Rivera believes the league has gotten “much closer” to this realization over the years, and he’s excited to be a part of the continued progression.
By Aubrey McCormick & Andrew Szunyog
Sports leagues are seeing the impacts and the surge of climate-responsible athletes using their platforms to promote positive environmental and social impact ? it?s something for the history books.
The golf industry, for one, is increasing its efforts to promote environmental sustainability and marketing to the general public its desire to embrace a more diverse demographic. Professional golfers have started speaking out about the changing climate, leading to some corporate sponsors rethinking strategies and how they can better align.
For many professional athletes, it?s no longer enough to represent a brand without purpose. The same can be said for consumers. People want to engage with companies, brands and industries that represent their values.
Over the last few years, the golf industry has made strides towards being more “sustainable,” but is it enough?
According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, “climate change is real and human activities are the main cause.” The future is net-zero, and re-entering the Paris Climate Agreement should be seen as a signal to step up and act faster than ever before. Nearly every country in the world, including the U.S., has agreed to voluntarily lower their carbon emissions, report progress and implementation efforts to show transparency.
In the U.S. alone, 2 million acres of land are used for golf courses. As the population grows, we may see more demand for this land to be used for agriculture, parks and real estate.
The UN Sports for Climate Action Framework aims to unite the global sports community to combat climate change through “commitments and partnerships according to verified standards including measuring, reducing and reporting greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.” Currently, five golf organizations have joined: the United States Golf Association (USGA); Waste Management Phoenix Open; The International Golf Federation; World Minigolf Federation; and Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore.
Golf is making strides both on social and environmental impact. Internationally, the Golf Environment Organization (GEO) uses its OnCourse program to help facilities, tournaments and golf course developments meet strict voluntary standards of sustainability. GEO?s influence is found around the world with partnerships spanning over 60 countries, including its new partnership with the Saudi Golf Federation, which is implementing GEO?s current sustainability strategy.
New golf course developments in Asia, the Middle East and Africa are incorporating sustainability into the design and implementation phases of their projects. Particularly, Laguna L?ng Cô Golf Course and Resort in Vietnam has developed a regenerative model with a 17-acre rice field that runs throughout the property that yielded a 28-ton crop in 2020. As one of three golf courses in the world to be EarthCheck-certified, it is empowering employees to support the local community and protect the environment.
In the U.S., the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) just completed its three-year plan to establish Environmental Best Management Practices for all 50 states. In professional golf, several PGA Tour tournaments are leading the way to decrease their carbon footprints by becoming GEO-certified events. Led by the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the LPGA?s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, these high-profile events are the PGA?s platform to broadly engage local communities and fans while assessing and reporting the true impact their tournaments have on local ecosystems.
Nonprofit organizations such as the National Links Trust, recent bid winners to take over operations of Washington, D.C.?s three public golf courses, are dedicated to protecting affordable municipal golf courses, understanding the positive impact they have on local communities.
Issues of diversity and inclusion in the game are garnering more attention as investments are made in supporting golf programs managed by historically Black colleges and universities. Of particular note are the establishment of Howard University’s men?s and women?s golf teams by Steph Curry and “Capital One?s The Match: Champions for Change,” an event featuring Charles Barkley and Phil Mickelson that raised $6.4 million.
LPGA professional and two-time major champion Suzann Pettersen has emerged as a leading golf sustainability spokesperson, becoming the first professional golfer to openly endorse and partner with the GEO Foundation to establish new levels of awareness and action.
Said Pettersen at the 2020 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, “As a mother of a young child, it is incredible how concerned you become over the future of the planet, its biodiversity, air quality and climate. These things are absolutely vital to the health and wellbeing of future generations, so we all need to do our best to make things better.”
According to the National Golf Foundation 2019 Industry Report, there are about 15,000 golf facilities and 24 million golfers. This is equivalent to around one in every nine Americans playing some form of golf. The industry has significant reach and an opportunity to lead by example and align to the world?s global emission goals.
In the U.S. alone, 2 million acres of land are used for golf courses. As the population grows, we may see more demand for this land to be used for agriculture, parks and real estate. Subsequently, millennials and Gen Z individuals will become the majority of the population. As these generations mature, environmental transparency and carbon impact data, among many other sustainability-focused initiatives, will become the standard.
We have some ideas on how the golf industry can join the green sports movement and take action.
The Golf Channel should join the U.N. Sports for Climate Action Initiative. If the Golf Channel were to become the first major American sports broadcasting network to sign onto this framework, the move would be a signifier of the golf industry?s recognition of its environmental impact beyond golf course development and tournament operations and show leadership in sustainable broadcasting and messaging.
We need more sustainability commitments from golf equipment manufacturers. Incredible amounts of money are spent every year on R&D as top golf equipment manufacturers compete for consumer dollars. Implementation of transparent, ethical and sustainable practices into their supply and value chains would increase accountability and responsible sourcing of inputs, report true emissions impact and expose gaps where current sustainable initiatives can increase efficiencies. If Amazon, Waste Management (and any other Fortune 500 company) can do it, then certainly the top manufacturers such as Titleist, TaylorMade and Ping Karsten Group can, too.
The PGA of America should introduce a sustainability curriculum to its member certification process. With over 26,000 members around the globe, PGA golf professionals are the lifeblood of the golf industry and serve as the industry?s experts. Giving them the tools to redesign systems to be more sustainable, innovative and regenerative would generate significant ROI opportunities while adding value to the profession and meeting global emission reduction goals.
We?d love to see broad implementation of sustainable operations across professional tournament golf. The select few professional golf tournaments that have committed to zero-waste and emission goals have provided a blueprint for how to conduct largescale tournaments in harmony with local communities. However, as the sponsorship dollars driving Corporate America?s investment into professional golf tournaments shift focus to include social and environmental accountability, will the managers and operators of golf tournaments be prepared to answer the call? A tremendous opportunity to activate climate action awareness campaigns awaits as fans and sponsors begin to return to the course to watch the game?s greats.
