Climate change poses growing financial risks for sports organisations, particularly those operating in regions subject to extreme heat. Rising temperatures affect the condition of playing surfaces and the ability to deliver sessions safely, with direct implications for costs and revenue. 

California Magic Soccer Club commissioned Alma Economics to estimate the current and projected financial impacts of climate change on the club. The analysis focused on two channels: increased pitch maintenance and rental costs driven by extreme heat and low precipitation, and financial losses from session cancellations or shortenings due to unsafe conditions.  

We modelled projections over a 25-year horizon under two climate scenarios, a moderate emissions pathway and a high emissions pathway, using club data alongside publicly available climate sources. The analysis was complemented by a literature review on the health impacts of extreme heat on players. 

The findings give the club a quantified view of its current weather-related financial exposure and a clear picture of how costs are likely to grow under different emissions trajectories, supporting more informed decisions about long-term financial planning, risk management, and investment in climate adaptation.

Read the full report here