Green Sports Results

These results show how greening a sporting event will reduce its environmental impacts by producing less waste; consuming less energy and water; and reducing emissions. Examples on this page are drawn from success stories on the site. 

Also read about the benefits of greening sports.

• Events
• Stadiums
• Teams & Leagues

The data referenced on this page are examples.  EPA is not endorsing the individuals, groups, and organizations.

Events

Final Four

How Can the Final Four Get Greener? . March 31, 2016.
Both venues organized highly successful e-waste recycling drives, events that keep hazardous materials from entering landfills and prevent the energy intensive extraction of new raw materials. 

2012 Super Bowl

EPA calculated that Super Bowl 2012 prevented the emission of 642 metric tons (1.3 million pounds) of greenhouse gases. Highlights: 

• Super Bowl venue recycling prevented 500 metric tons
• Electronics recycling drives saved 57 metric tons
• Planting 2,012 trees by 2017 will save 85 metric tons

2011 Women’s Final Four Basketball Tournament

Ten tons of clean, marketable recyclables were collected and recycled during the 2011 Women's Final Four Basketball Tournament.  Learn more by reading the Sustainability Report: 2011 Women's Final Four Basketball Tournament.

2010 Men's Final Four Basketball Tournament

Thirty-two tons of clean, marketable recyclables collected and recycled.  Recycling rather than incinerating the collected materials resulted in preventing the release of 24 metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE).  This reduction is equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption of 9,912 gallons of gasoline or the emissions generated by the electricity use of ten homes for one year. Learn more by reading the Sustainability Report: 2010 Men’s Final Four Basketball Tournament.

U.S. Open (Tennis)

Since 2008, the U.S. Tennis Association’s efforts to lessen the U.S. Open’s impact on the environment has resulted in: 

• Diverting over 570 tons of U.S. Open waste, saving over 1,100 tons of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere
• Recycling approximately 1 million plastic bottles
• Welcoming over 1.5 million fans to the U.S. Open via mass transit
• Offset of enough electricity to power 600 homes for one year

Learn more about the USTA's green initiatives at the Open.  

Stadiums

Seeing the Light: Sports Stadiums All Over the Country Switching to LEDs. June 10, 2016.
" LEDs are 20 percent brighter than metal halides while using about 60 percent fewer watts. Over the course of 81 home games (and special events) such improved efficiency means a savings of about half a million kwH per year. " Read more about how LEDs are saving stadiums and teams money. 

Green Power Partnership Partners

Collegiate Athletic Green Power Partnership results updated quarterly.

MetLife Stadium

MetLife Stadium reduced its carbon foot print by 268,828 MTCO2e (metric ton carbon dioxide equivalent).  Learn more by visiting the MetLife Stadium's Sustainable Stadium website. 

Penn State's Beaver Stadium

Recycling efforts at Penn State's Beaver Stadium in 2008 prevented 112 tons of waste from going to a landfill. Learn more about Recycling at Penn State's Beaver Stadium.

Amway Center

Amway Center was the first NBA facility to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) new construction certification using 20 percent less energy and 40 percent less water than arenas of similar size: the Amway Center. About 83 percent of the wood, concrete and steel construction waste was recycled rather than sent to a landfill. Learn more about Amway Center's LEED Gold Certification. 

Teams & Leagues

National Hockey League

NHL Infographic: Green Initiatives in Hockey  

2014 NHL Sustainability Report 

Boston Bruins and N.J. Devils

In 2011, NHL teams across the country recycled 105 tons of untouched food, aided by Rock and Wrap It Up!  This provided over 163,000 meals to the hungry across North America.  Learn more about the Successful Food Recycling Efforts by the National Hockey League.

The Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles collected more than 630 tons of recyclable material in 2020. Read about the Philadelphia Eagles' accomplishments in Go Green: 2020 Annual Report.  

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals diverted 1,836 tons of recycling and over 575 tons of yard waste from Busch stadium trash disposal and local landfills. Learn how the Cardinals achieved their goals at 4 a Greener Game: The St. Louis Cardinals. 

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners recycled 342 tons of plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, cans and glass in 2007. Through an energy efficiency program, the Mariners reduced the use of natural gas by 36 percent and electricity consumption by 18 percent. Learn more at Mariners going green for Earth Day.