Fans back sustainability drive as record numbers Go Green on buses

More spectators than ever before used public transport to reach Edgbaston for the England Men’s Vitality IT20 against New Zealand as fans showed their support for the Go Green Game.

matc

2023-09-09T10:53:29.000Z

Sunday’s sell-out was the stadium’s first sustainable international match day – and the first of its kind in the country – as Edgbaston aimed to drive down emissions across all scopes of the ground’s footprint.

With almost 80 per cent of major match day carbon emissions linked to spectator travel, the ground worked with National Express West Midlands to offer free bus travel for ticket holders.

More than 3,600 fans arrived on a free shuttle bus service from New Street station – with around 2,400 on the return leg – while almost 1,000 fans travelled for free on other National Express West Midlands services.

“We’re really pleased by how the day went and we’ll now analyse all emissions data from the game, see how much we saved compared to our baseline major match in 2022, and look how we can do even better next year.”

Edgbaston was powered exclusively by wind, hydro and solar energy for the game, grounds staff used electric mowers and rollers, food packaging was made from compostable seaweed, while 5,000 4 and 6 cards handed out were printed on seed paper that fans were encouraged to take home and plant to grow wildflowers.

No red meat was served in the stadium, while spectators also played their part by signing up for stints on the pitch-side energy bikes which, when pedalled, charged up Edgbaston’s electric road sweeper.

“It was great to see so many fans using our services to reach the stadium on the day and we hope more people are feeling encouraged to switch to our sustainable modes of transport to get around."

The Go Green Game is another step towards Edgbaston’s commitment to become a carbon Net Zero business by 2030 which is part of its Edgbaston 4 Sustainability pledge.