LA Galaxy players planting plants with children
Objective

In recognition that environmental issues directly impact sports, the LA Galaxy launched their sustainability program, Protect the Pitch, to continue to drive positive impact. The program was conceived with the notion that collaboration is the quickest way to make measurable improvements towards environmental sustainability.

Approach

The LA Galaxy designed an accessible and practical sustainability program that covers all facets of the team's operations, including venue operations, fan engagement, and community engagement. The team developed a website dedicated to their sustainability efforts to help communicate their initiatives to their fan base.

Results

As part of Protect the Pitch, StubHub Center completed two new energy efficiency projects in July 2016, becoming the first soccer-only stadium in Major League Soccer to install high-efficiency LED sports lights and the first sports stadium in the U.S. to use battery storage technology. The new upgraded LED lights are projected to use 60 percent less energy than the previously used lights. Other new sustainable programs implemented at StubHub Center include a bee farm that houses four bee hives that will produce more than 800 pounds of honey each year, a chicken coop, and the LA Galaxy Greenhouse that will offer space to grow various produce. Additionally, the newly installed 1-megawatt bank of Tesla batteries will help StubHub Center manage energy usage more responsibly, while cutting down on utility costs.