Rio Tinto Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake as well as the USL Real Monarchs, announced a partnership with Auric Solar to install the State of Utah’s largest privately-owned solar array at the world-class Sandy venue.
Rio Tinto Stadium’s 2,020-kW system of solar panels installed on existing stadium structure as well as new covered parking areas nearby will offset 73% of Real Salt Lake’s total annual stadium power needs–the largest offset in North American professional sports. The ambitious project expected to be completed in six months and operational in October 2015.
“We are partnering with Auric Solar to increase our power efficiency while hosting more than 50 massive events each year in Sandy,” said RSL and Monarchs Owner Dell Loy Hansen. “The new solar covered parking structures will improve the quality of parking options for our 15,000+ season ticket holders and provide our state and the surrounding environment with the largest solar energy offset for any U.S. professional sports venue.”
The environmental impact of the new solar array carries the equivalent of removing 450 cars from the road, or planting 47,278 trees annually.
“This project will put Real Salt Lake at the forefront of energy production in all of professional sports,” said Jess Phillips, principal of Auric Solar. “Auric Solar is helping the club harness the power of the sun to reduce its power consumption on a grand scale. It is impressive and ambitious to see the organization’s commitment to the community and environment.”
“Auric Solar’s expertise make them the perfect partners to make Rio Tinto Stadium energy self-sufficient, while also improving the fan experience with the addition of covered and lit parking,” said Andy Carroll, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for RSL. “Our unique ability to assist Auric Solar in building brand awareness, both locally and across the industry, makes this partnership fully-integrated, mutually-beneficial, and uniquely symbiotic. The entire Auric team–led by founders Trent Vansice and Jess Phillips–consists of great people, providing all of the ingredients for an exceptional long-term partnership.”
Nearly 95% of the solar array (made up of 6,414 solar panels) will be installed on new solar-covered parking structures, including an entirely new parking lot on the north side of the stadium.
Auric Solar at Rio Tinto Stadium Fact Sheet
- 6,414 solar panels at 315 watts each (2.02 MW)
- 94% of the system installed on new solar-covered parking structures (South, South West and North of venue)
- System will offset 73% of the stadium’s power needs, the largest solar offset for any professional sports stadium in North America
- Rio Tinto Stadium will boast the 4th-largest solar array of any professional sports stadium in North America
- No. 5: FedEx Field, 2,000 kW (Landover, Md.)
- No. 4: Rio Tinto Stadium, 2,020 kW (Salt Lake City, Utah)
- No. 3: Pocono Raceway, 3,000 kW (Blakeslee, Pa.)
- No. 2: Lincoln Financial Field, 3,000 kW (Philadelphia, Pa.)
- No. 1: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 9,000 kW (Speedway, Ind.)
- Rio Tinto Stadium will now own the largest solar array in Major League Soccer–double the size of Gillette Stadium’s 1,000-kW array in Foxborough, Mass.
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