Going Green in the Desert

August 1, 2011 8:52 pm 0 comments

University of Phoenix Stadium is host to many events in which fans sit in a section known as the red zone, located in the south end-zone seating. Now, efforts are being taken to turn the entire facility into a “green zone.”

The stadium, managed by Global Spectrum, is in partnership with the United States Green Building Council to become a leader in the area for environmental friendliness. The stadium seats 63,400 people, and with such a high number of fans at events, University of Phoenix Stadium is actively implementing better recycling habits.

For instance, tailgate parties are without doubt a customary and expected aspect at stadium events. Rather than allowing fans to fight for trash cans or letting recyclable items go to waste, guests are given recyclable bags. Parking lots are monitored to ensure that full recyclable bags are disposed of properly.

Tim Landis, director of operations with University of Phoenix Stadium, believes there has been much progress since the stadium first opened in August 2006.

“Basically, before we started being proactive and going through the parking lot and handing out bags, fans would either throw everything on the ground or find one of our trash cans and pull it into their tailgating site,” Landis says. “Now that we’re being proactive and handing out bags, they are helping us by separating bottles, glass, and trash.”

Landis is aware that, despite the efforts to recycle, some items still wind up on the ground. However, he notices a positive reaction on the part of the public to the environmental efforts at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Old phone books, junk mail, and coffee cups have all been affected by the recycling bug’s bite; the stadium’s management offices have gone green as well.
“Everybody is on board and realizing, ‘Wow, I didn’t know I could recycle that,’” Landis says. “We have definitely seen an increase in our recycling dumpster versus general trash. With the recycling containers and what we’re doing with the lot, people are proactive and are helping as much as they can.”

Recycling is not the only way for a facility to go green, as demonstrated by US Airways Center. The Center uses environmentally friendly products such as Kiavac No-Touch Cleaning Systems, EchoMop dust mops and, of course, a recycling program throughout the venue to ensure that 100 percent of the center and offices is accounted for. There’s a program for fans who purchased a ticket to an event to ride METRO light rail at no additional cost on the day of the event.
As US Airways Center is in the process of finishing a 224KW solar panel system on top of the arena parking garage, look for University of Phoenix Stadium to do more in their part in reducing a carbon footprint.

“We’re always looking for ways to try and help or curtail our energy costs,” Landis says. “You never stop looking.”

Needless to say, if the stadium truly is “the Big Toaster,” as we like to call it, the toaster certainly promises to be an energy-efficient one.

By Michael Torres

Leave a Reply


Trackbacks

Other News

  • Pampered-pets

    Adopt A Pet

    Ferdinand is a 1-year-old Jack Russell-terrier mix. He is very active and energetic. He is not recommended for cats but may get along with other dogs. He is best for junior high age and up. His adoption fee is $125, which includes his vaccines, microchip, and neuter. Cypress is a 1-year-old terrier-American pit bull mix. She is between 46 and 65 pounds. Cypress is a sweet girl with lots of energy. She would love to go on hikes and walks. [...]

    Read more →
  • Music Uncategorized

    Home-Grown Symphonies: Celebrating 100 Years of Arizona Music

    Applause and praise abounded at a recent concert of the Arizona Wind Symphony (AWS) in Tempe. The group of 80 adult band members had performed the Arizona Centennial Overture, an original piece commissioned to honor the state’s 100-year celebration. “One audience member actually caught me after the concert and said that the piece was her favorite because of how it described all of Arizona’s history and culture,” said Bill Richardson, director of the symphony. For nearly  a year and a [...]

    Read more →
  • Valentine's Day Gift Guide

    Ten Valentine’s Day Gifts For Everyone You Love

    For the Wife-  Not all chocolate is made equal. La Maison Du Chocolat is a French chocolatier that has been perfecting its decadent recipes for decades. A standard heart-shaped box of chocolates is okay, but a box of La Maison du Chocolat chocolate will let her know how special and important she is to you. You can purchase an Assorted Chocolate Gift Box at a Williams Sonoma retail store or directly from La Maison’s online store. Willians Sonoma, 2450 East [...]

    Read more →
  • Two Cents

    Two Cents

    Young Adults Rated R Leeann – I loved this movie! Charlize Theron is one of my favorites. She’s masterful with her laugh a minute character work, and for someone so lovely, she does grungy very well! It’s far from a laugh-a-minute, but it has some very funny moments. Matthew – Overall, not really my favorite. The film did a little bit better than my expectations, but not by much. The plot centers on Mavis Gery (Charlize Theron) and her obsession [...]

    Read more →
  • Technology

    New Gadgets for 2012

    January always means two things: New Year’s resolutions that are broken before the end of the month, and the granddaddy of all trade shows, the International Consumer Electronics Show, more simply known as CES. This positively enormous show with over 32 football fields’ worth of stuff being exhibited is held in Las Vegas, with an attendance of over 150,000. All are there looking for products that will be on the 2012 must-have list or as one heck of a knockout [...]

    Read more →
  • Style & Beauty

    2012 Wedding Season: Timeless Weddings in Store

    It’s the season for taking the plunge, and the husbands- and wives-to-be of 2012 want only the newest, the latest, and the greatest when it comes to their special day. No longer the traditional, all-familiar walk to the altar our grandparents had, the modern wedding has elevated the occasion to greater heights beyond expectation. Today’s couples all want YouTube-worthy sensational weddings with the elaborate venue, enviable designs, surprising forms of entertainment, and “the gown to die for” that no one [...]

    Read more →
  • Sports

    The Cactus League: Arizona’s Spring Training

    The Valley has been fortunate to have major league baseball spring training for several decades now, dating back to the origins of the Cactus League in the 1940s. Since the creation of the Cactus League, the greater Phoenix area has seen spring training become one of the most unique events in all of sports. The Cactus League consists of fifteen teams and ten locations spread out from Avondale to Mesa. Every spring, fans can go to each location and see [...]

    Read more →
  • Uncategorized

    Old Town Scottsdale

    7:30 p.m.: Checked into the Saguaro, a Joie de Vivre Hotel 4000 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (877) 808-2440 jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro With more than a dash of color and a tribute to the contemporary architecture of the region, the Saguaro is vibrant in both design and spirit. A choice of suite styles and pleasing views combine with attentive service, comfortable amenities, and convenient location to make the Saguaro perfect for your Old Town accommodations. The hotel just celebrated the opening [...]

    Read more →