

The findings suggest that renewable energy adoption in sport is progressing but remains relatively slow, highlighting the importance of stronger policy support, retrofit incentives, and industry-wide sustainability standards. The authors argue that sport organizations, facility managers, and governing bodies can accelerate carbon neutrality by investing in energy-efficient infrastructure, expanding renewable energy use, and improving knowledge-sharing across the industry.

CITE: Seifried, C. S., Wanless, L., & Kellison, T. (2026). The Use of Renewable Energy in Prominent City Buildings: A Diffusion Study on Top European Football Organizations. Business Strategy and the Environment. DOI: 10.1002/bse.70695