Top Photo: Courtesy of NBA

The Green Sports Alliance published an updated Fan Engagement Playbook at its 2026 Summit in Cleveland, Ohio, the first revision to the guide since 2018. The playbook is designed to help sports teams and venues translate fan loyalty into on-the-ground sustainability action, with practical guidance covering behavior change campaigns, in-person and digital fan activations, sponsorship opportunities, and reporting frameworks.

The update arrives as sports venues have become increasingly visible testing grounds for organics diversion programs, spanning composting and food waste reduction to compostable serviceware and fan-facing sorting stations. With tens of thousands of fans cycling through a single facility on game day, arenas and stadiums offer a scale of public engagement that few other venues can match. The playbook leans into that reality, giving teams practical tools to move sustainability messaging beyond signage and into experiences that drive actual organics diversion outcomes. Tactics include sorting correctly, understanding what’s compostable, and closing the loop on the food and beverage waste generated at scale.

Several case studies in the playbook illustrate what that looks like in practice. The Atlanta Hawks’ Recycle and Win activation at State Farm Arena highlights fans who recycle correctly on the jumbotron during games, using real-time public recognition to reinforce proper waste sorting. The Portland Trail Blazers and Indiana Pacers are featured for their Sustainability Night Games, which give venue operators a replicable model for centering environmental programming within the fan experience rather than treating it as a peripheral initiative.

The playbook also addresses sponsorship structures, giving teams a framework for connecting sustainability activations to brand partnerships, an approach that can help fund programming while extending its reach. Digital activation strategies are included alongside in-person tactics, reflecting how fan engagement has shifted across multiple platforms since the 2018 edition was published.

Contributors to the playbook include experts from r.World, Bold Reuse, Delaware North, and Honeywell, among others. Its Leadership Advisory Board draws from organizations including the Environmental Defense Fund, World Wildlife Fund, Bioplastics Institute, and several university sustainability programs.

Read the full playbook at greensportsalliance.org/playbooks.