Climate change is making college football dangerous: heat-related medical emergencies surge in southern stadiums

What was supposed to be an exciting father-son outing to watch Vanderbilt take on Alabama turned into a medical emergency for Douglas Dill. During the October 4th game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, the rising temperatures and blazing sun sent Dill to the stadium’s medical facility on a gurney by the fourth quarter—a stark reminder of how climate change is infiltrating America’s favorite pastime.

Dill’s experience isn’t isolated. Across the South, college football stadiums are witnessing a troubling increase in heat-related medical incidents as temperatures soar beyond historical norms. The concrete and metal infrastructure of these massive venues creates heat islands that can push temperatures even higher than the surrounding areas, turning what should be enjoyable Saturday afternoons into potentially dangerous situations for tens of thousands of fans.

This emerging crisis serves as a warning bell for universities nationwide. As climate change continues to drive up average temperatures, particularly in the already-hot Southern states where college football reigns supreme, athletic departments face mounting pressure to adapt their facilities and game schedules. The implications extend beyond individual medical emergencies—they threaten the very culture of outdoor sports entertainment that generates billions in revenue and brings communities together.

The heat threat in football stadiums represents a microcosm of broader climate adaptation challenges, forcing institutions to balance tradition with the growing reality that extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and severe across the United States.