September 16, 2026

ANN ARBOR, MI — Fans in Michigan Stadium’s suites and clubs have a new way to reduce waste on gameday this season. Michigan Athletics and Learfield Sports and Entertainment introduced reusable cups in suite and club areas at the Big House beginning Sept. 5, when the Wolverines opened the season against Western Michigan. The program replaces single-use cups with reusable cups that are collected after use, washed, and returned for future games.

The initiative will continue throughout the 2026 football season and supports the University of Michigan’s broader efforts to reduce waste and expand reuse across campus. The program is a partnership among Michigan Athletics and Learfield Sports and Entertainment, sponsor SOLO®, stadium food and beverage provider Levy Restaurants, and reuse infrastructure and operations provider Bold Reuse.

The program is more than a Michigan first. By bringing reuse to the largest stadium in the country, the partnership sets a new operational benchmark for collegiate athletics nationwide. The program brings reusable cups to one of the university’s most visible settings and offers an opportunity to learn how to incorporate reuse into gameday operations. 

A Winning Partnership with SOLO®

The Michigan Stadium program builds on the reusable cup partnership SOLO® and Bold Reuse first launched in Michigan in May 2026. 

“Michigan Stadium is the perfect setting to showcase what’s possible when innovation and sustainability come together,” said Libby Rice, Sustainability Program Manager for SOLO® Reusables. “With more than 100,000 fans gathering on game day, this program demonstrates how reusable packaging can work at scale while helping build the infrastructure needed to create a more circular system across Michigan.”

Bold Reuse: Setting the Standard for Reuse in Collegiate Sports

Bold Reuse is the reuse infrastructure and operations provider making the program logistically possible, designing and running the collection, industrial washing, and redistribution system that keeps cups circulating throughout the season instead of going to landfill after a single use. The company has built a national track record across college sports, professional sports venues, and large-scale events. Michigan Stadium marks Bold Reuse’s first large-scale venue partnership in the Detroit market and an opportunity to apply its reuse model within Michigan Stadium’s suite and club operations.

Bold Reuse has emerged as a leading voice on what it takes to move sports and entertainment venues away from single-use packaging, publishing benchmark research on reuse adoption across the industry, and advising venues, sponsors, and food and beverage partners on how to implement reuse without disrupting gameday operations. 

Bold Reuse said the partnership shows reuse programs can scale to the largest venues in college sports without added complexity for staff or guests and that Michigan Stadium should serve as a reference point for athletic departments and conferences nationwide considering reuse. Supporting venues like Michigan Stadium on their waste-reduction goals, the company said, is how the model expands beyond a single Big Ten campus to the sport at large, cutting single-use waste and creating jobs along the way.

“Michigan Athletics is leading the next chapter of reuse in collegiate athletics and throughout its home state,” said Heather Watkins, co-founder of Bold Reuse. “Bringing a reusable cup program to the largest stadium in the country is a significant step forward. We’re proud to bring the infrastructure and expertise to make reuse part of the way things operate at the Big House, and we hope this partnership encourages more venues to see reuse as a practical, scalable part of their operations.” 

How the Program Works

Reusable cups replace single-use cups in suites and clubs at Michigan Stadium for all home games this season. Levy Restaurants serves beverages in the reusable cups as part of its normal in-venue service. SOLO®, which has a growing lineup of reusable products, supplies the reusable cups and return bins.

Bold Reuse manages the collection, washing, and redistribution system end to end.

“Michigan Stadium brings our community together on gameday and provides a powerful platform to demonstrate the leadership we want to see across our campus and throughout the state. Bringing reusable cups to the Big House builds on Michigan’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and gives our fans an opportunity to be part of that progress,” said Jennifer Cadicamo, Vice President and General Manager of Michigan Sports Properties.

Setting the Pace for U-M's Waste Reduction Goals

This launch builds on the University of Michigan's broader campus sustainability efforts. The Office of Campus Sustainability and Innovation advances university goals across operational and cultural areas, including climate action, waste reduction, and sustainable and resilient grounds. These include goals to increase waste diversion from landfill and reduce overall waste. Together, these goals reflect the university’s current waste reduction strategy, which emphasizes waste prevention, reuse, and diversion in support of a more circular campus. OCSI works with units across the university to track and report progress on these goals.

As the first venue in Michigan to adopt a reusable cup system, the reusable cup program puts that strategy into practice in a highly visible campus setting. By replacing single-use cups with cups that can be collected, washed, and reused, the program offers an opportunity to reduce waste while testing how reuse can be incorporated into Michigan Stadium operations.

Levy Restaurants' Role

As the food and beverage provider for Michigan Stadium, Levy Restaurants integrates the reusable cups directly into its suite and club service for every home game of the season.

SOLO® and Bold Reuse are actively welcoming venue and event partners across Southeast Michigan and throughout the Midwest. Organizations interested in a fully managed reusables program should contact Reusables@solocup.com.

Michigan Stadium Reusable Cups Program Summary

What: Reusable cups in suites and clubs at Michigan Stadium ("The Big House"), the first reusable cup program at a venue in Michigan and a new operational benchmark for reuse in collegiate sports.

When: Started September 5, 2026 (season opener vs. Western Michigan), continuing throughout the 2026–27 football season 

Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan, the largest stadium in the country by capacity 

Who: Michigan Athletics / Learfield Sports and Entertainment (venue), SOLO® (sponsor and cup supplier), Levy Restaurants (food and beverage provider), Bold Reuse (reuse infrastructure and operations provider)

About Bold Reuse

Bold Reuse is a reuse infrastructure and operations provider and a leading voice on reuse adoption in the sports and entertainment industry. The company partners with venues, sponsors, and food and beverage providers to replace single-use cups with reusable systems at every scale from local events to the nation's largest stadiums.

About SOLO® 

From party cups and paper goods, takeout containers and to-go drinks, and now reusable solutions, SOLO® gives people the freedom to enjoy food & drinks wherever they are. Back yard or center field, down at your corner coffee shop or in the drive-thru — SOLO is in the middle of every moment. 

Media Contacts Bold Reuse: press@boldreuse.com | SOLO: Dart.Communications@dart.biz

###