ABSTRACT The present study applied the diffusion of innovation theory to investigate the rate of diffusion of renewable energy sources used by Europe's top professional football stadiums and the relationship with carbon neutrality. A discrete diffusion model estimated the diffusion of renewable energy to saturation, and a multivariate logistic regression model examined the combined effects of various influences on achieving carbon neutrality. Among the 305 facilities, we found 129 organizations (42%) adopted at least one renewable energy source, either onsite or offsite, by 2024. Of the 256 facilities for which carbon neutrality status was available, 57 (22%) were identified as reaching carbon neutrality by 2024. The diffusion model estimated full saturation of renewable energy in 2059. Regionality, compatibility, and complexity were important considerations in adopting renewable energy and achieving carbon neutrality. New stadiums were more likely to adopt renewable energy and reach carbon neutrality by 2024 during the adoption period.
Seifried et al. (Thu,) studied this question.