For sports fans around the United States late October provides a period of unmatched days and nights.  The World Series is being played, college and professional basketball seasons are around the corner, typically we would have hockey, and of course there is football hitting its mid season form.  

Whats not to love?  

I know that many of your are rolling your eyes and wondering where I could possibly be going with this post, particularly those of you that may not be fans of any particular sporting activity.  Even superfans realize that there is plenty not to like about sports, but we'll save that for another day.  

Over the last few years, many teams across the sporting spectrum have begun to integrate sustainability into their operations and infrastructure.   If you go see the Kansas City Royals play you'll see solar panels lining the outfield mezzanine.  Washington DC's football team has installed enough solar panels to power 20% of the stadiums game day energy usage and 100% of its non-game day load. Similarly, the Washington National's baseball stadium is LEED Silver certified, not to mention that is was built on a former brownfield site.

NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council, has recently released a new report--Game Changer: How the Sports Industry is Saving the Environment. The quoted paragraphs from the publication say it best as to why this is a bigger issue than it may seem in the shallow waters of our sound-byte social media society.

"It goes without saying that sports are a hugely popular, economically influential industry. And while team loyalties vary and sports management practices differ, there is one thing we can all agree on: Sports belong to no particular political party. Consequently, perhaps no other industry is better suited to confirm that environmental stewardship has become a mainstream, nonpartisan issue. Hundreds of millions of people of all political, social, religious and economic backgrounds watch sporting events each year, and the global supply chain of the sports industry includes the largest and most influential corporations in the world. In fact, while only 13 percent of Americans say they follow science, 61 percent identify themselves as sports fans.

Consider how culturally influential sports can be: Jesse Owens in 1936, debunking the Aryan supremacy myth. Billie Jean King beating Bobby Riggs in the first female-versus-male professional tennis match, a big step toward pay equality. Passage of Title IX, leading to financing for women’s athletics. Muhammad Ali’s conscientious objection to the Vietnam War and his role as a spokesman for civil rights. Magic Johnson’s openness about his HIV/AIDS infection, which helped to destigmatize that illness. Jackie Robinson breaking the race barrier in Major League Baseball.

Consider as well the combined visibility and market influence of the Super Bowl; the World Series; hockey’s Stanley Cup playoffs and Winter Classic; the NBA playoffs and finals; the US Open Tennis Championships; the pro basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer all-star games; and international soccer’s World Cup competition. Now consider the value of mobilizing that combined influence to promote greening."

Have any of you ever thought about engaging your local sports teams, whether recreational or professional as advocates in your sustainable communities activities?  Might be something worth considering.