Pollstar (12/16/24)
Pollstar recaps 2024 as a year in which the live events industry further solidified its commitment to sustainability. Typically this past year, arenas, stadiums, convention centers and other venues tried to achieve carbon-neutral operation three ways: one, cut energy consumption; two, encourage eco-friendly transportation; and, three, minimize waste. Many turned to such renewable energy sources as natural and solar lighting and using biodegradable or recyclable materials. GOAL (which stands for Green Operations & Advanced Leadership), a network of climate-conscious organizations co-founded by Pollstar parent company Oak View Group, released its first Impact Report in 2024 that detailed successful member initiatives. One building touted was Co-op Live in Manchester, England, which has been designed without any gas supply serving the site and instead uses electricity for everything. Meanwhile, approximately 10,500 square meters of rooftop solar panels power day-to-day activity. Also mentioned were various artists taking on the climate crisis. They include: Billie Eilish, whose “Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour” features plant-based food drives; Coldplay, which announced this past summer it had met its goal of reducing direct carbon emissions from show production, freight, band and crew travel by at least 50% versus its previous stadium tour; and the Dave Matthews Band, which partnered with Live Nation-operated venues on their U.S. tour to minimize the shows' footprint.
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