Federal legislation should help cities reinvest and retrofit existing municipal and public golf courses. In an effort to build back better, include city-owned golf facilities in any legislation that calls for grants, policies or loans that make them more accessible, inclusive and able to incorporate renewable systems. Investment in energy efficiency, water reclamation and irrigation systems, solar technology and alternative agricultural uses of unused space present golf courses as living laboratories for regenerative and circular urban ecosystems. Imagine if golf courses could grow enough food to feed an afterschool program or provide enough energy to power a homeless shelter.
The time is now.
Read the GreenBiz article here
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By Aramark
We?re passionate about serving people?and working to ensure the wellbeing of both people and our planet. While the pandemic dramatically changed how companies do business, we remained focused on practices that enable equity and wellbeing for millions of people and reduce our environmental impact across our operations.
This month, we?re celebrating Earth Day by highlighting our recent pledge to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent by the end of 2025, thus reducing our carbon footprint. This commitment is part of our Be Well. Do Well. sustainability plan and targets those emissions we control and influence?in technical terms, our scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions. These three scopes identify our emissions based on where they originate, as well as our ability to control or influence. The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol is the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standard for companies and helps them track progress toward climate goals.
?Mitigating the effects of climate change takes leadership?across government, industries, businesses, and consumers,? said Enterprise Sustainability Manager Kelly McCourt. ?Everyone plays a part and figuring out how to best address our part is an evolving initiative.?
Through the collaborative efforts of our food, facilities, and uniforms teams, we established our baseline emissions and identified key data gaps to close. We modeled different scenarios and evaluated the potential impact of various initiatives that will help to achieve our goal to decrease our carbon footprint. We?re also implementing practices to improve emissions tracking and expand our public reporting.
Given the wide and diverse nature of our business?from the food we serve to thousands each day, to the vehicles we drive and the facilities we maintain?we have a unique opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We?ve already implemented many measures to help us reach our goal, and we?re accelerating our strategy that will guide us in identifying, evaluating, and implementing practices to further reduce emissions.
According to CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), a non-governmental organization that runs the global greenhouse gas disclosure system, a company?s supply chain emissions ? included in scope 3 – are on average 5.5 times larger than a company?s direct operations. For a food service company, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity as we can determine which products we purchase, though ultimately our consumers choose their menu selections.
Through our inventory, we found that supply chain purchases, and animal products in particular, contribute a larger percentage of our emissions, while a smaller percentage is attributed to our building and vehicle operations. We also identified that emissions from kitchen equipment at our client locations present a significant gap in our inventory. So, in the next four years, we?ll advance our plans by taking a hard look at both our supply chain and our operations to implement practices that can help lower our emissions.
Across our company, we?re already lowering emissions by purchasing responsibly sourced products and reducing food waste. For example, our No-Deforestation Policy guides how we source palm oil, soy, beef, and paper products from healthy ecosystems not at risk of deforestation, since converting tropical forests for agricultural products such as palm oil, soy, beef, and paper (timber) is a leading cause of deforestation, and a major contributor to climate change.
We also strive to eliminate waste before it?s generated through menu planning, customer and portion forecasting, smart purchasing, consumer engagement tools, waste tracking, post-analysis, and other initiatives. All our food service locations are tracking food waste using a variety of methods, including 400 of our largest accounts that have transitioned to a technology-based solution for tracking waste. Tracking waste enables better decisions about what to purchase and how much to prepare.
In our Higher Education, Healthcare and Business Dining food businesses, we?ve also made an innovative move to more plant-forward and plant-based menus, which are better for people?s health?and for the planet, because they not only help reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also minimize demand for water and land resources and preserve natural habitats.
?As a company, our goal is to educate and enable consumers to make informed choices,? said Kathy Cacciola, Vice President, Enterprise Sustainability. ?For example, we?re striving to help our consumers understand the connection between having delicious, nutritious plant-forward meals and helping to reduce our collective greenhouse gas emissions.?
In our DSD business, we?ve set a goal of an 8% reduction in fuel consumption and the elimination of about 12,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) through telematics technology, route optimization, and fleet modernization. Our 31 all-electric step vans?on the road since 2017?have also decreased Aramark?s emissions by 433 metric tons of CO2, and we?re planning to add 50 more over the next two years.
And in our Facilities business, we implement energy management solutions that minimize energy consumption and improve operational efficiencies. Our deep knowledge and expertise enable us to develop tailored solutions that deliver on our clients? highest priorities such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions or helping to achieve time-bound climate goals.
While all of these are exciting accomplishments, we continue to raise the bar: we?re building on this momentum to deliver more emissions reductions. By tracking and quantifying environmental and financial impacts of these efforts, we?ll work toward our climate goal.
Not only is environmental sustainability the right thing to do, but it also has serious implications for our customers, clients, and bottom line. As consumers take steps to better themselves, they increasingly expect companies to be committed to social change and environmental responsibility. Similarly, many organizations?universities, companies, governments, sports teams?are escalating their expectations of partners and suppliers, wanting to ensure their vision and values are aligned.
?In our sustainability plan, we define sustainability as ?the three P’s?? people, planet, and profit. It’s a three-legged stool,? Cacciola said. ?By addressing climate change, our goal is to enable people to prosper, on a healthy planet, for generations to come while ensuring long-term business growth.?
We?re looking to the future with renewed determination to do good ? for our people and our planet ? across our entire business and in partnership with our employees, clients, investors, and stakeholders.
