UVA hosted the third annual Atlantic Coast Conference Sports Sustainability Conference from June 21-23, 2023 at the University of Virginia.
The ACC Sports Sustainability Team is a group of sustainability professionals, collegiate athletic departments, and student-athletes within the Atlantic Coast Conference. Their mission is to lead and cultivate the collective strengths and expertise of ACC member institutions to advance innovative sports sustainability practices. With a vision to channel the power of sports and the ACC sustainability culture to transform lives and communities through engagement, collaboration and climate mitigation, they hosted a Sports Sustainability Conference this June.
The conference, held across Grounds and around Charlottesville this past June, was marked by fruitful engagement and meaningful discussions among students, sustainability professionals, athletics staff, industry association representatives, and more!
20 speakers and facilitators helped lead the three days of networking, discussion, and tours. The conference hosted 5 sessions, ranging from workshops to lunch and learns, and included topics on Sustainable Athletic Operations, Zero Waste Games, Sponsorships, Concessions and Pouring Rights Contracts, Fan Engagement, Student Leadership, and Future Team Planning.
Attendees also had the opportunity to tour Scott Stadium at UVA and the Main Athletics Precinct to learn about its future renovation vision; as well as UVA’s Main Library while under construction, and the UVA Rotunda. These tours provided the opportunity to discuss sustainable facilities management and operations, as well as organization for Zero Waste Games, and sustainable athletic initiatives.
The conference was attended by over 50 attendees from ACC Schools, industry associations, and other higher education institutions, including: the Green Sports Alliance, Max-R, Catawba College, Duke University, Clemson University, NC State University, Syracuse University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, UVA, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Louisville, Boston University, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech.
Rebecca Geiger is a recent graduate of UVA with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and minors in Global Sustainability and American Sign Language + Deaf Culture. She works in the UVA Office for Sustainability with the Service Learning team, and is passionate about increasing equity, accessibility, and sustainability in the built environment.