Super Bowl LVIII Becomes First NFL Game to Use 100 Percent Carbon-Free Energy

Super Bowl LVIII has come and gone but the world is still talking about it. Well, at least one city is, and one is trying to forget. The big game will go down as a historic event for several reasons, much to the National Football League’s (NFL) pleasure. Super Bowl LVIII became the most-watced telecast of all time with 123.4 million viewers, it made for a global stage for a budding, unescapable mega-star relationship, and was the first football game to be powered by 100% renewable, carbon-free energy (CFE).

Powered by a concerted effort aimed at reducing its environmental impact, the Las Vegas Raiders successfully transitioned Allegiant Stadium, the venue that hosted Super Bowl LVIII, to rely solely on 100% CFE. NZero, a real-time data and decarbonization platform, has independently verified this fact. This is made possible because the stadium is powered by more than 621,000 solar panels located across the Nevada desert.

Despite initial projections estimating a consumption of 28 MWh of electricity during the championship game—equivalent to the power usage of 46,052 households (according to NZero) watching a four-hour game—NZero's validation revealed that due to the stadium's complete reliance on CFE, the event resulted in zero electricity-associated emissions.

Collaborating closely with NZero, the Las Vegas Raiders, and Allegiant Stadium consistently reported and planned their net-zero strategies, incorporating validation of energy and emissions data along with insights for their decarbonization initiatives. This partnership aimed to usher in a new era of sustainability in sports, where sustainability and business practices harmonized rather than conflicted.

"Football's biggest game is one of the most anticipated and exciting events of the year, but we must consider the lasting impacts these celebrated moments have on the environment and communities—and all decarbonization journeys must start with continuous measurement, benchmarking, and better data," said Adam Kramer, CEO of NZero.

"The sustainability ambitions of the Raiders and Allegiant Stadium leadership teams are commendable. We're helping these organizations monitor their decarbonization plans on game days and off days, by the hour, and across Scopes, all to help them reach their goal of net zero. Hosting an event on our country's largest stage powered by 100% CFE is a culmination of years' worth of efforts, and we are proud to be their partner in this achievement,” he added.

Just like in football, milestone achievements aren’t accomplished alone. Kickstarting this successful endeavor was a 25-year energy supply agreement forged between the Raiders and NV Energy. Commencing in October 2023, this agreement solidified the commitment to power not only at Allegiant Stadium but also the Raiders' administrative facilities and the Henderson practice facility with 100% CFE.

NZero's real-time tracking of energy and emissions provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of emissions reduction efforts, both before and after the NV Energy agreement. The Raiders organization witnessed a 15% reduction in carbon emissions across all three scopes in 2022, a figure that escalated to 30% following the implementation of the NV Energy agreement in 2023. Projections for 2024 indicate a remarkable 68% reduction in emissions, largely attributable to the stadium's renewable energy source.

"This achievement marks a new era for sustainability in sports, but it would not be possible without a firm handle on our emissions and energy data alongside a decarbonization roadmap. Better, real-time data is helping us create a greener future for football on our home turf while setting a new standard for other stadiums, venues, and events on the world stage," said Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of The Las Vegas Raiders.

"Allegiant and our team are making a remarkable step forward, but sustainability is a team sport and has required the commitment and support of our partners, fans, and the local community. We appreciate NZero's crucial role as a trusted advisor as we seek to drive change that helps the planet and inspires other organizations."

Super Bowl LVIII also benefited from the Raiders and Allegiant Stadium’s waste diversion program, recognized by the Green Sports Alliance with its Play to Zero Award. Back in July of 2023, Allegiant Stadium was awarded the LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for its achievement in green building design paired with environmental sustainability.

Along with the success of CFE utilization, the Super Bowl celebrated food and agriculture efforts. The Super School Meals initiative was completed at Super Bowl LVIII which provided grants for school nutrition equipment packages to over 58 needy Nevada schools. This program is helping over 40,000 students (almost 11 million meals) tackle food insecurity.