Read the original article here
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By Jeff Carlisle, ESPN
The Soccer Collective On Racial Equity (SCORE) released an initiative on Wednesday that aims to expand access and increase representation among Black soccer coaches at the collegiate level.
Dubbed the Clive Charles Diversity Hiring Initiative after the legendary University of Portland and U.S. men’s national team assistant coach, the effort is an opt-in pledge by Division I men’s soccer programs to include Black candidates in their pool for coaching vacancies. The initiative’s aim is to ensure equal opportunity in the hiring of coaches and to address the barriers that have faced underrepresented minority groups.
The initiative is also supported by Major League Soccer’s Black Players for Change and the USL Black Players Association.
“The Clive Charles initiative represents both acknowledgement of the current lack of Black coaches and tangible action to create processes to move towards equitable opportunities in the sport of soccer,” said Toronto FC defender Justin Morrow, who is also the Executive Director of Black Players for Change. “We are encouraged by the enthusiasm in response to this initiative by Division l Soccer programs and hope that our progress will be a guiding light as we continue our fight for equality.”
In a bid to increase access of Black coaches to job openings around the country, SCORE said it will maintain a “Ready List” of qualified Black men and women coaches. Collegiate programs that choose to enroll in the initiative pledge to interview at least one minority candidate which can come from the Ready List, though that isn’t required.
By agreeing to take part in the initiative, participating collegiate programs will send formal interview requests in writing to candidates, with SCORE maintaining interview records and reports. At the point that the final decision-maker involves themselves in the process, they must continue that involvement through the process’ conclusion. The final decision-makers must conduct interviews using similar platforms, venues and length of time.
“There has to be a strong and systemic movement in the direction of recognizing that there is racial disproportionality in the power positions off the field and rectifying it,” said N. Jeremi Duru, a law professor at American University in Washington, D.C., whose specialty areas include sports and entertainment law and employment discrimination law. “SCORE is moving forward with this initiative with that goal in mind.”
Among the coaches and programs that have agreed to take part in the initiative are: Sasho Cirovski of the University of Maryland, Nick Carlin-Voight of the University of Portland (WCC), Chaka Daley from the University of Michigan (B1G), Terry Davila of Cal-State University at Northridge (Big West), Chris Gbandi from Northeastern University (CAA), Leo Griffin from the University of San Francisco (WCC), Kevin Grimes of the University of California, Berkeley (Pac-12), Ryan Hopkins from San Diego State University (Pac-12), Bobby Muuss from Wake Forest University (ACC), Bo Oshoniyi of Dartmouth College (Ivy) and Ray Reid from the University of Connecticut (Big East).
“When I reached out to the coaches, I was blown away by not only their amazing response to the vision and mission set forth by SCORE, Black Players for Change and USLBPA last summer, but also by their sheer commitment to make a difference,” said SCORE Executive Board member Allen Hopkins, who crafted the initiative. “The fact that the premier college programs in the country are part of the charter group is special and reflects not only the character of the men who lead those programs, but also to the institutions they represent and the importance of equity in opportunities. Actions mean everything and in regards to equity and representation, this is by far the most significant step any organization has taken within the U.S. soccer landscape.”
While the initiative is focusing on college soccer, the hope is that a similar approach can be used at the professional level. At present, MLS has just two Black head coaches in Colorado Rapids’ Robin Fraser and CF Montreal’s Wilfried Nancy, and just two Black player personnel executives in Toronto FC sporting director Ali Curtis and New York Red Bulls sporting director Denis Hamlett.
“I am relentlessly optimistic about the impact the Clive Charles Initiative will have on college soccer and also at the highest levels of the game, including MLS and U.S. Soccer,” Hopkins told ESPN in a subsequent email. “Ultimately, what is most exciting is that the legacy of the initiative will be authored by those talented people, who receive the right support at the right time through the [CCI].”
Read the original ESPN article here
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When Natalia Dorantes virtually attended the fifth annual NFL Women’s Careers in Football Forum in February, she had to introduce herself to Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera.
So, as Commissioner Roger Goodell kicked off the event, she directed messaged him over Zoom.
“I’m a very proud Latina, and that’s like the first thing I said,” Dorantes recalled in a virtual interview Wednesday. “I was like, ‘As another Hispanic, I think it’s great that you’re in football because there’s not many of us, so thank you for that and thank you for being on the forum. It shows a lot that you’re just here supporting us.”
That introduction turned into a conversation, which then blossomed into a relationship and finally resulted in a job offer. Dorantes, 26, will serve as the team’s coordinator of football programs, working with all of the organization’s department heads to manage the internal requests for Rivera. It’s a job that requires trust, organization and confidence, Rivera said, and he believes Dorantes is the right person for the job.
“This is kind of new ground for us because I’ve never had a ‘chief of staff,'” Rivera said. “So I needed a person that’s gonna be able to interact with coaches, with coordinators and may have to say, quite honestly, ‘No, I don’t think Coach wants that,’ or ‘No, Coach doesn’t want that,’ you know what I mean? Because the one thing I want her to understand is that she’s going to have my voice, and I trust her.”
Rivera began his NFL coaching career as a defensive quality control coach for the Chicago Bears in 1997, so he understood all of the logistics associated with being a head coach. But since reaching that position with the Carolina Panthers in 2011, he always did those types of things himself.
That was until the 2020 season, when his cancer battle forced others to take over some of his workload, including all of the calendar and planning responsibilities. Once he beat cancer and Washington began its playoff push, he realized how grateful he was not to have to expend energy on those assignments.
In reflecting on the campaign, Rivera concluded he needed someone to handle those duties full-time, and he looked to the Cleveland Browns for the guidance. Callie Brownson was thriving as the chief of staff for new head coach Kevin Stefanski, so Rivera talked to Sam Rapoport, the NFL’s senior director of diversity and inclusion, about Brownson’s job description and how he could create a similar role in Washington. He then spoke with former Panthers defensive coordinator and current Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who hired Matt Worswick to be the assistant to the head coach in 2017.
