As we near the conclusion of March Madness and many going mad over the games (my office is about one mile away from the Villanova campus), I began thinking about the events themselves.  Sure, the games are social and community-oriented with a healthy splash of competition, but, in the spirit of most of my blogs, I ask: What about the environmental impact? 

Depending on how excited the supporters are, thousands of people travel to get to the game. Ford Field in Detroit, the venue for the men’s semifinals and finals, holds 71,000 people. In addition to fans, the stadium’s concessions – food, beverages, souvenirs – all travel to the game. Want to venture a guess that giant foam fingers are manufactured in China?   After the games, a good amount, if not all, of the trash will be taken to a landfill.  Then there’s the lighting, the water and heating.  At this year’s tournament, they even ship the basketball court floor around. Whoa.  It’s true; you don’t want to go to a crowded venue with me. 

So how does one enjoy a venue responsibly and still have a good time?  Mass transportation, bring your own food and beverage when possible, car pool, walk or bike- these are the most readily available answers for the patrons.  As an example, Villanova’s athletic facilities are easily accessible by public transit (if you haven’t guessed by now, we’re ‘Nova fans ‘round here).

Our company has its own answer.  We have our own soccer team.  Think of this: the patrons ARE the players, the venue does not offer food or beverage so we bring our own, players carpool, it’s a local venue…and it’s free to watch!  The footprint for the games is minimized exponentially!  The skill and popularity level may be a little different, but the entertainment is just as good (and good for the environment too!).