www.stadiaworld.com SPORTS VENUES 2023/24 | 43 OPERATION is the basis of every natural system on earth, but something humans have become quite good at ignoring in the pursuit of pure profit. This may work for a while, but ultimately profit relies on people – to do the work and buy the things – and planet – to provide the resources and a place to work. If any of these priorities are out of kilter with the others, things will start falling apart. So, for me, sustainability is the optimum way of working that keeps things – people, planet and profit – in equilibrium. STADIAWORLD: What synergies in terms of sustainability can be created through exchange in the industry? Booth: Exchange and communication are absolutely central to the sustainability industry. Competition on an individual basis simply doesn’t work because the issues are global, extremely complicated and deeply embedded in culture. For example, The O2 can’t address inherently unsustainable practices in the touring industry without other arenas cooperating to enact similar solutions and policies. Equally, issues around waste and recycling are societal and require industry-wide indepth discussion to address. STADIAWORLD: It certainly is one of the most urgent issues of all – and the fans’ awareness is also growing. How do you perceive the recent rise in people’s expectations? Booth: Fans have been aware of the issues involved for a long time, but it’s become a real focus recently as the relevance to them has become apparent. Covid exposed how interconnected we all are, while more extreme weather and natural disasters are proving that action is required. And people expect action. Yes, a net-zero commitment is important, but what are you actually doing to get there? As the Millennial and X generations gain in financial clout and political power, these expectations will only heighten, so it’s imperative for businesses to get ahead of the curve now to avoid being left behind. STADIAWORLD: By their very nature, sports facilities are resource guzzlers. Where can we start to move the industry forward in general? And what has already been done? Booth: Accurate measurement of your individual impact is essential. Without this you have no idea where you can make the biggest advances. From experience, the biggest impact will come from addressing travel. This will depend on the location of your venue, but perhaps public transport can be improved in collaboration with local government, or car parking costs increased to discourage driving and fund carbon removals. Fan education is key too – highlighting how their decisions can support the overall mission is a powerful motivator for change, for your venue, and the world beyond. Energy reduction and renewable energy generation should also be a focus. Energy audits can pay dividends in identifying where reductions can be made, and now it’s possible to procure certified green energy to reduce your overall carbon footprint. We’ve been doing this for our venues since 2015 and it sends a big signal to the market – and to government – of our direction of travel. Equally, now that costs have plummeted, some venues may be able to generate their own Picture: AEG Europe Barclays Arena, Hamburg A BIG SIGNAL TO THE MARKET AND THE GOVERNMENT
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