Serie A Positions the Coppa Italia Final as a Reference Case for Sustainable Event Operations.

Roger Hampel

Image: AC Milan

Lega Serie A has positioned the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Final as a large-scale operational pilot for sustainability-driven event management, using the 2024/25 edition as a testing ground for data collection, emissions measurement and process optimisation under its “Road to Zero” framework.

Event Operations Serie A

The Road to Zero framework was structured around operational control, cost visibility and repeatability. The Coppa Italia Final was used as a controlled environment to map the full footprint of a major football event, covering stadium operations, logistics, transport, procurement and supplier coordination.

According to the official report, the event generated 175.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, a figure that Serie A has deliberately presented not as a headline to be marketed, but as a baseline for future optimisation. By categorising emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3, the league has created a comparable dataset that allows year-on-year benchmarking and informed decision-making for future finals and large events.

Mobility and Logistics as the Core Business Challenge

The report confirms that mobility remains the dominant driver of environmental impact — a structural reality for major football events rather than a failure of execution. Travel by teams, staff, officials, partners and guests represents the largest and most complex variable in the operational equation.

For the Coppa Italia Final, Serie A coordinated transport planning across multiple stakeholders, prioritising rail travel where possible and centralising logistics to reduce inefficiencies. Beyond the environmental dimension, these measures also address cost control, scheduling reliability and risk reduction, areas that have become increasingly sensitive as event budgets tighten and operational scrutiny increases.

Infrastructure, Energy and Resource Management as Performance Variables

The Stadio Olimpico served as a testing ground for tighter control over energy and resource consumption. Electricity for the event was supplied entirely from renewable sources, while energy usage, water consumption and waste flows were monitored in detail.

Total electricity consumption reached approximately 20,000 kWh, while water usage was measured at 310,000 litres. These figures are now embedded into Serie A’s internal benchmarks, enabling future editions of the final to be planned with clearer expectations around resource demand and supplier performance.

Procurement and Circularity as Cost and Control Tools

Another key dimension of the Road to Zero project lies in procurement and materials management. The Coppa Italia Final applied circular economy principles across catering, packaging and consumables, with a focus on reducing waste volumes, improving sorting accuracy and standardising supplier requirements.

While these initiatives are often communicated externally as environmental actions, their internal value lies in supplier discipline, procurement consistency and waste-related cost reduction, particularly for events with high attendance and hospitality activity.

Sustainability-related requirements were embedded into procurement processes, staff training, partner coordination and reporting structures, creating a framework that can be scaled across competitions and seasons.