Kansas City, MO — 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 cuts 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 alcoholic beverages in concessions and in the suites.
"This is the moment reuse moves from theory to transformation," said Heather Watkins, Co-Founder & 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.
