Columbus Provided Free Period Products at Sports Venues
Venue operators and event planners should note the new city-wide standard for menstrual product accessibility.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Columbus has become the first U.S. city to mandate free period products across all major professional sports venues. The initiative is part of the broader IgniteHER Columbus program aimed at increasing women's sports participation and enhancing the guest experience.
Why it matters
City officials are targeting the removal of barriers for women and girls in sports to support long-term fan and athlete growth. This policy aligns with broader infrastructure improvements as the city prepares for major 2027 and 2028 sporting events.
The Grow Her Game program will serve 400 income-eligible girls aged 4 to 7, while Columbus supports 82,500 jobs through visitor spending of $8.2 billion annually. The city has hosted 1,375 sporting events since 2002, generating $1.8 billion in direct visitor spending.
The players
Aunt Flow
A Columbus-based company that produces menstrual product dispensers and supplies 70,000 locations across North America.
Maggie Oliphint
A student-athlete who provided testimony to the City Council regarding the need for improved menstrual product accessibility.
The details
The rollout utilizes Aunt Flow dispensers, which include display windows for monitoring supply levels to streamline restocking labor. By integrating these units into professional arenas, the city aims to eliminate facility-based access barriers. The Grow Her Game component further supports participation by covering registration fees for soccer leagues, creating a cohesive strategy across venues and youth programming.
Timeline
2017: Pilot program for menstrual products in city facilities began.
Spring 2026: Student-athlete Maggie Oliphint testified before City Council.
September 29, 2026: Milestone for period product access in sports venues.
2027: Columbus hosts NCAA women's championships.
2028: NWSL expansion team starts play in Columbus.
Market Landscape
The mandate for period products follows the strategic pillars established by the IgniteHER Columbus initiative. This move mirrors a trend of cities upgrading public venue amenities to align with the requirements of future large-scale professional sports hosting bids.
Operators of large venues should anticipate evolving guest expectations regarding essential hygiene amenities. Businesses should review their facility maintenance schedules to incorporate inventory tracking for these products as a standard operational overhead.
The takeaway
Facility managers should evaluate the efficiency of their current supply-monitoring systems for high-traffic amenities. Tracking the visitor-spending trends associated with these infrastructure upgrades will be critical as the city prepares for major 2027 and 2028 event arrivals.
Further reading
For more on how local organizations are engaging with social infrastructure, visit Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ISSA | The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association.
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Should sports venues in your area provide free period products to all visitors?