Little did Dorantes know that she would be the next person to join the NFL in this capacity. Previously a recruiting communications coordinator for the Texas A&M football team, Dorantes was not looking for a job. But the more she got to know Rivera, the more she wanted to be a part of what he was building.
“On my interview, I couldn’t even put into words how awesome he was,” she said. “That whole process of me getting to know him, him getting to know me, meant so much more than, ‘Hey, can you do this?’ Of course I can, but do you know me? Do you know how I think? How I speak to people? Things like that really helped, and so that really made me excited for this because it’s all about the people.”
Dorantes was actually recommended to Rivera when he first arrived in Washington by Mike McCartney, who worked with Rivera in Philadelphia and who’s currently an agent. About a week before the NFL Women’s Careers in Football Forum in February, McCartney reached out to Rivera again. It just so happened that Dorantes would be in his roundtable group.
Rivera may not have connected with Dorantes if not for the forum, and the same could be said about now assistant running backs coach Jennifer King. She participated in the event in January of 2018, then made history two years later by becoming the NFL’s First African American Female Assistant Position Coach. In Rivera’s mind, these examples illustrate the importance of the annual event.
“What this [forum] does is it puts more than qualified people, sometimes overqualified people, in front of us,” Rivera said. “As you look at these women and you look at their accomplishments and you look what they’ve done and you look at the willingness to work for nothing to get themselves in front of people because they want the opportunity, I think that’s important, and that’s why I do it, and it’s important to me because I want to make sure I do it right.”
Rivera has long been praised for having some of the most diverse staffs in the NFL, but he is not singularly focused on bringing in diverse people. He appreciates different perspectives, which typically come from people with distinct backgrounds. His wife, Stephanie, is a prime example. As a former women’s basketball coach, she sees things differently than Rivera and his football-minded cohorts. Similarly, King and Dorantes can provide refreshing point of views in their particular areas of expertise.
At the same time, Rivera looks forward to a time when these hires are normalized. Women like Dorantes and King should not be singled out for their gender; they should be praised for taking the next step in their professional careers.
Rivera believes the league has gotten “much closer” to this realization over the years, and he’s excited to be a part of the continued progression.
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By OL Reign
Sustainability is a topic of growing importance, environmentally, socially, and economically. The journey is just beginning for the professional sports industry, including OL Reign. From individual player efforts, to changes in the way that the team and staff operate, the club is committed to focusing on sustainability now and in the future, through a variety of intentional efforts.
Many of OL Reign?s sustainability efforts are taking place in the locker room, beginning with education about implementing sustainable habits. Educational signage has been posted around the training facility highlighting how consumptions habits impact biodiversity and the environment, offering players more information about the importance of the sustainability efforts the club is participating in. The club is also providing 30-40% vegan meals, giving athletes the option to eat vegan or simply start the conversation about veganism and sustainability.
To reduce waste and eliminate the use of single-use plastics, OL Reign utilizes reusable plates, cups, and silverware for the locker room, and has transitioned to using items that are purchased in bulk, such as snacks, soap, bodywash, and conditioner, reducing the amount of packaging discarded by the club. The club is also transitioning to the use of reusable towels in place of paper towels whenever possible.
OL Reign?s commitment to sustainability is supported by new partnerships, such as the club?s partnership with Everybody Water, a boxed water brand that comes in 100% recyclable packaging and contains water from a community system. Partnerships like these have aided OL Reign in its efforts to eliminate the use of single-use plastic water bottles by providing sustainable hydration options.
Impact on Retail
OL Reign is currently in the process of transitioning to completely recyclable or compostable packaging on the retail side of the organization. In the Team Store at Cheney Stadium, OL Reign will use 100% recycled paper bags rather than standard plastic bags. For items that need to be shipped, the organization is moving to a 100% recyclable poly mailer to avoid creating packaging waste that will go into a landfill. In addition, new compostable packing tissue and packing stickers will be used.
A new way of printing t-shirts is also being implemented. This direct-to-garment printing will avoid the use of harsh chemicals and use a vinegar base when applying graphics to apparel items.
M.A.D Travel Kits by Lu Barnes
OL Reign defender, Lu Barnes has started her own sustainability effort in the form of M.A.D Travel Kits, which were announced on April 6. M.A.D Travel Kits, short for ?Make a Difference,? are eco-friendly travel kits filled with everyday products that are useful for professional women?s soccer players, such as protein powder, reusable utensils, reusable water bottles, toothpaste, deodorant, and more. These kits will be distributed to members of the club. The purpose the project is to encourage professional athletes to support sustainability efforts with their everyday habits and to encourage other professionals and fans to make an effort to do the same.
Barnes is looking forward to launch of these kits, as well as the efforts that the club is taking to become more sustainable.
?For the past six months I have been working with some incredible companies that have a proven track record in sustainable products. Together we have designed the ?M.A.D? (Make A Difference) eco travel kit and are taking a pledge to reduce our single-use plastics to lessen our impact on the environment in sport,? said Barnes. ?As a team we are passionate about the health of our planet and as a club we?ve made strides to becoming a more sustainable organization. With the backing of OL we have put together some exciting initiatives to further our journey towards a greener future.?
Jas it Up by Jasmyne Spencer
OL Reign forward, Jasmyne Spencer started her own sustainable clothing brand, Jas it Up, in 2017 with the goal of having a positive impact on the environment and society. Spencer works to make sure that her clothing is sustainably sourced on an environmental level, using manufacturing practice and materials that are better for the earth, as well as on a people level, ensuring that the work being done under ethical conditions and those doing the work are paid a fair wage.
