Timothy Kellison

Abstract: Historically, major sports stadiums produce limited environmental benefits to those living in the neighborhoods nearby. Like landfills, polluting factories, and other heavy industrial facilities associated with environmental hazards, stadiums may perpetuate existing inequities that further disadvantage communities of color. Conversely, this commentary discusses how today’s sports stadiums may be used to support environmental justice reforms through innovative sustainable design and thoughtful community outreach. Two contemporary examples, Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, are highlighted, while acknowledging that neither is without its flaws. The article concludes with three directions for future research and a call for critical inquiry that cuts across disciplinary, methodological, and geographical boundaries.

Keywords: sport ecology, environment, sustainability, environmental racism, climate change, sport facilities

Citation: Kellison, T. (2022). Green fields, blue skies: Environmental justice through stadium design and operations. International Journal of Sport Management, 23(3), 161-169.

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