The Christian Science Monitor

When New England Patriots fans returned to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., for Monday's preseason game, dreaming no doubt about another shot at the Super Bowl, they were greeted by nearly 2,600 rooftop panels pointed at the sun. The Patriots, known for their smart tactics on the field, are switching to solar power for their off-field shopping and dining complex next door to the stadium.

What's going on? Is pro football going "green"? Are premier smash-mouth athletes really tree-huggers with shoulder pads?

The Patriots are just the latest in a growing number of professional sports teams going solar. From the Cardinals baseball stadium in St. Louis to the Los Angeles complex housing that city's basketball and hockey teams, franchises are using their big flat-roofed buildings and vast parking lots to cut their power bill. The bigger question is: Will their fans follow suit?