?Jas It Up at its core is just an extension of myself and everything that I?m passionate about?preserving our environment and creating opportunities for our youth,? Spencer said. ?We all have a responsibility to leave the world in a better place for future generations. That starts with being conscious of how the products we buy and use on a daily basis affect the Earth and the people we share it with.?
OL Reign?s sustainability journey is just getting started, but the club is doing everything it can to ensure that it can continue to improve on its sustainability efforts. It has partnered with locally-owned businesses to achieve its sustainability metrics and is looking into the future to create a formal sustainability plan as part of its social impact plan.
OL Reign Associate General Manger, Santiago Gallo, thinks that the organization has a great opportunity to set an example when it comes to sustainability.
?Our team has a huge platform that if used in the right way, can create change to make a sustainable world and positively impact our planet,? shared Gallo. ?For us, it?s what we do on the pitch and outside it, and part of it is making a better world for all our stakeholders and future generations so they are able to enjoy the sport we love, like we are doing right now.?
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Existing venues also developing methods to fight climate change, promote sustainability
As part of the NHL Green initiative celebrating Green Month in April, NHL.com will feature stories on how the NHL is looking to grow and protect the game of hockey and its communities for generations to come. Today, how new and existing NHL arenas are combating climate change and promoting sustainability.
NHL teams and their venues are placing a greater emphasis on environmental sustainability and wellness, from existing arenas to facilities that will open next season.
In the 11th year of the NHL Green initiative, the 31 NHL teams, as well as the expansion Seattle Kraken, who will begin play next season, have taken environmental consciousness beyond improving recycling efforts and installing energy-saving LED lights as symbols of their commitment to combat climate change.
Multipurpose sports and entertainment venues like the Kraken’s aptly named Climate Pledge Arena and the New York Islanders’ UBS Arena are being designed and built with environmental impact in mind.
Existing arenas have upped their game too, from replacing fossil-fuel-powered ice resurfacing machines with electric ones, to installing solar panels and obtaining certifications to adhere to stringent health and safety measures in the age of COVID-19.
“We just think it’s good from a corporate citizenship standpoint to take this stance,” said Hank Abate, president of arena operations at UBS Arena, scheduled to open next season. “And we think, in the long run, we’d rather be the leader than a follower in this area.”
The Islanders new home has set a goal of being carbon neutral by 2024, Abate said.
“We’ll be encouraging mass carpooling,” he said. “We’ll have two train stations, one in existence, the other under construction, that will be coming in from both Grand Central [Station] and Penn Station. We’ll be utilizing electric vehicles, electric shuttles to bring folks in from various parking lots.”
There will be 1,000 vehicle charging stations for arena patrons to use use during games or during lot operating hours.
The arena will have all LED lighting and all appliances will be Energy Star-efficient. Water consumption will be about 40 percent less than other venues through low-flow plumbing, Abate said.
In Seattle, even the ice will be green. Rainwater will be collected from a section of the new arena’s iconic roof — a holdover from the old KeyArena — and stored underground in a 15,000-gallon cistern. The water will be used to resurface the arena’s ice.
The arena will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy, said Rob Johnson, vice president of sustainability and transportation for the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena. Mechanical systems, gas combustion engines, heating, dehumidification and cooking will all be electric.
“We’re looking at new investments with our partners at Amazon in effectively new wind and solar farms to generate the remainder of the energy and wield that back to the grid to power the arena,” Johnson said.
The Kraken are offering fans subsidized public transit to games to further reduce carbon emissions and encourage them to leave their cars behind.
“We estimated that as much as 70 percent of the building’s operating emissions would come from people and stuff coming to and from the building,” Johnson said.
The Kraken and the arena are even establishing a sustainable strategy to sourcing food. House wines and beer will come from Washington and Oregon and 75 percent of the food will come from a 300-mile radius of Climate Pledge Arena, when seasonably appropriate.
The arena seeks to leave little waste behind by eliminating non-compostable single-use plastics such as straws, food containers and single-serve condiment packaging.
The Florida Panthers and BB&T Center have focused on the arena’s impact on the environment as well as the human condition during the global coronavirus pandemic.
In December, the arena became the first in the NHL to achieve the International WELL Building Institute’s WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management.
The certification, confirmed by a third-party verifier, Green Business Certification Inc., recognizes BB&T Center’s adherence to IWBI’s guidelines and protocols for combating COVID-19 and preparedness to safely accommodate fans.
It addresses five core areas, including air quality management, cleaning and sanitation procedures, emergency preparedness programs, health services resources and stakeholder engagement and communication.
“It was something that we thought was important to bring the fans back,” BB&T Center general manager Tom Embrey said. “We want them to have that confidence. We feel that with the austere approach that we’ve taken and the amount of care and detail that we’ve put into this, that we are a far safer option than many other options within the area in terms of entertainment, or anything just in daily life.”
Other NHL arenas that have received WELL Health-Safety certifications include Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Ball Arena in Denver and Amalie Arena in Tampa.
UBS Arena will open with a Sharecare Health Security verification for its health safety procedures. Developed by Sharecare, a digital health industry leader, and Forbes Travel Guide, the verification covers more than 360 standards across health and hygiene protocols, from cleaning procedures to ventilation to social distancing.
Some of the environmental and health efforts adopted by NHL arenas are also being implemented at practice facilities and community rinks affiliated with or owned by NHL teams.
At the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey, the Philadelphia Flyers’ practice site, work was recently completed on the installation of a 1.06-megawatt onsite solar system to help make the facility powered by 100 percent renewable energy.
In addition, the Skate Zone replaced its propane-powered Zamboni with an electric-powered model.
“These environmental efforts reinforce the League’s commitment and progress in creating vibrant and healthy communities through hockey for the next generation of passionate fans,” said Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs.
