MLS Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer and Continental Tire Join Forces to "Green Our Game"

Published on April 14, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (April 14, 2011) -- MLS W.O.R.K.S. announced today the launch of the 2nd annual Greener Goals Week, a League-wide effort focused on increasing environmental awareness. Major League Soccer has partnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Bonneville Environmental Foundation to identify and enact tangible ways to reduce our environmental footprint and help raise awareness throughout the soccer community.

During Greener Goals Week, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) will be purchased from Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset 100% of the electricity used at MLS stadiums during home matches the week of April 16-23. The clubs' combined REC purchase (renewable wind energy) represents a carbon dioxide-equivalent reduction value of more than 2,126,600 pounds and will support enough wind energy to power over 137 homes in a year. Additionally, fans attending MLS games during this week will receive Eco-tip Wallet guides, developed by the NRDC as a tool to better educate fans and to further the ongoing movement toward a more sustainable future. Fans will also receive flower seed packets courtesy of America the Beautiful Fund.

MLS corporate partner Continental Tire has joined forces with MLS W.O.R.K.S. to help raise awareness throughout the 2011 season. Starting in April during Greener Goals week, Continental Tire will activate in select markets and encourage fans to be responsible and environmentally friendly. