GREEN SPORTS ALLIANCE

THE ALLIANCE HELD ITS ANNUAL SUMMIT AT CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA IN SEATTLE ON JUNE 26-28, 2023. WE FOCUSED ON A NEW BUSINESS MODEL TO CREATE BUY-IN FROM THE OVG VIA A HOST VENUE SPONSORSHIP TO HELP OFFSET THE RISING INFLATION COST OF THE SUMMIT VENUE RENTAL, AV, AND FOOD & BEVERAGE EXPENSES. WE ALSO FOCUSED THE 2023 SUMMIT ON THE RECOGNITION OF SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE FROM GSA MEMBERS WITH OUR SIGNATURE PLAY TO ZERO WASTE, WATER, AND ENERGY (CARBON REDUCTION) PERFORMANCE AWARDS. THE PTZ DATA COLLECTION, TRACKING, BENCHMARKING, GAP ANALYSIS, AND RECOGNITION SYSTEM IS A COLLABORATION WITH THE UNITED STATES GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL AND THE SUBSIDIARY COMPANY ARC THAT HOUSES A CUSTOMIZED SPORTS STADIUM/ARENA SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE PLATFORM. THE FUTURE OF SPORTS AND SUSTAINABILITY, LESSONS LEARNED IN THE SPORTS GREENING MOVEMENT, AND BEST PRACTICES SHARING WERE HIGHLIGHTED AT THE 2023 GSA SUMMIT VIA 16 SUSTAINABILITY BREAKOUT SESSIONS AND 15 SOLUTION SESSIONS. ATTENDEES LEFT WITH TANGIBLE TAKEAWAYS TO FURTHER PROMOTE HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE LIVE AND PLAY. THE 2023 SUMMIT INCLUDED 679 REGISTERED ATTENDEES, INCLUDING OVER 80+ SPEAKERS, 15 COUNTRIES, AND 172 CITIES REPRESENTED, WITH WASHINGTON STATE GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE, AND SEATTLE MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL AS FEATURED KEYNOTES. ATTENDEE FEEDBACK WAS VERY POSITIVE WITH A 92% "RECOMMEND" RATING FOR THE 2023 SUMMIT, HOWEVER, SUMMIT SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS WERE BELOW THE 2023 PLAN DUE TO THE HIGHER COST OF SUMMIT EXPENSES FROM OVG AND A 50% REDUCTION OF COMMITTED PARTNERSHIP SPONSORSHIP FROM OVG'S ORIGINAL COMMITMENT TO THE GSA SUMMIT ($150K). THIS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE OVERALL GSA 2023 FINANCIAL PLAN.CFP 2023 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS WITH AN OVERALL FOOTPRINT WASTE REDUCTION OF 89% AT SOFI STADIUM. SEE THE 2023 CFP IMPACT REPORT FOR MORE DETAILS. ALLIANCE MEMBERS, BOARD, AND STAFF PARTICIPATED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONTENT OF OVER A DOZEN WEBINARS. MANY NEW CORPORATE, PROFESSIONAL, AND COLLEGIATE SPORTS MEMBERSHIPS WERE ADDED IN 2023.THE GREEN SPORTS ALLIANCE ADDED AN UPDATED AND REVISED COLLEGIATE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM IN 2023. A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE COLLEGIATE MEMBERSHIP WAS COMPLETED AND NEW ASSETS AND MEMBERSHIP TIERS WERE CREATED TO SUPPORT THE COLLEGIATE STAKEHOLDERS. THIS WAS A PRIORITY DUE TO THE REDUCTION OF, UNIVERSITIES' MEMBERSHIPS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE DECLINE FROM COVID-19 FROM 2020-2022. AT THE END OF 2022, WE STARTED TO REBOUND WITH SOME NEW COLLEGIATE MEMBERSHIPS BUT SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE PRE-PANDEMIC MEMBERSHIP LEVELS OF 2019. THE ALLIANCE ADDED +20% NEW MEMBERS TO THE CORPORATE MEMBERS NETWORK, WHICH CONVENES BUSINESS LEADERS WITH A MAJOR GOAL OF PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO CREATE SAFE OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS IN THE SPORTS VENUES TO GET SPORTS UP AND RUNNING AND FANS BACK IN THE STANDS SAFELY.CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP GREW COMPARED TO 2022 AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OFFERINGS LIKE THE PLAY TO ZERO SOLUTION PROVIDER PACKAGE ALONG WITH LAUNCHING TWO NEW PLAYBOOKS AT THE 2023 SUMMIT (BUILDING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, AND WATER PLAYBOOK). AGING A/R SAW A QUICKER TURNOVER RATE DURING 2023 AS MEMBERS/SPONSORS/PARTNERS WERE MORE WILLING TO PAY ON TIME. WITH THAT SAID, THERE WERE STILL SOME CHALLENGES IN COLLECTING MEMBERSHIP DUES, DUE TO THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS SOME OF OUR MEMBERS WERE FACING. CONSEQUENTLY, THE ALLIANCE HAD TO WRITE OFF $31,500 IN UNPAID MEMBERSHIP INVOICES FROM THE 2022/2023 CALENDAR YEARS. 2022-2023 GSA MAINTAINED THE CURRENT STAFFING OF 5 PEOPLE AND ADDED TWO CONTRACTORS TO HELP MANAGE CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP RETENTION AND EXPANSION ALONG WITH SUPPORTING THE GROWTH AND SUPPORT OF THE COLLEGIATE MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY. WE ALSO ADDED TWO NEW GSA BOARD MEMBERS OMAR MITCHELL: NHL AND NORMAN VOSSSCHULTE: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES.