Director of Athletics Michael Kelly said the 35,000-seat soccer stadium meets environmental design standards. USF Athletic Photography
USF’s new $340 million stadium has raised concerns about sustainability, but USF Director of Athletics Michael Kelly said environmental measures were built into the facility’s design.
“Recycling efforts at all sporting events are highly encouraged,” Kelly said. “Waste management will have a significant impact on the design and revitalization of this facility.”
Despite Kelly’s reassurances about the university’s sustainability efforts, some still have concerns.
Joseph Dorsey, associate dean of the Patel College of Global Sustainability, said initiatives such as regular updates on recycling activities will reduce the stadium’s environmental impact.
Dorsey said he is concerned about how the stadium aligns with USF’s sustainability goals. He said one of the concerns is the amount of energy the stadium will consume and where that energy will come from.
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As co-chair of the committee overseeing the stadium’s progress, Kelly said the project will meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
According to USF Management Services, LEED is the leading green building rating system that provides a framework for sustainable construction.
Kelly said the team at construction manager Manhattan Construction Company and design firm Populous includes LEED-certified professionals.
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He said recycling and waste management programs will be integrated into the stadium as part of the LEED scorecard. The scorecard also considers categories such as water efficiency, energy, and air quality.
Other LEED-certified USF buildings include the Judy Genshaft Honors College, the Morsani School of Medicine and the Heart Institute.
Dorsey said that after the latest report, USF’s sustainability rating on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS), a ranking that evaluates university campuses’ sustainability efforts, went from gold to silver. He said it had gone down.
The 2022 report shows fewer sustainability-related courses and initiatives compared to 2018, and a decline in the effectiveness of sustainable transport initiatives. The next report will not be published until 2026.
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Dorsey’s concerns about the stadium opening in 2027 include increased traffic around campus, which he said would cause further pollution.
“With more parking, more cars, and a stadium, the campus could be flooded with more pollution around games,” he says.
In response to those concerns, Kelly said USF doesn’t need to build more parking because there is already enough parking near the stadium.
He also said the stadium’s Sycamore Fields location will “protect” the surrounding green space.
“This site preserves the wooded area on the north side of the stadium and adds a nature trail,” Kelly said. “I think this speaks volumes about our care for the environment and the beautiful environment the stadium creates.”
Morgan Matthews, president of the student group Global Leaders for a Better Environment (GLOBE), said she was “really looking forward to” the stadium becoming a model of sustainability.
She said environmental considerations should be a bigger concern than “branding and appearance.”
“If more students and alumni feel connected to the campus, they may care more about the sustainability of the campus,” Matthews said.
Lisa Rusenor, a graduate student in the Patel College of Global Sustainability, said she believes measures such as vegetation and the use of solar energy should be included in the stadium design.
“It would be really nice to have plants instead of just concrete blocks,” Leiseigneur said. “This can help both reduce and absorb heat.”
Solar panels are being used at the Marshall Student Center, but details of the stadium’s energy source have not yet been determined, Kelly said.
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Matthews said sustainability should be part of USF’s plans as the university grows.
“Without sustainable development, we cannot grow,” she said.
