As St. Louisans celebrate Earth Day, St. Louis CITY SC is making strides toward sustainability with its Goal: ZERO initiative, a commitment to zero-waste matches at Energizer Park.
But these efforts stretch far beyond April and match days.
The club’s sustainability plan starts with its local vendor partners. For example, Bold Spoon Creamery, a local vendor located near the southeast entrance, is a locally owned farm-to-table creamery that is committed to sustainable practices. “The ingredients that we use in our ice cream are all grown on our farm in Park Hills,” says owner Rachel Burns. “We’re always looking for that full-circle farmable experience.”
In the same spirit, all food at Energizer Park must be sold in compostable containers, and beverages must be in recyclable packaging. As a result, less than 10 percent of all materials brought into the stadium go to the landfill. “It is amazing that the majority of items that we bring into the stadium are compostable,” says VP of stadium operations Joe Abernathy. “Last year, over 42 tons of the waste leaving the stadium was compost.”
With help from eight AI-assisted sorting receptacles located throughout Energizer Park, waste is partially presorted before arriving in an area where staff finishes sorting it into landfill, recycling, and compost. “We still go through everything by hand,” Abernathy says. “But it makes the job easier.”
St. Louis CITY SC’s commitment to GOAL: Zero has earned a host of accolades including the 2024 MLS Marisa Colaiano Community Impact Club of the Year, Green Sports Alliance Waste Player 2024, St. Louis Green Business Challenge Champion 2023 and 2024, Missouri Recycling Association Outstanding Organic Program 2023, and the St. Louis Area Chapter of the Meeting Planners International Sustainability Hero 2024 awards.
From the beginning, though, CITY SC has set the bar high for sustainability efforts, with Energizer Park earning LEED Gold certification—a first for a St. Louis sports facility. “One of the things that is great about being a part of St. Louis CITY SC is that they made it very clear that this was more than just soccer,” Abernathy says. “They wanted to be a great club and a great neighbor, so we in operations took that to heart and what better way to be a great neighbor than to be great to our environment and do the right things to minimize our impact on future generations.”
At the same time, the club is investing in the community in other ways. Recently, for example, CITY SC partnered with MERS Goodwill to help raise awareness about the Downtown West–based nonprofit’s Excel Center, an accredited, tuition-free high school that gives adults the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and college credits, along with other important programs including employment services, career counseling, skills training, and education and literacy programs.
CITY SC and MERS Goodwill will host a donation drive ahead of the June 14 home match.
“MERS Goodwill and The Excel Center are doing amazing things,” CITY SC CEO Carolyn Kindle said during a press conference announcing the partnership. “They’re providing unique opportunities for them to continue to grow themselves. To have a partner right down the street from us that is making a big impact in St. Louis, it really does fit into the club’s mission.”
CITY SC defender Josh Yaro added, “This is a really unique club in how community-driven and community-focused it is.”
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