KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nearly a third of Americans would be more likely to attend a game or concert if the stadium recycled and composted all the trash left behind, a new survey has found.
One in five would also buy more beer, hot dogs and nachos.
“A significant number of fans care about the environment, and they’ll vote with their feet -- and their beer cups,” said Suzanne Shelton, CEO of Shelton Group, which conducted the survey.
At stake are millions of dollars in ticket and concession sales, as well as tons of wasted resources, Shelton said. Fans leave an estimated 16 million cubic feet of trash behind every year. That’s enough to fill Yankee Stadium and leave another 2 million cubic feet of garbage on the streets outside.
The survey is the first of its kind.
“We have a lot of anecdotal evidence of fans wanting stadiums to do more recycling and composting, but this is the first time we’ve had real data,” said Wendell Simonson, Vice President of Marketing for Eco-Products, which makes compostable plates, cups and utensils.
The Shelton Group’s survey polled 2,015 Americans.
Asked: “How would you react if you learned that all of the trash left behind after a game or concert you attended was sorted...with recyclables and compostables being diverted away from landfills?”
- 46% said it would improve their opinion of the venue owners.
- 32% said they would be more likely to attend another game or concert at the venue.
- 22% said they would be more likely to buy concessions.
- 22% said it would improve their opinion of the team or band.
Asked: “How would you react if you learned that all of the trash left behind after a game or concert you attended went straight to a landfill, without any sorting, recycling or composting efforts?”
- 42% said they would blame the venue owners – and it would tarnish their opinion of them.
- 26% said they would be less likely to buy concessions.
- 17% said they would be less likely to attend another game or concert at the venue.
Learn more at www.sheltongrp.com/eco-pulse.