New National Research Finds Bipartisan Support for Collegiate Green Sports

MONTEREY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blue Strike Sports today released new national study results from college sports fans and students indicating surprising support for green sports – and new revenue opportunities – across a range of fan demographics and ideologies.

Over 79% of the survey’s 771 active college sports fans representing 98 universities viewed sustainability as an important component of athletics, with 62% finding it very important or extremely important, according to Blue Strike’s research conducted by sport management professor Jonathan Casper at North Carolina State University.

Fans and students' political ideology averaged slightly right, with 29% liberal, 34% moderate, and 35% conservative respondents.

“Support varied by political ideology, but the broader pattern was positive across all groups, ” Casper indicated.

“The messages that resonated most with active college sports fans focused on practical benefits such as improving health and well-being, protecting the places people live and play, supporting local communities, and using resources responsibly,” Casper said.

Blue Strike CEO Kristen Cushman summarized the results another way.

“All sustainability is local,” Cushman said.

“Today’s college sports fans and students love green sports when it’s connected to visible, local benefits,” Cushman continued. “They want healthier campuses and communities, to protect student-athletes, and to strengthen where they live, work, and play.”

The data bode well for collegiate athletic departments seeking to grow new revenues and strengthen campus brand and reputation.

“Respondents viewed sustainability-aligned sponsors favorably and reported stronger intentions to purchase from those businesses, attend games and give to their university,” Casper said.

“I was surprised by the breadth of survey respondent support, " said Blue Strike Project Director Dave Newport. “But green sports programs have a history of attracting sponsorships, research funding, and philanthropic support.”

“The findings also suggest additional revenue opportunities for campuses through green sports. By connecting sustainability efforts with education, research, new technologies and local partnerships, universities can attract funding and strengthen their brand,” Newport observed.

“We have seen examples of that.”

The full report is available at bluestrikesports.com

About Blue Strike:

Blue Strike is a global, woman-owned, sustainability consultancy helping organizations reduce impact while increasing social and economic value.

Through integrated climate, energy, waste, sports and community engagement solutions, Blue Strike helps clients build resilient systems that work.

For more information, visit bluestrikeenviromental.com.