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Sporting venues in colder climates can harness the power of propane to keep fans safe and warm, and athletes comfortable and performing optimally. From heated benches and power generation to temporary heat and portable heaters, propane has numerous applications in the sporting world. Whether football, baseball, soccer, rugby, tennis or another outdoor sport, propane offers a solution to keep fans and players going strong all season long.
Sporting stadiums have a unique set of system demands, with relatively short periods of very high usage. Utilizing propane for key systems like heat, water heating and power generation provides more efficient, reliable and economical options than relying on the electric grid. In addition, propane is an environmentally friendly energy, with 52% less carbon emissions than the average of the U.S. electric grid.
Temporary Heat Combats Frozen Fields
In frigid locales such as Minneapolis, home of the Minnesota Vikings, January temperatures average a high of 25o F and a low of 7o F. When the Vikings’ domed stadium was under construction, the team had to play at the outdoor University of Minnesota stadium—even for the playoffs. In climates like this, game-time temps can sometimes dip into the negatives, with even colder wind chill factors, so a frozen field becomes a real concern. Turf fields are typically heated in these frigid locales, but extreme temperatures can cause ice to form on the playing surface as the ground thaws. Temporary propane heating systems can be used to dissipate this moisture and return the field to a safe playing surface.
Portable Heat Warms Players and Patrons
Portable propane heaters can be used at field level to help keep players and coaching staff warm. Stadiums may also provide “warming stations” throughout the venue for fans to gather under portable or permanent, built-in propane heaters. Flexible and scalable portable heaters are proven to increase the outdoor air temperature by up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit and they emit a circle of radiant heat up to 25 feet in diameter, helping to raise the outdoor air temperature to more comfortable levels. They are easy to set up and are powered by a portable propane tank. A convenient and permanent solution is a remote-controlled, ceiling-mounted heater that warms the space to a comfortable temperature. This fixed-mount system is out of the way on the ceiling, does not require portable cylinder changes, since they’re plumbed to permanent gas lines, and can be installed in zones that are easily activated with a switch.
Heated Benches Improve Safety and Performance
Heated benches are ideal for both collegiate and professional football and baseball stadiums, helping players maintain loose, flexible muscles for peak performance and injury prevention. Teams that frequently compete in cold, snowy conditions—such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Michigan Wolverines, and the University of Iowa men’s baseball team—have equipped their sidelines and dugouts with DRAGONSEATS heated benches to combat the harsh weather.
DRAGONSEATS is the only manufacturer of heated bench seats that utilize either propane or gas for fuel. These ergonomically designed heated benches, gradually warming to provide a comfortable seating experience. They include extendable heated foot decks that circulate warm air upward, ensuring players receive warmth from both the front and back. The slightly elevated knee position enhances heat absorption, targeting key muscle groups like the hamstrings, calves, and back—areas most prone to injury. For added convenience, built-in rolling casters allow for easy mobility and storage when the benches are not in use.
Along with their heated bench seats, DRAGONSEATS offers the “Hot Hat” helmet-warming accessory. Designed to be installed on the heated outdoor bench, this feature keeps the inside of helmets warm. In freezing temperatures, helmet pads can quickly harden once removed from a player’s head, increasing the risk of concussions. The Hot Hat helps prevent this by keeping the interior bladders flexible, ensuring a proper fit and better protection for players in cold conditions.
Water Heating
In addition, incorporating propane tankless water heaters at stadiums can help to avoid standby losses when the stadium isn’t in use. This is important as stadiums have relatively short periods of high demand for hot water, leading to significant standby losses with traditional storage tank water heaters.
Power Generation
Propane standby generators are always a smart option for stadiums. Standby generators are permanently installed and equipped with monitoring systems to detect power outages. When an outage occurs, an automatic switch activates the generator within 10 seconds, ensuring uninterrupted heating, cooling, lighting, and refrigeration. This feature is especially crucial for safety when a stadium is at full capacity with tens of thousands of guests. Generators will also keep food safe at the proper temperatures and keep concessions operating, which preventing significant financial loss. Unlike diesel, propane has an indefinite shelf life and burns more cleanly, resulting in less soot and odors.
Propane Boosts Comfort and Safety in Cold-Climate Sporting Venues
When you’re working on a stadium project in a cold climate, the developers will need to keep the comfort and safety of future fans and players in mind. Lean on propane to provide temporary heat to thaw frozen fields, portable heat to keep fans and players warm, heated sideline benches to ensure player safety and performance, and propane-powered generators to keep the lights on and the game clock running down.
