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This episode of Smart Energy Voices features a conversation exploring the unique sustainability challenges and opportunities within sports and entertainment venues with Bill Squires, Board Member of Green Sports Alliance and Chief Venues and Operation Officer for FIFA Men’s World Cup 2024/New York & New Jersey Host Committee, and Danielle Doza, Vice President of Sustainability and Environmental Services for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The discussion, which was presented at SED Forum Spring 2025, highlights how organizations like GOAL and the Green Sports Alliance are helping sports teams lead with environmental responsibility and use their platform to influence sustainability at scale. Doza shares how the Cavaliers are embedding sustainability into their operations through data-driven energy management, internal culture change, and fan engagement efforts. She emphasizes the importance of shifting mindsets among long-tenured building operators and leveraging the competitive spirit of sports to drive sustainable innovation. Squires reflects on his experience managing large venues like MetLife Stadium, underlining the critical role of ownership buy-in and the financial case for sustainability initiatives.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…
- Importance of data collection and analysis in the sports industry (05:27)
- Doza’s journey to sports sustainability (13:41)
- The moral responsibility of sustainability (15:00)
- Why ownership buy-in matters for sustainability (16:12)
- Cleveland Cavaliers’ sustainability efforts (18:25)
- How sports teams engage fans in sustainability efforts (20:22)
How Sports Venues Are Leading on Sustainability
Squires shares how his work with major venues like MetLife Stadium and academic programs at Columbia University is helping push sustainability forward in an industry that has traditionally lagged in the efforts. Doza offers an inside look at managing energy use in older arenas and highlights the untapped potential for innovation and audience influence in sports. They discuss the urgent need and opportunity for improving sustainability within sports venues, and Squires encourages industry stakeholders to consider joining the Green Sports Alliance and stresses that sustainability is not only a scientific or political issue but a moral one. Doza highlights challenges in the sports industry, such as the difficulty of modernizing longstanding operational habits and the importance of improving real-time data collection and analysis. They both underscore the growing scale of events and resource demands in sports venues, and the corresponding responsibility to manage them more sustainably.
Driving Environmental Leadership in Sports
Squires highlights the challenges of achieving LEED Silver certification for operations and maintenance and emphasizes that while the environmental benefits are clear, financial buy-in from ownership is essential. Squires highlights the importance of tools like ROI playbooks developed by the Green Sports Alliance to help CFOs and owners see the long-term value of sustainability investments. He shares some anecdotes to illustrate how small savings can add up significantly. Doza adds that in the sports world, the drive to be “the best” and “the first” can serve as intrinsic motivators for sustainability efforts beyond just financial returns.
How the Cavs Made Sustainability a Team Priority
Doza explains how sustainability efforts are structured within the Cleveland Cavaliers organization and highlights the creation of a “sustainability squad” made up of passionate internal team members who initiated composting and recycling programs. Their involvement with GOAL (Green Operations and Advanced Leadership), through Oak View Group, helped formalize the sustainability role into a senior-level position with real influence. She also notes the organization’s intentional investment in sustainability, supported by a leadership team that sees its long-term value. Squires adds that every organization should have a dedicated sustainability professional.
Making Sustainability Fun and Visible in Sports
Doza discusses how the Cleveland Cavaliers are exploring ways to effectively engage fans in sustainability efforts. Since most attendees come to enjoy the game, her team looks for strategic and visible ways to incorporate sustainability messaging, such as signage on waste bins and announcements on the “Humongotron.” The team is also working with WM, their waste hauler and sustainability partner, to gamify fan education. However, energy remains a tougher area to engage fans because it is not as visible. Doza highlights the need for more internal education, noting that even team members struggle with basic sustainability knowledge.
Connect with Danielle Doza
Danielle Doza is the Vice President of Sustainability and Environmental Services for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rock Entertainment Group, the first dedicated senior-level sustainability position in the NBA. At the Cavs, Danielle works across the company on sustainable operations, procurement, and reporting, supporting the marketing and communications teams, and integrating sustainability into partnership development. She was previously recognized by Sports Business Journal as “One to Watch” for women in sports and sustainability. Prior to joining the Cavs, Danielle was a corporate sustainability consultant as the co-founder of a small firm, where she helped manufacturing and consumer product companies with sustainability strategy development, reporting, and project-based challenges. Danielle is a graduate of The Ohio State University and the Cleveland State University College of Law. She received an executive certificate from the University of Pennsylvania Center for Social Impact Strategy.
Connect with Bill Squires
William D. Squires is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former naval aviator who served 12 years on active duty and retired as a Commander from the Naval Reserves after 24 years. In 1987, he transitioned into sports and entertainment venue management, holding leadership roles at Yankee Stadium, Giants Stadium, Huntington Bank Field, and ESPN Wide World of Sports. He contributed to the design, construction, and operations of major venues, including MetLife Stadium.
Bill is a past president of the Stadium Managers Association and runs a consulting business focused on venue and event management. He also serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving sports venues. He is a member of the Sports League Sub-Sector Coordinating Council, advising the Department of Homeland Security on venue security, and serves on the Professional Sports Advisory Committee for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4). Since 2007, Bill has taught at Columbia University’s M.S. in Sports Management program, currently leading courses on Sports Facilities and Events Management and Sustainability in Sports.
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