Arenas are often thought of as purely functional places: music venues, expos, or places where athletes come face to face and where competition is encouraged.
But what if there are more of these places? What if they could also lead new innovations?
That’s exactly what the Johan Cruyff Stadium will do on August 11, 2024, when its home football team Ajax hosts rivals Heerenveen in a match run entirely on renewable energy.
By using the stadium’s solar panels to power two super cells and wind turbines, the stadium’s lights, escalators, beer taps and tunnel lighting are all powered by clean energy.
“Not only are we working hard to make the entire stadium more sustainable, but we’re also working hard to educate our supporters,” Johan Cruyff Stadium CEO Tanja Dik told CNBC’s Converge.
The stadium’s long-term goal is to achieve net positive earnings by 2030, not just from matches but also concerts and other events. The Johan Cruyff Stadium says it has created a green ecosystem through collaboration with a number of partners, including Ajax Football Club and the City of Amsterdam.
“We are not only a business-focused company, but we also provide services to the people who live in Amsterdam. We are part of the city and part of everything the city pursues,” said Dick.
A major partnership has resulted in an energy storage system made from new and used car batteries. Excess energy generated by solar panels is stored for later use, while reusing car batteries helps create a circular economy for expired batteries.
“It’s also about the future, it’s about win-wins and trying to find places where we can strengthen each other. Honestly, I think sustainability is a topic that Arena has a lot of experience with,” Arena CFO Susan Lundlink Susan Lenderink) said.
Watch the video above to learn more about how the Johan Cruyff Arena sets the standard for other stadiums
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