Croke Park has a big couple of weekends coming up but earlier this week it staged an event with even longer term consequences than a single match.
Sports Venue Business Live, gathered 50+ world-class speakers focused on elevating and innovating the live experience, through architecture and design, customer journey, fan and VIP experience, hospitality, fit-out and interiors, premium sales and service, sustainability, technology and venue commercialisation.
The opening keynote was delivered by Peter McKenna, Stadium Director of Croke Park and Commercial Director of the GAA.
It was a tour de force presentation on sustainability which resonated strongly with us that were gathered in the room and one we hope to bring to you early in 2025 at a live Sport for Business Sport and Sustainability event.
He first painted a grim picture of what we are doing to the world but then gave hope that taking a journey towards a sustainable, balanced, and still profitable business that meets the demands of stakeholders is possible and indeed essential.
He spoke of Croke Parks Zero to Landfill status achieved in 2014 and maintained over the decade since.
Of 100 per cent recycling but also of a 45 per cent reduction in waste.
Of bug hotels and bat boxes, polytunnels and pollinators on Croke Park’s own pitch farm in north County Dublin.
Of the simple elegance of the 50 mile menu using ingredients sourced solely from that distance radius from where we were sitting.
“We are aligned to the UNFCC Sport for Climate Action Plan, and we are committed to a 50% reduction in our carbon footprint by 2030 and a net zero position by 2050,” he said.
“We have signed up to science based targets to verify our progress.”
And to those who questioned whether Croke Park on its own could make a difference, or even sport, he spoke of the power of the sports audience, both locally and globally but even with that, in a world of distraction what could we do.
“Be mosquito’s,” he urged us.
“Have you ever been in a room on holidays about to doze off and you hear a mosquito, the incessant buzz and then stop, and start again. Samll can be powerful.”
In partnership with SSE Airtricity, Sport for Business has created a Sustainability Leadership Group. The group will discuss areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration over the next three years.
Find out more and get involved.
Karl Boyle of Connacht Rugby was joined by representatives from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and Everton’s new stadium in Liverpool, for a discussion on new build and renovation of major stadia.
Robert Fitzpatrick CEO of the Odyssey trust and the SSE Arena in Belfast spoke with deep knowledge, and experience of making things right for the regular fans.
There were talks through the day on sustainability featuring Fiona Cronin of Croke Park, frictionless technology, generative AI, premium experience, ticketing and more.
Brendan Meehan of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic and Vicki Donlon of Horse Racing Ireland talked about partnerships, there were discussions on design, and on optimising fan journey’s with Geoff Wilson.
It was a heads up experience, learning from global leaders about how the experience of attending major events can be the best it can be.
We learned from Minister of State Thomas Byrne on the Sport for Business Podcast this week that the Government is expected to publish its Major Events Strategy in the coming weeks. With Open Championships, Ryder Cups, Euro Championship Finals and Cricket World Cups coming to Ireland in the next few years, there has never been a better time. We have to get it right, but there is confidence that we will.
The Sport for Business Membership comprises nearly 300 organisations, including all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies.Â
