Three sporting venues that climate change will destroy
With sea levels on the rise across the globe, and other changes to the climate predicted to affect us for years to come, what sporting venues could we see become unusable in the very near future?…
We can’t escape the fact our lives are going to change drastically in the next 100 years. Earth’s global temperature is set to increase by over 2 degrees Celsius, and global sea levels were seen to increase ‘higher than any of those observed in the last century’. With a changing climate, the things we love enjoying have to change as well — that includes sport.
So, here is a list of the top three sporting venues that would definitely be unusable in the near future if we continue with the current state of the climate emergency…
3. Brunton Park, Carlisle United
If you’re football fan, you’ll know there’s one ground that is lucky to still be in use after being flooded twice in the past 16 years — Brunton Park.
The home of Cumbrian football club, Carlisle United, has witnessed two ‘one in a 100-year flood patterns’ in the last 16 years and climate change has played a big role in almost destroying the stadium.
Studies have shown that Storm Desmond, which hit the area back in 2015, was 60% more likely to occur because of ‘human-caused climate change’.
60% more likely to occur because of ‘human-caused climate change’
If you carry out the same modelling process, by 2050, one in four English Football League grounds can expect partial or annual flooding every year — flooding which links back to human-caused climate change.
The question for Carlisle will be whether or not flood defences can protect their stadium in the future. With anywhere between 1.4°C to 4.6°C of global warming by 2075–2100, the ‘UK will see increased convection as the Earth warms, resulting in more intensified rainfall.’
Carlisle have been able to recover from these flooding incidents, but if increased rainfall and rising sea levels continue, the next flooding of Brunton Park could leave the ground under the water forever…
2. Rod Laver Arena
Tennis tournaments are another sporting event that are at risk due to rising temperatures on the planet. But it’s already affecting the sport…
Back in 2019, the World Tennis Association announced its introduction of a new extreme heat policy at the Australian Open.
The creation of a ‘Heat Stress Scale’ provides the WTA with a measuring system for matches, with the scale ranging from one to five with specific recommendations associated with each step of the scale — one denotes temperate playing conditions and five the suspension of play.
With a global temperature rise of 3°C, cities in Australia could see heatwaves at least seven times a year, with some lasting up to 16 days at a time.
Situated in Melbourne, the Rod Laver Arena currently hosts the Australian Open. It could, however, be deemed unsafe for athletes to compete there if a global temperature rise occurs in the next 50 years.
If the conditions fail to meet the WTA’s new requirements, the famous venue could host no more tennis matches in the years to come…
1. F1 Miami Circuit
For motorsport fans across the world the introduction a brand-new grand prix in Miami was a highlight of their sporting calendar this year, but not everything is as bright and sunny as Miami was in the weekend just gone…
If you were watching televised coverage or even just following along on social media, you would have seen Aston Martin driver, Sebastian Vettel wearing a t-shirt which depicted the words — “MIAMI: 1ST GRAND PRIX UNDER WATER: ACT NOW OR SWIM LATER”.
Speaking to Sky Sports about his t-shirt, the driver said: “I find it alarming and, I’m surprised that we go to a place that is not going to be here in 50 years, and everyone acts as if it’s business as usual.
“That’s very disturbing to me and I think that the situation is very serious, and obviously I want to express my feelings with that t-shirt.”
What the Formula One veteran says is true — with rising sea levels across the coasts of America, Miami could be underwater by 2050 as shown by the map below:
So whilst cars can go racing in Miami in 2022, it might not be long before we wave goodbye to the newest F1 circuit.
