The demand for green sports stadiums and arenas is increasing.

• Across the U.S., more arenas and stadiums are prioritizing eco-friendly practices.
• Sustainable buildings are becoming more cost-effective for businesses, as evidenced by the adoption of zero-waste and energy-efficiency measures by NFL, NBA, and NHL venues.
• An initial $1 million investment in a landfill trash elimination effort at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium is projected to generate an annual return of $400,000.

The sports industry is characterized by a tendency to mimic successful strategies and tactics. The Moneyball revolution in Major League Baseball and the NBA's renewed emphasis on 3-point shooting, driven by the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry, have set a blueprint for other teams to follow in terms of in-season and championship success.

Sustainable and environmentally friendly practices are being adopted by arenas and stadiums, and many hope this trend will continue to be emphasized for fans, players, musicians, and all visitors.

In recent years, several major sports facilities in the U.S. have taken sustainable practices to another level, and their success across multiple fronts has created real momentum around the idea of environmentally friendly stadiums.

Mercedes Benz Stadium, which serves as the home of both the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and MLS's Atlanta United, was the first pro sports venue in the U.S. to obtain LEED Platinum Certification in 2017. Meanwhile, Footprint Center, home to the NBA's Phoenix Suns and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, collaborates with the materials science company that owns its naming rights to reduce the use of single-use plastic in the arena and promote other sustainable practices.

In 2021, Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle became the first net zero certified arena worldwide and served as a call-to-action for Amazon to push for global companies to be net zero carbon by 2040.

Chris Granger, CEO of OVG360, stated that venue operators are rapidly comprehending their duties and prospects in terms of sustainable operation, as they work with over 300 venues worldwide, including arenas, stadiums, amphitheaters, and performing arts centers.

Venue operators are seeking guidance on how to address social issues, as they recognize the importance of using their platform to promote change.

The trend in sports mirrors the shift in other industries, where businesses are striving to be more environmentally conscious and engage with the growing number of people who prioritize eco-friendly actions. Additionally, many of these initiatives have a strong business case attached to them.

Rob Johnson, senior vice president of sustainability and transportation for Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena, discussed the importance of incorporating sustainability measures into the renovation of KeyArena in Seattle, both for construction and operational goals.

Johnson quickly evolved the idea into creating an arena that could be a "beacon of a sustainability district," which attracted Amazon's attention. In 2019, Amazon co-founded the Climate Pledge initiative with companies, organizations, and partners to address the climate crisis and decarbonize.

The Climate Pledge Arena resulted from those efforts, which include using compostable containers and reducing single-use plastic use, conserving water by retaining rainwater for reuse, and not using fossil fuels in the arena for daily use, including electric-powered Zambonis for Kraken games.

Setting a zero-waste goal at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Since its opening in 2017, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has been committed to sustainability, with AMB Sports and Entertainment Group (AMBSE) executives being encouraged by owner Arthur Blank to set a higher standard for an eco-friendly stadium.

"That was just the start," said Steve Cannon, vice chairman of AMBSE, as the stadium opened as the first LEED Platinum stadium in the U.S.

Cannon stated that while anyone can make an incremental investment in your building, if your operational performance does not align with that, you are missing out on opportunities.

The stadium has now achieved zero-waste consistency after an investment of about $1 million to retrofit the building and implement other measures.

According to Andrew Bohenko, Mercedes-Benz Stadium sustainability coordinator, over 91% of the more than four million pounds of waste generated at the stadium during its 2022 fiscal year was diverted away from landfills.

Bohenko stated that it was necessary for employees, fans, vendors, and other departments within the company to have a significant amount of education to achieve buy-in across the two-million-square-foot footprint.

The stadium achieved over 95% compliance from fans in properly disposing of trash, resulting in a projected $400,000 yearly return on investment while spending only 13 cents per guest for its zero-waste initiatives. Additionally, AMBSE has developed a "playbook" for other stadium operators to follow in order to achieve zero waste.

The sports industry has a significant impact on society and can influence other businesses to make meaningful changes in their waste management practices.

Johnson stated that Seattle's zero-waste initiative has resulted in savings due to the lower cost of composting compared to sending waste to a landfill.

Reaching fans, sponsors and performers through sustainability

Johnson suggests that a significant revenue opportunity resulting from the arena's sustainability efforts is attracting new fans.

We believe it's essential to address the environment as one of the top three global concerns for the future of our industry, as it is crucial to cultivate young people under 40 as our key demographic for success.

Oak View Group's senior director of sustainability, Kristen Fulmer, stated that although sustainability can benefit businesses, there may still be uncertainty about its true definition.

Fulmer stated that sustainability is often misunderstood, and ESG is a commonly used term that may not be fully understood. To help clarify, Fulmer emphasized the importance of identifying what is relevant to a specific building, market, community, and employees in order to focus on something unique and meaningful.

Granger highlighted examples such as Sacramento's Golden One Center, which uses 100% renewable and solar energy, and Toronto's Scotiabank Arena, which utilizes a deep-lake water cooling system to keep the building cool and eliminate the need for air conditioning compressors.

The incorporation of sustainability into construction and building projects is increasingly becoming a requirement for bonds, loans, and other financial evaluations, as noted by Granger and Fulmer. This is particularly relevant for aging arenas and stadiums across the U.S., which are likely to require upgrades or full replacements in the coming decade.

Granger stated that musicians are requesting vegan or plant-based food options and allowing fans to bring reusable water bottles to minimize the environmental impact of single-use plastics.

Billie Eilish's tour rider requested that the arena avoid single-use plastics during her 2022 Seattle performance.

Billie Eilish's visit to the arena inspired us to reduce our use of single-use plastics for one night. Before the tour date, Eilish's mother and sustainability advocate Maggie Baird requested a tour of the arena, and Johnson and the team obliged. Seattle has previously given tours to various artists, teams, athletes, and organizations interested in learning more about the building's practices.

Fulmer stated that all these factors suggest a future where sports and sustainability are increasingly linked.

In the sustainability realm, we often argue that imperfection hinders progress and leads to inaction, and individuals are often fearful of not achieving perfection. In the sports world, however, small victories are crucial and contribute to larger successes.