Gift to fund first phase of Legend Solar Stadium renovation, provide solar power to campus

ST. GEORGE, Utah — In the largest donation in Dixie State University history, Legend Solar announced that it is contributing $10 million toward renovating DSU’s football stadium, aptly renamed Legend Solar Stadium.

Legend Solar co-owners and co-founders Shaun Alldredge and Shane Perkins along with Dixie State administrators announced the gift of funds and solar technology from Utah’s fastest growing provider of solar power on Friday morning in a special ceremony on the DSU campus.

“We are proud to have Legend Solar partner with Dixie State as we trailblaze our way together into a bright, innovative and energy-efficient future,” said Alldredge, who is an alumnus of Dixie State University. “This solar installation will be the largest at any university in Utah.”

Legend Solar Stadium will be the largest, most efficient and fan-friendly public seating venue south of Provo. The gift will allow Dixie State University to expand the stadium to 10,000 seats. In addition to increased seating, an east grandstand structure will house new locker rooms, restrooms, concessions and ticketing.

The new grandstands will increase the University’s capacity to host events and will become southern Utah’s premier hub for large-scale athletic, public, and civic activities. In addition to hosting NCAA Division II tournaments, the new grandstands will allow DSU to host high school state tournaments and community music concerts. Already hosting the Huntsman World Senior Games and high school marching band competitions, the stadium will be able to accommodate more people and offerings for these popular events.

“Words will never adequately express our appreciation, but we sincerely thank Legend Solar from the bottom of our hearts for making this project a reality,” Brad Last, DSU vice president of University Advancement, said.

In addition to the monetary donation, Legend Solar will install solar technology on the DSU campus, providing millions of dollars in energy savings over time. A 1,500-kilowatt system, which will be installed gradually through 2027, is projected to generate enough energy to power not only the stadium, but other buildings on campus and save Dixie State University approximately $300,000 a year on its power bill. When the solar array is completed, the environmental impact will be the equivalent of removing 350 cars from the road or planting 40,000 trees while providing enough energy to power, light and heat 174 homes for a year.

By customizing its system to meet each family and company’s needs, Legend Solar not only helps all their clients reduce their carbon footprint, but also educates them on potential cost savings, tax incentives and other renewable energy benefits. Additionally, Legend Solar provides services throughout Utah and other western states and is an Elite Dealer for SunPower, which manufactures the industry’s highest efficiency solar panels.

Alldredge and Perkins started Legend Solar out of their cars four years ago. Today, they are a leading solar company that achieved extraordinary growth of 400 percent in 2015. The company received the 2015 Residential National Rising Star award from SunPower for its outstanding performance, and the co-founders were recently named finalists for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 Award.

Legend Solar Stadium will continue to serve the DSU campus and Washington County community as additional projects, such as replacing the existing track, building corporate suites, and enhancing game-day amenities, are planned. Private donations, suite sales, club seating and corporate sponsorships will make up the majority of the revenue needed to complete these projects.

The west grand stand will remain the foundation of the stadium and will carry the Hansen name for as long as the stadium exists, in honor of the George T. Hansen family, who provided funding for the stadium’s construction during the 1980s.

“Without the Hansen family’s generous donation, we would not have a stadium today at Dixie State,” Last said. “We have been in contact with the Hansen family, who have expressed their support for the stadium renovation project and for renaming the facility Legend Solar Stadium.”

To learn more about Legend Solar, visit www.legendsolar.com or call 877-413-6412. More information about Dixie State University is available at Dixie.edu.