Image: istockphoto.com/Mark Stahl
A-list green
As one of the biggest sports attorneys, Leigh Steinberg represents over 150 professional athletes. His Super Bowl Party is one of the most anticipated gatherings in the industry, attracting an A-list celebrity crowd. This year his party is going green.
Collaboration
Steinberg approached GreenMark for help in greening his event in order to raise awareness of green energy, products, technology and practices. GreenMark is one of the first agencies to integrate environmental stewardship into sports sponsorship and operations.
Reaching sports fans
“Our Super Bowl Party has 2,000 to 2,500 guests that range from star players to team owners to corporate leaders to entertainers to US Senators. The Super Bowl week has evolved into a convention of Americana. By using our party as a platform for green technologies and practices we can attract the most exposure and penetration throughout the corporate, political, media and sports world for the critical importance of these practices -- and the vital priority of taking action now to stop global warming,” Steinberg told Green Living Online.
E-bins
The party kicks off tomorrow at Arizona’s Desert Botanical Garden with Steinberg and Hall of Fame Quarterback Warren Moon placing their used cell phones and laptops into E-Waste bins provided by Electronic Recyclers, a company that de-manufactures and recycles electronic items. (Americans throw out 2.6 million tons of e-waste every year.)
The E-Waste bins along with a Green Team of cheerleaders will on the Green Carpet to greet other celebrity guests. The E-Waste bins will remain open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for guest and locals to drop off their used electronic goods.
How to party green
To green the event, GreenMark used clean and renewable energy team, hired an environmentally friendly waste management team, created a menu with organic and locally produced food and beverages, and is offering swag bags of recycled, sustainable or low-impact products. Other "take-away" inspirations will come from the energy-efficient transportation. Steinberg wants his party to be fun, but also serve as a sustainability showcase to inspire guests to make changes in their own lives. In addition to the high-profile guest list, soldiers stationed overseas will be attending the party via satellite.
Raising funds
The afternoon event will also feature a silent auction to benefit the Environmental Fund for Arizona, a coalition of conservation and environmental groups. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on exclusive sports memorabilia and environmentally-conscious gifts. Steinberg will release an endangered owl and accept a commissioned painting by a local Arizona artist.
Role models
“The guiding principal of our practice has always been the ability of athletes to serve as role models promoting positive behaviour. I have encouraged our athletes to speak out on environmental themes,” said Steinberg, "Integrating the 'going green' theme for our event is giving us the opportunity to send a socially conscious message to a very influential audience and create an awareness campaign for others to follow."
The game goes green as well
The actual Super Bowl game is also green this year for the second year in a row. It will be running on 100 percent renewable energy. Salt River Project, the largest supplier of power to the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area, is supplying SRP EarthWise Energy renewable energy certificates to offset the Super Bowl greenhouse gas emissions and the whole NFL Experience. Salt River Project will donate renewable-energy credits from wind and solar energy sources. The NFL and the Host Committee will plant thousands of trees to help offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by Super Bowl events.
Can't make it to Steinberg's party? Hold your own and read about how to green it in 8 Steps to a green Super Bowl party.
Shelagh McNally is the editor of Green Living Online. This report was written with information from GreenMark and Leigh Steinberg Enterprise.
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