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Reducing the carbon footprint of spectator and team travel at the University of British Columbia's varsity sports events

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  • Matt Dolf
  • Paul Teehan

Abstract

•We examine the carbon footprint of travel for small-scale varsity sports events.•We apply an LCA-based carbon footprint approach to refine methodology for events.•Car occupancy rates for event spectators were higher than industry average rates.•4% of out-of-town spectators constituted 52% of total spectator footprint.•Targeting long distance travel is the most effective way to reduce GHG emissions.The carbon footprint of spectator and team travel was analyzed at small-scale varsity sports events held at the University of British Columbia. Sport management literature suggests a need for quantitative environmental impact studies of events, in particular to seek out transport footprint reduction opportunities. This study applies a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)-based approach to increase methodological rigour and transparency. We analyze travel patterns of spectators and teams and put forward several scenarios for impact reduction. Results show that UBC spectators had a smaller footprint than teams on a per person basis but a larger overall carbon footprint. Although only 4% of the spectators travelled by air, this constituted 52% of total spectator impact. We find the biggest opportunities for footprint reductions by spectators and teams alike are strategies that (a) reduce long-distance air travel, (b) increase vehicle occupancy rates, and (c) encourage low-emission travel mode choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Matt Dolf & Paul Teehan, 2015. "Reducing the carbon footprint of spectator and team travel at the University of British Columbia's varsity sports events," Sport Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 244-255, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rsmrxx:v:18:y:2015:i:2:p:244-255
    DOI: 10.1016/j.smr.2014.06.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Tim F. Thormann & Pamela Wicker, 2024. "Environmentally-Friendly Stadium Travel of Football Fans: A Stated Preferences Study," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 25(1), pages 3-29, January.
    2. Dalia Perkumienė & Ahmet Atalay & Biruta Švagždienė, 2023. "Carbon Footprint Stemming from Ice Sports on the Turkey and Lithuanian Scale," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Wicker, Pamela, 2019. "The carbon footprint of active sport participants," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 513-526.
    4. Brian P. McCullough & Jonathan C. Casper & Danielle M. Kushner Smith, 2022. "Fan Responses of Sponsored Environmental Sustainability Initiatives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Lidia Piccerillo & Francesco Misiti & Simone Digennaro, 2023. "Assessing the Environmental Impact of a University Sport Event: The Case of the 75th Italian National University Championships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-14, January.
    6. Federico Pasquaré Mariotto & Fabio Luca Bonali & Alessandro Tibaldi & Emanuela De Beni & Noemi Corti & Elena Russo & Luca Fallati & Massimo Cantarero & Marco Neri, 2022. "A New Way to Explore Volcanic Areas: QR-Code-Based Virtual Geotrail at Mt. Etna Volcano, Italy," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.
    7. Orr, Madeleine & Inoue, Yuhei, 2019. "Sport versus climate: Introducing the climate vulnerability of sport organizations framework," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 452-463.
    8. Pérez-Neira, David & Rodríguez-Fernández, Ma Pilar & Hidalgo-González, Cristina, 2020. "The greenhouse gas mitigation potential of university commuting: A case study of the University of León (Spain)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    9. Brian P. McCullough & Andrea Collins & Jack Roberts & Shelley Villalobos, 2023. "Sport Events and Emissions Reporting: An Analysis of the Council for Responsible Sport Standard in Running Events," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-12, September.
    10. Clément Auger & Benoit Hilloulin & Benjamin Boisserie & Maël Thomas & Quentin Guignard & Emmanuel Rozière, 2021. "Open-Source Carbon Footprint Estimator: Development and University Declination," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Jonathan M. Casper & Brian P. McCullough & Danielle M. Kushner Smith, 2021. "Pro-Environmental Sustainability and Political Affiliation: An Examination of USA College Sport Sustainability Efforts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-17, May.
    12. Ricardo Roseira Cayolla & Joana A. Quintela & Teresa Santos, 2023. "Analysis of Travel Behaviour of Professional Sports Organisation Members to the Stadium: Future Implications for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, April.
    13. Laurent Castaignède & Frederic Veny & Johnathan Edwards & Véronique Billat, 2021. "The Carbon Footprint of Marathon Runners: Training and Racing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-10, March.
    14. Sartore-Baldwin, Melanie L. & McCullough, Brian, 2018. "Equity-based sustainability and ecocentric management: Creating more ecologically just sport organization practices," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 391-402.
    15. Ricardo Roseira Cayolla & Teresa Santos & Joana A. Quintela, 2021. "Sustainable Initiatives in Sports Organizations—Analysis of a Group of Stakeholders in Pandemic Times," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    16. Ricardo Roseira Cayolla & Joana A. Quintela & Teresa Santos, 2022. "“If You Don’t Know Me by Now”—The Importance of Sustainability Initiative Awareness for Stakeholders of Professional Sports Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.
    17. Casper, Jonathan M. & McCullough, Brian P. & Pfahl, Michael E., 2020. "Examining environmental fan engagement initiatives through values and norms with intercollegiate sport fans," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 348-360.
    18. Stavros Triantafyllidis & Robert J. Ries & Kyriaki (Kiki) Kaplanidou, 2018. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions of Spectators’ Transportation in Collegiate Sporting Events: Comparing On-Campus and Off-Campus Stadium Locations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
    19. Jakub Ryszard Stempień & Magdalena Dąbkowska-Dworniak & Małgorzata Stańczyk & Marcin Tkaczyk & Bartłomiej Przybylski, 2022. "Particular Dimensions of the Social Impact of Leisure Running: Study of Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    20. Christine Costello & Ronald G. McGarvey & Esma Birisci, 2017. "Achieving Sustainability beyond Zero Waste: A Case Study from a College Football Stadium," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-20, July.

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