Fans More Likely To Buy Beer if Stadium Composts, Recycles Trash

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.

At stake are millions of dollars in ticket and concession sales, as well as tons of wasted resources, says Suzanne Shelton, CEO of Shelton Group, which conducted the survey.

Fans leave an estimated 16 million cubic feet of trash behind every year.

Shelton says the survey is the first of its kind.

The Shelton Group’s survey polled 2,015 Americans and 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 percent said it would improve their opinion of the venue owners.
• 32 percent said they would be more likely to attend another game or concert at the venue.
• 22 percent said they would be more likely to buy concessions.
• 22 percent said it would improve their opinion of the team or band.

When 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 percent said they would blame the venue owners — and it would tarnish their opinion of them.
• 26 percent said they would be less likely to buy concessions.
• 17 percent said they would be less likely to attend another game or concert at the venue.

AT&T Stadium, along with the EPA, the city of Dallas, nonprofit Rock and Wrap It Up! and Food Source DFW diverted 2,800 pounds of leftover food from landfills during the NCAA Final Four activities in North Texas this spring.

 Photo Credit: man drinking beer at stadium via Shutterstock