SUSTAINABILITY IN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES

I have taught the Sports Facilities and Event Management course in the Masters in Sports Management program at the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University since 2007. Many topics are discussed in the fourteen-week program, and one of the most popular discussions is sustainability. Not surprisingly, one of the homework assignments is dedicated to sustainability.

The following are some sustainability highlights in the sports and entertainment venue industry.

New venue construction: It all starts with the ownership of the venue and the direction provided to the architectural firm that will be designing the venue. In addition, the construction and operation of the venue must be considered during the design process since many sustainable issues will contribute to an environmentally friendly building and provide a return on investment.

Existing venues:

Include environmentally friendly and sustainable materials in capital projects and renovations, i.e., solar panels, waterless urinals, LED lighting, etc. Review operations and maintenance practices and make the appropriate changes to improve the venue’s sustainability.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a worldwide green building certification program. It uses rating systems to design, construct, operate, and maintain green buildings. The certification indicates that the owners and operators are environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently. LEED-certified buildings save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and create healthier places for people.

LEED certification is granted to a project that earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality. Projects undergo a verification and review process by the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). They are awarded points that correspond to a specific level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49), Silver (50-59), Gold (60-79), and Platinum (80+).

The following are sports and entertainment venues that are leaders in sustainability:

Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was the first professional venue in the United States to achieve LEED Platinum Certification.

Stormwater management: Managing stormwater is an important issue for Atlanta’s westside, which has experienced issues with flooding. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is equipped with a 2.1 million gallon stormwater management system. A 680,000-gallon cistern harvests rainwater to irrigate the exterior landscape and make-up water for the stadium’s cooling towers. The stadium also has a 1.1 million gallon underground stormwater vault designed to capture and slowly release stormwater to help prevent flooding in the neighboring communities.

The design and function of the stormwater management system contributed to Mercedes-Benz Stadium receiving all water-related credits as part of the LEED Platinum certification.

Golden 1 Center in Sacramento was the first arena to achieve LEED Platinum Certification.

It is the first professional sports venue to be entirely powered by solar energy, 365 days a year. Eighty-five percent of Golden 1 Center’s energy needs are supported by a 10.88-megawatt solar farm forty miles from the arena, harnessing the 300-plus days of sunshine in the region.

Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle is on track to become the world’s first net zero arena.

The arena is “The Climate Pledge,” not a corporation. However, Amazon does pay the naming rights for the arena. The following are just a few initiatives to achieve a zero-carbon venue.

• No fossil fuel consumption in the arena for daily use: mechanical systems, gas combustion engines, heating, dehumidification, and cooking – all converted to electric.
• Solar panels on the Alaska Airlines Atrium and 1st Avenue garage combined with off-site supplementary renewable energy for 100% renewable energy.
• Reducing all carbon emission activities and offsetting all those that cannot be controlled like transportation – by purchasing credible carbon offsets.

State Farm Arena in Atlanta is the world’s first sports and live entertainment venue to earn Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) certification for zero waste. When beginning this journey in 2019, State Farm Arena diverted an average of 10 percent of total waste. Since May 2021, the venue has consistently diverted a minimum of 90 percent of fan-generated waste from landfills.

The Forest Green Rovers FC from Hailsworth, England, was named by FIFA as the greenest football organization in the world. They are also the first carbon-neutral football club in the world. In addition, the design of their new stadium, 5,000 seat Eco Park Stadium will be made entirely from sustainably sourced timber.

The National Stadium in Taiwan was the world’s first stadium designed with integrated 8,844 photovoltaic panels (photovoltaic panels convert thermal energy into electricity, while solar panels convert solar radiation into heat). The system provides 70% of the stadium complex’s electricity needs and offsets an emission of roughly 660 tons of carbon dioxide.

Sustainability Organizations

Green Sports Alliance (GSA): The Green Sports Alliance leverages sports’ cultural and market influence to promote healthy, sustainable communities where people live and play. The GSA inspires professional sports leagues, governing bodies, colleges, teams, venues, partners, and millions of fans to embrace renewable energy, healthy food, recycling, water efficiency, safer chemicals, and other environmentally preferable practices.

Green Operations and Advanced Leadership (GOAL): GOAL is a platform that helps sports and entertainment venues operate environmentally soundly. Los Angeles-based Oak View Group, which launched GOAL, is a development and ownership firm specializing in sports and entertainment venues, with over 200 clients. It is one of GOAL’s four equity partners, along with the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, Fenway Sports Group, and the architect James F. McClennan. GOAL should benefit from the strategic alliance that Oak View Group’s venue management arm, OVG360, struck with Green Sports Alliance last October to support the sports industry’s response to climate change. That pairing is expected to lead to greening events and better collaboration among the two partners’ membership.

Future Generations

Millennials and Gen Z generations respect the environment, and it is expected that future generations will also. For example:

Millennials: According to Nielsen, 75% of Millennials are eco-conscious to the point of changing their buying habits to favor environmentally friendly products.

Gen Z: Three-quarters of Gen Z consumers state that sustainability is more important to them than brand names.

Conclusion

I am proud to have Sofi Armenakian, Head of Sustainability for the Atlanta Hawks, and Scott Jenkins, former General Manager of Mercedes-Benz Stadium and founding member of the Green Sports Alliance and serves as the board chair, as guest speakers (industry professionals and leaders) in the course I teach. They add a great deal to the course, and the students enjoy their presentations and discussion.

I strongly encourage readers to research the Green Sports Alliance and Green Operations and Advanced Leadership (GOAL) since both organizations are difference-makers and are leading the sustainability effort in sports and entertainment venues.

All the best.

Posted March 14, 2022