In a groundbreaking move for sustainability in sports, the Kansas City Chiefs are taking steps to eliminate single-use beverage cups at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium—becoming the first NFL team to offer reusable cups stadium-wide for every event.
Launching at the home opener on September 14, 2025, this collaborative initiative—led by the Kansas City Chiefs in partnership with Bold Reuse, Levy, Aramark Sports + Entertainment, and supported by a Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) grant—combines implementation of a reusable cup system with the continued availability of souvenir cups to create a single-use-cup-free venue.
The MARC Solid Waste Management District E. is pleased to support the Chiefs' effort to provide an alternative to disposable cups at Arrowhead Stadium. Reusable cups are a cutting-edge waste-reduction solution, and Arrowhead is helping to move the needle in the KC Metro area by introducing reuse to its fans.
This sustainability initiative builds on the Chiefs’ long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation through their Extra Yard for the Environment program. This shift to reuse tackles the waste problem at its source—offering an opportunity to significantly reduce single-use plastic waste and keep it out of landfills and local communities.
While reuse pilots have emerged in other leagues and limited sections of stadiums, this marks the first time an NFL stadium has eliminated single-use plastic cups by enabling reuse systems across every fan zone, club, and suite. The impact is immediate: more than 42,000 reusable cups, provided by Bold Reuse, will be used at every home game and event, collected after use, sanitized, and returned for the next event—forming a closed-loop system that drastically reduces waste.
“This is a milestone moment for our own sustainability journey, and we believe it represents a major shift in the professional sports landscape,” said Brandon Hamilton, VP of Stadium Operations and Facilities with the Chiefs. “We’re proud to be the first NFL team to fully commit to reuse at this scale—and we hope it sets a powerful blueprint for other teams around the league and beyond.”
The shift is about more than waste reduction—it’s about creating a better fan experience. Reusable cups look and feel better, reduce confusion around sorting waste, and make it easy for guests to participate in sustainability without changing their behavior. It’s a premium, frictionless experience that aligns with the Chiefs’ broader commitment to innovation and environmental leadership through their Extra Yard for the Environment program. Souvenir cups and merchandise remain available for fans who want to take home a piece of game day—this initiative now replaces previously used single-use cups with reusable ones for select alcoholic beverages in concessions and in the suites.
“This is the moment reuse moves from theory to transformation,” said Heather Watkins, co-founder and CRO of Bold Reuse. “GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium proves that reuse can scale, deliver operational wins, and elevate the guest experience. With the right systems and partners in place, reuse outperforms single-use—on cost, quality, and impact. We're proud to help lead this shift and to show the world that the future of hospitality is circular, seamless, and fan-first.”
Bold Reuse, a women-owned circular logistics company, launched its Kansas City hub in Independence, MO, in 2024 and currently operates a reuse system at CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current. This collaboration with the Chiefs is a defining moment in Kansas City’s emergence as a national leader in sustainable sports operations.
“We’re always looking for new opportunities to help our partner teams, venues, and events reduce reliance on single-use cups, containers, and packaging,” said Mary McCarthy, VP of Sustainability for Levy. “Having the opportunity to test, learn, and lead this new Bold Reuse initiative alongside our partners at the Kansas City Chiefs is one we’re particularly proud of because it demonstrates the ability to drive significant and accelerated impact.”
“This collaboration is a first-of-its-kind opportunity to offer reuse at scale in an iconic sports venue,” said Alan Horowitz, VP of Sustainability at Aramark. “It is a powerful step in our commitment to delivering sustainable, guest-centered hospitality, where convenience, environmental responsibility, and exceptional service go hand in hand. We’re excited to partner with the Chiefs, Bold Reuse, and the fans in this exciting initiative.”
The future of game day is here—and it’s reusable.
About the Kansas City Chiefs
Founded as the Dallas Texans in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) by sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the franchise moved to Kansas City in 1963 and became known as the Kansas City Chiefs. The team currently competes in the West Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). Under the ownership of the Hunt Family and the leadership of Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, the core values of the club are to Win with Character, Unite our Community, Inspire our Fans, and Honor Tradition. The Chiefs are deeply committed to the Kansas City community through numerous programs as well as the Hunt Family Foundation. To learn more about the Chiefs, visit www.chiefs.com.
About the Kansas City Chiefs’ Extra Yard for the Environment
Launched in 2013, Extra Yard for the Environment is the Kansas City Chiefs year-round sustainability initiative designed to devise and implement green policies for the organization while raising awareness for green efforts at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex, and for fans at home. For more than a dozen years, the Chiefs have been implementing and tracking sustainability efforts to become a more engaged and socially responsible corporate citizen and have formed relationships with like-minded community allies in the sustainability space.
About Bold Reuse
Bold Reuse partners with venues, corporate campuses, and institutions to power circular systems through reusable packaging, logistics, and data-driven operations. Headquartered in Portland, OR, the company’s mission is to eliminate single-use waste and build a scalable infrastructure for reuse. For more information, visit www.boldreuse.com
About Levy
The disruptor in defining the sports and entertainment hospitality experience, Levy is recognized as the market leader and most critically acclaimed hospitality company in its industry. Levy has twice been named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine and has been honored by Forbes as a Best Large Employer, Best Employer for Diversity, and Best Employer for Women. Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants; iconic sports and entertainment venues, zoos and cultural institutions, theaters and music festivals, and convention centers; as well as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, Coachella and Stagecoach Music Festivals, and NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and MLS All-Star Games. For more, visit levyrestaurants.com or follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram, and X.
About Aramark Sports + Entertainment
Aramark Sports + Entertainment serves more than 150 award-winning food and beverage and retail programs in premier professional and collegiate stadiums and arenas along with convention centers, cultural attractions, performance venues, and unique entertainment destinations across North America. The company has received accolades for industry innovations including autonomous markets and dining concepts powered by artificial intelligence and has provided hospitality services at high-profile sporting events like the MLB World Series, MLB at Rickwood Field, NBA All-Star, and Indianapolis 500. Visit Aramark Sports + Entertainment's website to learn more or connect on LinkedIn and X.