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Major League Baseball announced Friday that it is moving the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta in response to a new Georgia law that has civil rights groups concerned about its potential to restrict voting access for people of color.
The 2021 MLB draft, a new addition to All-Star Game festivities this year, will also be relocated.
In a statement, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the league is “finalizing a new host city and details about these events will be announced shortly.” A source told ESPN that the 2022 All-Star Game is still planned for Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and that that site won’t be moved up to fill the void this summer.
“Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views,” Manfred said in his statement. “I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft.
“Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box. In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States. We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process. Fair access to voting continues to have our game’s unwavering support.”
The Atlanta Braves said they were “deeply disappointed” by the outcome.
“This was neither our decision, nor our recommendation and we are saddened that fans will not be able to see this event in our city,” the team said in a statement. “The Braves organization will continue to stress the importance of equal voting opportunities and we had hoped our city could use this event as a platform to enhance the discussion. Our city has always been known as a uniter in divided times and we will miss the opportunity to address issues that are important to our community.
“Unfortunately, businesses, employees and fans in Georgia are the victims of this decision.”
The Players Alliance, consisting of more than 100 current and former players who have united in an effort to empower Black communities, came out in support of MLB’s decision with a statement that read in part: “We want to make our voice heard loud and clear in our opposition of the recent Georgia legislation that not only disproportionately disenfranchises the Black community, but also paves the way for other states to pass similarly harmful laws based largely on widespread falsehoods and disinformation.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law last week a sweeping, Republican-sponsored bill that includes new restrictions on voting by mail and greater legislative control over how elections are run. The bill, which also prohibits volunteers from distributing food and water for voters waiting in line, was finalized on March 25 roughly 15 miles from the Braves’ stadium, Truist Park.
The new voting law, SB202, came in the wake of the first Democratic victories in presidential and Senate elections in Georgia in a generation, which triggered repeated unproven assertions by former President Donald Trump that the state’s election was fraudulent. Supporters of the new law have said it merely ensures election integrity and stamps out potential fraud, while critics have described it as a voter-suppression tactic that would make it more difficult for minorities, particularly people of color, to vote, citing how it reduces ballot access in urban communities that lean Democrat.
A recent examination of the 98-page bill by The New York Times identified 16 provisions that either hinder Georgians’ right to vote or strip power from state and local elections officials and give it to legislators.
The governor said in a statement that MLB “caved to fear” by moving the All-Star Game.
“I will not back down. Georgians will not be bullied,” Kemp said. “We will continue to stand up for secure, accessible, fair elections. Earlier today, I spoke with the leadership of the Atlanta Braves who informed me they do not support the MLB’s decision.”
Stacey Abrams, a Democratic former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and voting rights activist, tweeted about her disappointment but understanding over MLB’s decision.
“Like many Georgians, I am disappointed that the MLB is relocating the All-Star game; however, I commend the players, owners and League commissioner for speaking out,” Abrams wrote. “I urge others in positions of the leadership to do so as well.”
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said last Friday that he “would look forward” to discussions around moving the Midsummer Classic — slated for July 13 — out of Atlanta. Five days after that, President Joe Biden, who won Georgia by less than 12,000 votes, told SportsCenter he would “strongly support” such a decision, calling the new bill “Jim Crow on steroids.”
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was among those expressing support for MLB’s decision on Twitter.
Despite moving the All-Star Game, Manfred said that “MLB’s planned investments to support local communities in Atlanta as part of our All-Star Legacy Projects will move forward” and that legendary Braves player Hank Aaron, who died in January, would still be celebrated during the All-Star festivities.
Atlanta has previously hosted the All-Star Game twice, in 1972 and 2000.
Read the original ESPN article here
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This Women?s History Month we honor women who are making a difference in our communities. We?d like to shed light on two women leading Health in the Hood, an important partners of ours – Founder Asha Loring and Opa Locka Community Garden Manager Corine Newsome. Health in the Hood is a non-profit which began as a passion and is now on a mission to end food disparity in South Florida, striving to create a comprehensive health and wellness environment for urban communities that don?t have access to natural food supply.
Asha has made a conscious effort to create eight farms in South Florida with most of them in the northwest quadrant of Liberty City, Overtown, Miami Gardens, Pinewood, and Little Haiti, and one more farm they?re currently building. She noticed the need for healthy and natural food sources in these urban communities, which led her to educate families about these programs.
?I was so confused as to why I could go to the gym, stop by Publix and get healthy food but people who were just a mile away from where I worked, exercise, and live didn?t have that same access,? said Asha.
Health in the Hood is the answer to food insecurity, as a local 501c(3) that builds vegetable gardens in food deserted neighborhoods throughout the 326 food deserts in South Florida. The program receives land donations and converts them into various vegetable gardens. To maintain the gardens, they hire local residences in the neighborhood who serve as great educators for students and families to connect with their food source, learn about nutrition, and how to grow their own food.
Being a women entrepreneur is extremely rewarding for Asha, as she mentions, ?we have so much work as women so to navigate through makes me feel very proud. Makes me feel like my story can inspire other women who want to suppress those barriers.? 90% of the garden managers are women who nurture the plants in the gardens.
I think it?s about being resilient, being valuable, and being the magical powerful beings that we (women) are by nature that allow us to break those barriers and to continue to fight for equality and what better way to do it than by putting our steaks in the ground and making history everywhere we can because that?s what we are here to do I think,? said Asha Loring.
Corine Newsome joined the Health in the Hood program in 2013 and lives in the Opa-Locka neighborhood managing their garden. Her involvement began when she saw a garden in need of maintenance by her home. She began to pull out the weeds and put the vegetables to the side. One day Asha came by the garden and saw her maintaining it, and that is when she asked Corine to join Health in the Hood.
