Joe GallopASM Global’s OVO Arena Wembley (cap. 12,500) has achieved AGF’s Greener Arena certification, becoming the third arena in the UK to do so, following the OVO Hydro (14,300) and the O2 Arena (20,000).
OVO Arena Wembley, which is the first ASM Global venue to undergo the certification and the oldest major arena in the UK, has the lowest embodied carbon impact according to the process.
Following an eight-month certification process, which provides external verification on carbon reduction and transition strategies, from catering to materials used and circularity, the OVO Arena Wembley is officially certified as “improvers”.
It was announced earlier this year that ASM Global’s entire portfolio of UK-operated venues will undergo the certification. ASM Global’s portfolio of venues in the UK also includes AO Arena Manchester (21,000), First Direct Arena Leeds (13,781), Utilita Arena Newcastle (11,000), P&J Live Aberdeen (15,000) and Olympia London (10,000).
AGF CEO Claire O’Neill said, “The team at OVO Arena Wembley show determination to be a forerunner in making their venue sustainable, and helping all touring productions in the UK to become greener as a result. In addition to their own ambitions they are actively sharing with the rest of the industry to speed up the transition from fossil fuels and waste to clean energy and a circular economy.”
On the OVO Arena Wembley being the longest-standing arena in the UK to achieve this certification, the venue’s VP and general manager John Drury said, “This shows that reinvention of existing buildings and a focus on sustainability lowers impact dramatically while also paying back the embodied carbon in its build emissions.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our operations and we’re on a journey that we’re sharing with visiting productions, artists and promoters, to ensure our environmental practices align. This enables us to work together to put on shows in a greener way, as should be the industry standard now and even more so in future as we learn and evolve.”
ASM Global EVP of Europe Chris Bray said, “On behalf of the ASM Global team, a huge congratulations to everyone at the OVO Arena Wembley on completing AGF’s Greener Arena certification. It’s a fantastic achievement and a positive step in the right direction, as ASM Global works towards its long-term sustainability goals.”