16 sports April 13, 2011 + Over the Edge Alliance Alms to Make Professional Sports Greener It has never been easier to be green KYLE BROWN THE SPUTNICK BRANTFORD, Ont. (CUP) — Last week, six professional sports teams from six pro sports leagues launched the Green Sports Alliance. The alliance is a group dedicated to identifying and adopting environmental initiatives to measure and reduce their impact on the environment. The six teams, all based in the northwest, include the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), Seattle Mariners (MLB), Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Sounders FC (MLS), Seattle Storm (WNBA) and Vancouver Canucks (NHL). Each club will work alongside the National Defense Resource Council, the United States’ EPA and Portland State University in this push to become more green. “[We] take pride in our commitment to our community,” Canucks Sports & Entertainment COO Victor de Bonis wrote in a release. “As a responsible community leader we also must do our best for environmental sustainability — for current and future generations. 29 “It became imperative for [the Canucks] to be a founding member of the Green Sports Alliance. We believe that by exchanging ideas and through open dialogue, we can have a positive impact in our community and can also effect change in the entire Pacific Northwest through the newly formed alliance.” While the newly formed alliance is taking a massive step in greening professional sports, it’s hardly a new idea. A 2009 survey’ conducted by ProGreenSports, a Massachusetts-based business specializing in sustainability strategy and services for pro sports teams, showed that half of the teams surveyed either had or were developing a sustainability plan. Mark McSherry, the founder and president of ProGreenSports, believes that a couple of factors are responsible for the shift in sports teams going green. The first, he says, is the green consumerism and green corporate trends, as well as a competition among teams in mega markets to try to become green first. “For example, in our area, the Red Sox compete with the Patriots, the Bruins and the Celtics for fans and sponsorship attention,” McSherry said. “So as one team goes green, the others respond and are competitive so they tend to ratchet up their programs. “They try to, just like on the field, beat out their competition.” Currently, this green initiative in sports has taken off primarily in four geographical areas: California, Colorado, the metro- Philadelphia area and the Pacific Northwest. The steps they are taking to help become “greener” are quite impressive as well. maximum refund free SPC Card They are measuring their energy and carbon footprint, implementing plans to reduce energy usage, put in more efficient equipment, and in certain instances, they are aiming to reduce their waste streams,” McSherry said. While much of the focus on going green in sports is taking place in the U.S. — most likely due to the sheer number of pro sports franchises operating in comparison to Canada — steps are being taken here, as well. The National Hockey League and its players’ association, for instance, teamed we make taxes easy Follow us on Twitter and Facebook up with the Canadian-based David Suzuki Foundation in 2007 to create the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge, whereby players bought clean air credits to offset the footprint left by travel associated with playing. All money from those credits went to Montreal-based Planetair, who used it to fund clean-air projects around the world. Also, in the progressively green centre of Vancouver, the University of British Columbia established a sports and sustainability research centre in honour of hosting the Olympics. While these initiatives obviously benefit the environment, McSherry also points out how going green can help the teams themselves from a business standpoint. “There’s a whole business dynamic: As sports teams can garner sponsorships and green advertising revenue, to the degree that as they green their brand, they become more attractive to the increasing green corporate trend, and avail themselves to the sponsorship money and green advertising revenue,” he explained. Student pricing For just $29.95, walk in with your taxes, walk out with your refund. Instantly. You'll also get a free SPC Card to save big at your favourite retailers. H&R BLOCK’ hrblock.ca @ 2001 HEA Block Canada, inc. “$29.95 valid for regular student tax preparation only Cash back service included To qualify for student pricing, studentirust present either §) aT 22020 documenting 4 or more months of full-time attendance ata college or university during 2000 or §i) a valid high school identification card. 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