?Community is more than where you stay. I?ve always seen my neighborhood as where I reside. But to really be in the garden, you run into issues like watering the grounds. For the neighbors to pay attention and connect the water hoses to help me water the garden. Community is unity more than anything and it really makes me look at my surrounding area differently,? said Corine
Corine and the Health in the Hood organization are breaking the stereotype of what a typical gardener looks like. She along with her team of volunteers is taking risks and going for it when it comes to planting. She?s a big advocate in getting out there and doing something to help grow the community.
Read the original spotlight here
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Plan to help 4,800 ice rinks in North America reduce carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency
NEW YORK & SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY – Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, and the National Hockey League (NHL) today announced their partnership to help the more than 4,800 ice rinks across North America, from major arenas to community facilities, transition to sustainable LED and connected lighting. These solutions can help the hockey industry reduce its environmental footprint by improving energy efficiency, while also delivering health and well-being benefits and an enhanced fan experience.
“The NHL is committed to advancing sustainable business practices and reducing the environmental impact of all levels of hockey for future generations of players and fans,” said Max Paulsen, Director, Business Development, NHL. “Upgrading to LED and connected lighting is better for our planet – and offers a practical and cost-effective solution for rinks across North America. Through our partnership with Signify, rink owners will have the opportunity to reduce operational costs, streamline maintenance and focus resources on improving the holistic, in-venue experience. We are thrilled to name Signify the Preferred Lighting Company of the NHL and look forward to working together to support facilities’ switch to sustainable lighting solutions.”
Signify offers custom lighting services to help sporting venues assess their current equipment and create a plan according to their needs, whether it’s a retrofit upgrade or installing a new connected lighting system like Interact Sports. Signify also provides high-quality lamps, luminaires and software for a range of indoor and outdoor applications, from UV-C lighting to help disinfect locker rooms to color-changing, exterior façade lighting to excite spectators.
“We are proud to partner with the NHL and bring better, sustainable lighting solutions to hockey facilities across North America,” said Martin Stephenson, Head of North American Systems & Services, Signify. “Together, we can have a positive impact on the sport’s environmental footprint and on all who play and enjoy the game.”
To learn more about Signify, its lighting innovations and commitment to sustainability, visit www.signify.com.
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By Don Jordan
7/15/15 2015 Summer Aerials: Central Campus – Burton Tower, Rackham, North Quad, Hatcher, Shapiro, UGLI, West Hall.
The University of Michigan will immediately shift its natural resources investments to focus more on renewable energy, stop investing in funds primarily focused on certain fossil fuels and discontinue direct investments in publicly traded companies that are the largest contributors to greenhouse gases.
The new investment strategies are part of a commitment approved by the Board of Regents today to ensure the university?s investment portfolio reaches a ?net-zero? carbon footprint by 2050, likely making it the first public university in the country to take this step to address climate change.
In conjunction with the announced shift in strategy, the Board of Regents also voted to approve a $140 million investment in three funds directed toward renewable energy development and sustainable infrastructure development.
?Endowments by their very nature are future-looking,? said U-M President Mark Schlissel. ?Today we position our investment strategies to meet the challenges of the future.?
While a number of universities have focused on one tactic or another, U-M is the first American university to publicly commit to this combined set of strategies designed to mitigate the financial risks of global climate change.
?A net-zero endowment strategy considers the greenhouse gas emissions from all of the university?s investments,? Schlissel said. ?Substantial greenhouse gas emissions occur outside of the energy sector, and net-zero applies broadly rather than targeting a single industry.?
The president and regents outlined the new approach during a Board of Regents meeting as a part of a supplemental action item to modify the university?s existing portfolio of natural resources investments and approve a new investment strategy designed to mitigate climate change-related financial risk.
?The University of Michigan chooses to lead with a comprehensive, concrete investment plan to address the climate change crisis,? said Regent Mark Bernstein. ?We are making a clear commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our entire investment portfolio to net-zero. But that is simply not enough. We must do more, and we are. I?m proud that we are also the very first public university in the United States to publicly adopt this comprehensive combination of commitments, paving the way for others to follow.?
Regents unanimously approved the recommended action, which commits the university to doing the following:
Achieving net-zero emissions for the university?s endowment means balancing greenhouse gas emissions linked to U-M assets with emissions reductions.
With the action Thursday, U-M joins a small group of universities?including Harvard University, Stanford University and the University of Oxford?that have pledged to transition their endowments to net-zero emissions by 2050, according to data compiled by the nonprofit Intentional Endowments Network.
The $140 million in new investments aligned with the transition to a more sustainable economy and approved by regents included:
Announcement of the new investment strategy builds upon the university?s efforts to address sustainability through both academic research across disciplines and limiting its own carbon footprint.
Last week, the President?s Commission on Carbon Neutrality delivered its final report, including 50 recommendations to help the university achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the Flint, Dearborn and Ann Arbor campuses, including Michigan Medicine.
Recommendations pertain to direct U-M emissions, purchased electricity and indirect emissions sources, like commuting and food procurement. Proposed actions include converting heating and cooling infrastructure on all campuses to a more efficient system, transitioning university vehicles to a fully decarbonized fleet and incentivizing commuter electric vehicle use.
The commission designed recommendations to be scalable, transferable, financially responsible and environmentally just. Schlissel praised the PCCN report and said he will respond with initial action steps in the next month or so.
In addition, the university continues its progress toward meeting its 2025 sustainability goals, established in 2011. The Ann Arbor campus is expected to meet its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, relative to a 2006 baseline, later this year on an annualized basis.
It is expected to fully meet its annual goal during the next fiscal year?three years ahead of schedule. This will mean a net reduction of nearly 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year?equivalent to removing 43,000 cars from the road each year.
Read the original announcement here
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Virginia’s history, resorts and culture make it an attractive meetings destination in 2019. Read to discover the state’s best-in-class venues and other group offerings.
