REUSABLE CUP PROGRAM / STADIUM PLAYBOOK
A reusable cup program replaces single-use cups with durable cups that are collected, washed, and served again, game after game. In September 2026, Michigan Stadium became the first venue in Michigan to launch one, bringing reusable cups to suites and clubs at the country’s largest stadium.
The program is a partnership among Michigan Athletics and Learfield Sports and Entertainment, sponsor SOLO®, food and beverage provider Levy Restaurants, and reuse infrastructure and operations provider Bold Reuse. This page breaks down how it works, what it took to launch, and how your venue can run the same playbook.
THE BIG HOUSE / AT A GLANCE
Michigan Stadium reusable cups at a glance
This Big House reusable cups example shows how SOLO reusable cups and reusable cup return bins can support a stadium reusable cup program.
Venue
Michigan Stadium (“The Big House”), Ann Arbor, Michigan, capacity 107,500+ — the largest stadium in the country
Where cups are used
Suites and clubs, every home game starting during the 2026 season
Launch date
Sept. 5, 2026, season opener vs. Western Michigan
Cups
SOLO® reusable cups in 9 oz, 12 oz and 20 oz, made from polypropylene #5
Return system
SOLO® return bins, collected and washed by Bold Reuse
Early results
5.1K single-use cups replaced in the first two home games
WHY REUSE / COLLEGE STADIUMS
Why college stadiums are moving to reusable cups
College stadiums serve huge crowds on a handful of dates, which makes single-use cups one of the most visible waste streams on campus. Reusable serviceware turns that stream into a closed loop.
Campus sustainability goals
Universities track waste diversion and reduction publicly. The University of Michigan’s Office of Campus Sustainability and Innovation sets goals for waste prevention, reuse and diversion, and the Big House puts those goals in front of 100,000+ fans.
Lower climate impact
A Bold Reuse lifecycle assessment found reusable cups produce 84% less carbon than compostable PLA cups. Per the Moda Center 20oz cups operating conditions.
A better premium experience
Durable cups feel closer to glassware, which fits the premium experience in suites and clubs.
Sponsor value
Reusable cups give sponsors like SOLO® a visible, credible sustainability story on game day.
Proof at scale
If a reusable cup program runs at the largest stadium in the country, it can run at any venue.
THE OPERATING MODEL
How the Michigan Stadium reusable cup program works
Each partner owns one part of the loop, so the program runs inside normal game-day operations.
Michigan Athletics / Learfield Sports and Entertainment
Venue; owns the fan experience, in-venue signage, radio and digital program placements
SOLO®
Sponsor; supplies reusable cups and return bins
Levy Restaurants
Food and beverage provider; serves drinks in reusable cups in suites and clubs
Bold Reuse
Reuse infrastructure and operations; runs collection, industrial washing and redistribution
CLEAN → SERVE → RETURN → SORT → WASH → REUSE
The reuse loop, step by step
01
Clean cups staged
Washed cups and return bins arrive and are stored in a clean, dry area.
02
Served in reusables
Levy staff pour drinks into reusable cups at suite and club service points.
03
Guests return cups
Fans drop cups in clearly marked return bins, placed 1:1 with landfill and recycling bins.
04
Sweep and sort
After the game, venue staff sweep the bowl and separate reusables from other waste.
05
Pickup and wash
Bold Reuse collects the cups, washes and sanitizes them at an industrial facility, and repacks them.
06
Back for the next game
Cups washed after the season opener were back in service at the second home game.
A MICHIGAN PARTNERSHIP
Built on a Michigan partnership
The Big House launch extends the SOLO® and Bold Reuse partnership that debuted in May 2026 at Taste of Ann Arbor and the NASCAR Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway. SOLO® is headquartered in Mason, Michigan, which made the stadium launch a hometown story.
2026
The Michigan launch year
THE VENUE PLAYBOOK
How to launch a stadium reusable cup program: 6 steps
Michigan Stadium went from marketing kickoff to live service in about four weeks. These are the steps any venue can follow.
For venue teams, this is a practical guide to how to reduce single-use cups at events.
Start with a controlled footprint
Launch where service is staffed, and spaces are defined, such as suites, clubs, or a premium section. High return rates there build the case for expanding to general seating.
Assign one owner per role
Name the venue lead, the cup supplier or sponsor, the food and beverage provider, and the reuse operator. Each partner signs off on messaging, logos and quotes before anything goes public. Bold Reuse has dedicated customer success and operations support to lead implementation
Design for returns, not souvenirs
Use one short call to action, such as “Return me for reuse,” on the cup, bin, and signage. Avoid collectible designs, and choose bright bin colors that don’t read as composting green or recycling blue.
Put the message everywhere fans look
Michigan Stadium used return-bin signage, 5x7 table tents with a QR code to a program explainer, a digital program ad, and a 30-second spot on the tailgate radio show. Staff talking points keep the message consistent at the point of service.
Launch on a tentpole and announce with proof
Start service at a high-attention date like a season opener. Then announce once you have game-day photos and cup counts; Michigan Stadium’s release went out after the second home game, allowing the team to gather the right
Track cups and report results
Count cups served and returned at every event. Share mid-season updates and a post-season recap with fans, partners, and media.
PROOF / EARLY RESULTS
Early results at the Big House
2.3K
cups reused at the season opener
ACTUAL EARLY RESULT
5.1K
single-use cups replaced across the first two home games
ACTUAL EARLY RESULT
52K
single-use cups eliminated across 8 home events
SEASON PROJECTION
The launch also earned regional and trade coverage, including Waste360, Packaging Strategies, Spectrum News and 94.7 WCSX.
PROOF AT SCALE
Reusable cups across college and pro sports
Michigan Stadium joins a growing roster of venues running reusable serviceware with Bold Reuse. Together, these examples show how reusable cups for stadiums can support college stadium sustainability and reusable serviceware for venues without changing the facts of each program.
Michigan Stadium
College football
Reusable cups in suites and clubs, launched 2026 with SOLO®
Alaska Airlines Arena, University of Washington
College basketball, volleyball, gymnastics
All soft drinks served in reusable cups from the 2024–25 season
Chase Field, Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB
First MLB reusable cup program; 16,000+ cups used and returned in the 2024 pilot, expanded in 2025
Moda Center, Portland Trail Blazers
NBA
Rip City Reuse program, backed by a published lifecycle assessment
Soldier Field, State Farm Stadium, CPKC Stadium
NFL and NWSL
Reusable serviceware programs run by Bold Reuse
Related resources
QUESTIONS / ANSWERS
Reusable cup program FAQ
What is a reusable cup program?
A reusable cup program replaces single-use cups with durable cups that guests return after use. A reuse operator collects, washes and sanitizes the cups, then sends them back for the next event.
Where are reusable cups used at Michigan Stadium?
In suites and clubs at every 2026 home game. The program started at the Sept. 5 season opener against Western Michigan.
What are the reusable cups made of?
The SOLO® reusable cups are made from polypropylene #5 and come in 9 oz, 12 oz and 20 oz sizes.
Who washes the cups?
Bold Reuse runs collection, industrial washing and redistribution end to end, so venue staff don't wash cups on site.
How long does it take to launch a reusable cup program?
Michigan Stadium moved from marketing kickoff to live service in about four weeks. Timelines depend on footprint, signage production and partner approvals.
Can reusable cups work at a large stadium?
Yes. Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the country by capacity, and its cups cycled from the first home game to the second on schedule.
Contact Bold Reuse