Vancouver Canucks - Case Study September 2013-2

FACILITY STATS
LOCATION: VANCOUVER, BC
BEGAN CONSTRUCTION: JULY 1993
OPENED: SEPTEMBER 1995
SEATING CAPACITY: HOCKEY (18,938) AND CONCERT - AVERAGE END STAGE (13,000)
OWNER: VANCOUVER ARENA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OPERATOR: VANCOUVER ARENA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
VENUE USES: NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, CONCERTS, FAMILY SHOWS, SPECIAL EVENTS
CONSTRUCTION COST: $160 MILLION
LEED CERTIFICATION: PENDING
THE CANUCKS GREEN STORY:
MOTIVATIONS, CHALLENGES AND LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

At Rogers Arena, home of the National Hockey Leagues Vancouver Canucks, staff are taking major
steps towards greening the arena. They have undertaken numerous green efforts, such as LEED
certification and sustainable commuting. The Canucks are one of the founding members of the
Green Sports Alliance (GSA), a non-profit organization assisting sports teams, venues and leagues
in enhancing their environmental performance. The Canucks are also currently implementing a
program they call Zero Waste.
They kicked off Zero Waste in late 2012, with the hopes of meeting their ambitious goal of
improving from approximately 12% waste diversion from the landfill from the previous season,
to 80% diversion from landfills by the end of the 2017 season. In May, for the 2013 season, the
Canucks Zero Waste initial kickoff and implementation efforts yielded 56% diversion in May and
61% in June. They are well on their way to the 80% goal, but they know challenges still lie ahead.
Rogers Arena has saved over $35,000 in landfill costs in their first year, and expects a full payback
within 2.5 years.
WHY GO GREEN?
Both the Rogers Arena staff and management, along with many of the exuberant (or uber-loyal)
Canucks hockey fans and many concert goers, recognize that they have a responsibility to reflect
their communitys passion for environmental protection. Since Vancouver hosted the Olympics
in 2010, the city has embarked on an environmental campaign. Their Greenest City 2020 initiative
involves significant waste reduction efforts, operation of a food and yard waste composting
facility, along with other initiatives. So, Rogers Arenas Zero Waste program is welcomed by the
city. Michael Doyle, Executive Vice President & Arena General Manager of Rogers Arena says, Its
good to have everyone on board.
In 2011, when Doyle joined Rogers Arena, one of his goals was to champion unique service strategies
to enhance the fan experience. The Canucks aim to accomplish this by engaging fans and helping
them do their part in this sustainability effort. More influences to the arenas new approach came from
GSA, especially from members Century Link Field (Seattle Seahawks) and Safeco Field (Seattle Mariners),
who have accomplished significant solid waste reduction programs, with diversion of 81% in 2011.
SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT
Prior to the Olympics in 2010, about
80% of Canucks fans arrived in
cars. After the new transit systems
were put in place in preparation for
the Olympics, and promotion of
public transit was supported by the
Canucks, only about 40-50% of fans
travel to the arena via their own cars.
WHERE TO START
Rogers Arena management started by addressing their biggest solid waste stream food and
concessions waste. Prior to Zero Waste, much of this waste stream was tossed in solid waste at
the end of events, at a rate of about seven to eight metric tons per month during the season. So,
Rogers Arena started their Zero Waste effort by formalizing a green team of staff and external
partners. The team is made up of representatives from Engineering, Fan Services, Housekeeping and
Aramark (their food services contractor). They have also involved their waste hauler, the City of
Vancouver, and food banks when their expertise is needed. The team set another challenging goal
to achieve 60% diversion of wastes by the end of 2014.
Together this cooperative team identified which materials could be collected for recycling, sent to
the city-run compost facility or the food bank, and how to maximize proper sorting by the arena
guests. They established collection protocols for solid waste, recyclables, and all compostable
concession-related wastes. Compostable wastes are hauled to the Citys composting facility, where
it is made into quality garden compost. They now meet monthly to evaluate and measure success,
and discuss additional improvement opportunities.
After visiting Safeco and Century Link, Rogers Arena used the successful blueprint for waste
systems at these stadiums, and designed and strategically placed receptacles that make it as easy
as possible for fans to sort their waste. The visits were inspiring and helpful, and resulted in the
decision of the tri-sorters receptacles, which actually make it difficult to put a particular waste in
the wrong slot.
While its a great step to compost food wastes and scraps, the arena follows the waste
management hierarchy, where reuse trumps recycling and compost. Therefore, any food remaining
after an event that will not be used in the future due to expiration or other reasons is now
donated to their newly established friends at local food banks in B.C.
Another facet of the program design involved purchasing food and beverage containers and related
items that are recyclable or compostable. Compostable waste goes beyond food scraps remaining
on fans dishes; it includes new compostable napkins, flatware, plates, and bowls. They began
purchasing compostable flatware even though it is more expensive than the conventional plastic
cutlery. Doyle says that it is worth it, and that increasing demand for the compostable flatware is
bringing the price point down.
To maximize fan participation, the team brainstormed ways to engage the fans and integrate
their fan-fave mascot, Fin, in the messaging to hockey fans to participate in the green efforts. Fin
promotes proper sorting during events, and is also featured in a video which is played overhead the
bowl for all audiences, reminding fans to pitch in.
Rogers Arena kicked off the program at the start of their 2012-13 hockey season, which runs
September through June including preseason and playoffs. Involving full-time staff is another
way to increase diversion, so the staff have been trained, and also have their tri-sorters in
the workspaces, along with a bulletin board showing overall efforts and progress towards
80% diversion. On the following page, see one of their progress tracking displays, that help
communicate to, and motivate staff to participate.
ENERGY & FACILITY

Rogers Arena is working toward
LEED certification by 2017. Since the
building is from the 90s decade,
renewable technology is harder
to install than on newer buildings.
However, renewable systems are
under construction.
The next steps for Rogers Arena are
decreasing the electricity output,
maintaining efficiency in the energy
used towards heating and cooling the
arena, and replacing the refrigerators
and freezers in the kitchens with
more energy efficient appliances.
CHALLENGES: TO OVERCOME AND ONGOING

If a venue lacks management support, or motivators such as GSA membership, it may be more
challenging to move forward with waste diversion programs. Thankfully, Rogers Arena easily
convinced management to embrace the opportunity.
Designing a program and logistics to achieve 80% waste diversion within a five-year time span
is certainly a challenge. Constant assessment and refining of the program can be difficult, but is
necessary to achieve this goal. One of the Canucks bigger challenges has been getting some of
their suppliers on board to switch from non-recyclable containers to recyclable.
Engaging fans, especially the ones who arent on board is another obstacle. Rogers Arena feels that
with the help of Fin and his video, and the easy to use tri-sorters, Rogers Arena and their fans will
accomplish their goals.
Their self-imposed challenges are to implement Zero Waste, meet their diversion goals and
become LEED certified by 2017. This effort on the whole, is pushing them toward their mission, to
become the premier sports and entertainment company in North America.
LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

Doyle says, GSA is a great motivator and support structure everyone is learning from each other.
The fan-base for the Canucks is huge, and Doyle believes that Rogers Arenas Zero waste project will
encourage and influence their fans to move towards a greener lifestyle, inside and outside the arena.

Vancouver Canucks - Case Study September 2013-2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vancouver Canucks - Case Study September 2013-2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vancouver Canucks - Case Study September 2013-2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

FACILITY STATS

THE CANUCKS GREEN STORY:

MOTIVATIONS, CHALLENGES AND LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

ENERGY & FACILITY

CHALLENGES: TO OVERCOME AND ONGOING

LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

You might also like