The Texas convention center scene is a competitive market. With new developments stretching from the DFW Metroplex to West Texas, read the latest on the Lone Star State convention scene.
Ahead of IMEX America 2019, Meetings Today content developer Kate Cripe got a sneak peek of the $375 million Caesars Forum. During a hard hat tour, she got a first hand look at how the conference center project, which is expected to open in March 2020, is progressing.
Learn why digital display technology is one of the best ways to take your event to the next level. We explore what it can mean for branding, the attendee experience, sustainability and more.
A glass sculpture titled You Are Here by Boise native Amy Westover was designed to inspire attendees and guests to look beyond the walls of the city's Boise Centre.
When it comes to conference speaking, an innovative speaker stage setup can drive more and unexpected engagement. Meetings Today Chief Content Officer Christoph Trappe reports live from DES Madrid on how the "open air" concept works for attendees and presenters.
Meeting and event planners working with a facility’s convention services team can help ensure their program is a success by providing some very basic, but essential, information. Maxine Compean, associate event manager for the dual-branded the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection and the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, offered the following six tips to keep meeting and event planners and the convention services team on the same page.
Event planner Christa Mekki, founder and senior planner at Magnetic Magnificent Events, was one of the first to experience the brand-new Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC). Meetings Today reached out to Mekki for her take on the reimagined convention center.
Innovation is requisite for staying ahead in the convention business. It’s second nature for Las Vegas, and it’s also the watchword for reinvention in convention markets around the U.S.
AEG Facilities and SMG owner Onex announced they will merge to create ASM Global. The new company will be headquartered in Los Angeles and will operate over 300 venues across five continents that include arenas, stadiums, convention centers and performing arts centers.
As the new year approaches, so does a new beginning for San Francisco’s meetings business. The long-awaited opening of an upgraded Moscone Center came in early January, as the convention complex debuted a $551 million expansion.
Meetings Today Senior Contributor Jeff Heilman touched base with Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) Executive Director David Gibbons on the MCCA’s increase in group business and the future of the facility.
Orlando's Orange County Convention Center is moving forward with a $605 million campus improvement plan. The project will bring expansions and new meeting and exhibit space in the North and South concourses, further increasing the center’s seven million square feet of total function space.
IACC, the association that represents the global conference center segment, is set to more than double its number of European facilities within the next four months if a deal to add the supplier members of two conference center groups comes to fruition, according to IACC CEO Mark Cooper.
The America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis will undergo an expansion and extensive renovations. The AC Next Gen Project, which will include the addition of 92,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 65,000-square-foot ballroom and meeting area, a new outdoor pavilion and 26 new loading docks, was announced during a press conference held on October 3.
On a recent tour of the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Meetings Today spoke with John Page, general manager for SMG for the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). Page shared his advice for navigating a convention center renovation or expansion.
Once you’ve seen one convention center you’ve seen them all, right? A recent visit to the Chattanooga Convention Center left me surprised to find some nice touches that many of its bigger—and smaller—city counterparts lacked. Following are five standout features I noticed during my tour of the Chattanooga Convention Center led by Executive Director Mike Shuford, during a press trip with the Chattanooga CVB.
The Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) hosted a grand opening ceremony, Monday, Aug. 6, 2018 following a two-year, $207 million renovation and expansion project. State and local government officials, along with KICC facility officials and staff welcomed meeting clients, local stakeholders, interested citizens, and media to an open house that showcased how the new facility will host small to large-scale events.
Caesars Entertainment broke ground on its $375 million, Caesars Forum conference center on Monday, July 16, during a ceremony for trade press, industry executives and Caesars staff members. The ceremony was also livestreamed by Caesars so that people could tune in from all over the world.
Meetings Today contributor Carolyn Blackburn interviewed Jennifer B. David, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager with the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC), to discuss recent updates to the facility. The GCCC, which features 373,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, wrapped a two-year $140 million renovation and expansion project in July 2017 to improve the overall guest experience, including the installation of an impressive art collection and local F&B concepts.
College towns are happening hubs of activity, where the arts, sports and culinary delights thrive. All that and more is on deck for planners who book a university setting for a conference.
Architects have submitted their designs for the phase two expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The artwork installed at an increasing number of popular convention centers transforms these necessarily utilitarian buildings into magnificent galleries that rival some of the most inspired museums in the world.
The City of Arlington announced plans for Esports Stadium Arlington, an esports-specific venue designed to draw competitive gamers and fans from around the world. The proposed venue will be built within the existing Arlington Convention Center in collaboration with architecture firm Populous.
Meetings Today checked in with Michele Hughes, Director of Sales & Marketing with the Connecticut Convention Center (CTCC).
Goodbye big-box, bunkeresque venues. Hello green rooftop micro-environments, wellness spaces and hip street-party-scapes.
Addressing profound changes in how their customers are approaching learning, many conference centers are in a process of reinvention
Many convention centers are striving to reflect and showcase their locations.
An exceedingly intelligent choice for meetings and events.
The times they are a changin’, and all for the better from this reporter’s perspective.
Generic big-box convention centers seem to be going the way of the buggy whip and typewriter.
Here is the top feedback when it comes to staging cutting-edge conference meets.
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When it comes to putting fun on the agenda, State College is one smart choice.
Dana Freker Doody answers questions from Meetings Focus' Invigorate Your Large Events webinar.
Today's conference centers are more about standing out than fitting in.
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Modern convention centers are about experience as much as setting.
The 2014 IACC Annual Conference reported it has attracted the most registered attendees since 2008.
State College, home to Pennsylvania State University, welcomes groups with its vibrant ambiance and excellent on-campus (and off-site) facilities.
After a tough year, conference centers see better times ahead
Universities offer an exciting range of museum venues