Sustainable and inclusive design must shape the future of sports venues - IMechE report

The report, ‘Engineering better sports venues: Designing for athletes, spectators and the environment,’ emphasises the role engineers, architects, government and sports organisations all play in creating venues that are sustainable and inclusive for all users.

As sport grows in popularity, so does its environmental footprint, particularly as mega sporting events captivate global audiences and accelerate the demand for large-scale venues.

The IMechE said that this growth comes with a significant environmental cost, with the global sports industry contributing an estimated 350m tonnes of carbon emissions annually – approximately one per cent of global carbon emissions.

In a statement, Tom Greatrex, chair of the Football Supporters' Association, said: “The role that supporters play in providing and enhancing the atmosphere is integral to the spectacle of top-class sport, as the behind closed doors period during COVID-19 demonstrated. ‘Football without fans is nothing’ is a frequently heard statement but fans deserve to be a key consideration in the design of stadia, not just for their own safety and comfort, but also to ensure the acoustics and atmosphere are not compromised by stadia design.”