From China to Qatar, Stadiums Become Champions of Environmental Sustainability

The structures that host major sports competitions are becoming increasingly green and sustainable.

One of the latest examples of a new global model for stadium construction comes from China. It is the Greater Bay Area Sports Centre, located in the city of Guangzhou, a major port hub northwest of Hong Kong. The complex spans 70 hectares and will be inaugurated on the occasion of the Chinese National Games scheduled for November 2025.

An avant-garde project signed by the famous Zaha Hadid Architects in collaboration with the Guangdong Architectural Design & Research Institute, it hosts a 60,000-seat stadium, a 20,000-seat indoor arena, and a 4,000-seat aquatic center, all compliant with Olympic standards.

The architecture of the entire complex is inspired by the traditional boats of the Song dynasty, with a fluid design that evokes the sails of ships. Throughout the facility, sophisticated and innovative natural ventilation systems have been installed that do not consume electricity, yet provide relief from the region’s subtropical climate. This reduces reliance on mechanical air conditioning, helping to lower energy consumption.

Still on the topic of sustainability, the Greater Bay Area Sports Centre features a rainwater collection and reuse system that filters the water for use in irrigating green areas and operating sanitary facilities.

The facility is also equipped with a BEMS (Building Energy Management System), that allows real-time optimization of electricity use and energy management: using sensors, lighting and ventilation can be adjusted based on the number of people present and current weather conditions.

The Guangzhou stadium, like many others around the world, was built according to global sustainability parameters that are now increasingly widespread and respected in the construction of major sports infrastructure.

International sports associations and federations themselves have adopted guidelines for the design and management of facilities. FIFA’s Football Stadium Guidelines, for example, focus on five key environmental areas: energy management, water consumption, biodiversity, sustainable materials, and waste management. They encourage the use of local and recycled materials, the implementation of technologies to save energy and water, and the creation of green spaces to enhance biodiversity.

Let’s now look at some major stadiums that have impressed the public with their design, technological innovation, and strong eco-friendly footprint.

In Qatar, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a mega facility stood out for its exceptional sustainability features. It is the Al Bayt Stadium located in Al Khor, 60 km north of the capital Doha, built by the Webuild Group.

The facility has a capacity of 60,000 seats and its shape is inspired by traditional Bedouin tents, symbols of hospitality in Qatari culture. The stadium received three GSAS (Global Sustainability Assessment System) certifications with five-star ratings for design, construction, and energy efficiency.

Among the solutions adopted are the use of local, recycled, environmentally-friendly materials, the implementation of technologies for energy management and water savings, and modular design that allows part of the stadium to be converted into hotels and shopping centers.

The Al Bayt Stadium project shows how cultural tradition and green technology can be combined to create sustainable and multifunctional sports infrastructure.

Also in Qatar, and again for the 2022 World Cup, Doha’s Stadium 974 was built using 974 recycled and removable shipping containers forming a structural grid. This number, which appears in the name of the stadium, is also Qatar’s international dialing code.

The Global Sustainability Assessment System awarded Stadium 974 a score of five out of six stars for sustainability. This was also thanks to its design which, given its proximity to the sea, facilitates internal ventilation, making it the only World Cup stadium in Qatar built without air conditioning.

In Amsterdam, the central theme of environmental sustainability in stadium construction was the use of green energy. The Johan Cruijff Arena (formerly Amsterdam Arena) features 4,000 photovoltaic modules on its roof, delivering a total power output of approximately 3 MW.

A highly innovative feature of the project is that the energy generated by the panels is used not only for the stadium’s needs, but also to help supply power to the surrounding neighborhood.

Moving to the French Riviera, the Allianz Riviera Stadium, the Nice stadium, is part of the city’s “Climate Energy Plan”. It is built with recyclable materials and features 4,000 solar panels that store energy during the day and release it at night to light the exterior of the facility.

This structure also utilizes geothermal energy and is internally coated with a transparent membrane of pre-stressed polyvinyl fluoride, which optimizes lighting to avoid waste.

Much of the material used to build the stadium is 100% recyclable.