Cleaning Accreditation Helps Sports Venues Operate Confidently Amid Pandemic
By ISSA
With the 2020-2021 NBA season underway and more professional and college sporting events welcoming fans or planning to in the near future, it’s essential that these venues have a strategic approach to cleaning for health and safety. The GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation Program from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, has garnered adoption across major sports venues in the United States, including 13 accredited NBA arenas, to safely allow in-arena attendance. “We are thrilled that so many professional sports venues are taking the necessary steps to prioritize cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “Maintaining safe facilities is crucial for protecting athletes, coaches, employees, and fans as they travel to these events.” Achieving GBAC STAR accreditation means that a facility knows how to prepare, respond, and recover from infectious disease outbreaks and biohazard situations. Organizations must fulfill 20 program elements and re-accredit annually.
To date, 13 NBA arenas have achieved GBAC STAR and 11 others are in the process of securing accreditation. In addition to NBA arenas, team venues for the NFL, NHL, MLB, and MLS also have achieved GBAC STAR accreditation. For example, tonight’s 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship, featuring the Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, is taking place at the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium, a GBAC STAR-accredited facility. Other notable GBAC STAR-accredited stadiums and arenas include the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles; AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; Oracle Park in San Francisco; and Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. The full listing of venues—including hotels, convention centers, airports, offices, and many other facilities—that have achieved or committed to GBAC STAR is available on the GBAC STAR Facility Directory at gbac.org/directory.
“Facilities that commit to GBAC STAR put extensive time and effort into developing plans that prioritize health and safety,” added ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “We applaud these sports venues and the growing roster of facilities of all types worldwide that have demonstrated their commitment to cleanliness by pursuing and achieving GBAC STAR accreditation.”Hear from Olinger and Steve Arehart, GBAC director of program development, about how GBAC STAR has helped Hard Rock Stadium prepare for events such as tonight’s championship game here.Learn about the STAPLES Center’s experience with GBAC STAR.For more information about GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation, visit gbac.org/star.