Sustainable energy provider NRG Energy has become a founding partner of the San Francisco 49ers’ new 68,500-seater Santa Clara Stadium.
The deal, agreed between NRG, the 49ers and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, will also see NRG become the National Football League (NFL) franchise’s exclusive sustainable energy provider. As such, the New Jersey-headquartered company will install a number of solar elements around the stadium and training centre, intended to make the US$1.2 billion stadium ‘the first professional sports venue in California to achieve a net zero energy performance.’
In addition, according to an official press release, NRG will ‘continue to explore other opportunities to help enhance the stadium’s sustainability efforts such as installing electrical vehicle charging stations to the new stadium.’
The exact durational and financial terms of the deal were not released however it is likely to have a significant multi-million dollar value.
“NRG is much more than a founding partner, they are providing the energy leadership, infrastructure and expertise to help us achieve the vision of making the new Santa Clara Stadium an economically and environmentally sustainable showcase for innovation,” said Jed York, chief executive, San Francisco 49ers. “As we strive to build a stadium that embodies all that is unique and special about both the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, this partnership with NRG will make very lofty goals become realities.”
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“The 49ers are not only one of the leading and most successful franchises in the history of the NFL, they have also been for decades community leaders in the Bay Area and with the entire 49ers fan base,” said David Crane, president and chief executive of NRG Energy. “Today and going forward, we are honoured to support the 49ers as they extend their off-the-field community leadership into the critically important arena of clean and sustainable energy and NRG is proud to partner with the San Francisco 49ers and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority in the pursuit of another milestone, the LEED certification of their new stadium.”
NRG Energy joins German multinational software corporation SAP AG and data storage company Violin Memory as a founding partner, while Sony became the 49ers’ official consumer electronics partner in December.
Construction is underway on the stadium, which is scheduled to open next year.
49ers Santa Clara Stadium – NRG Energy
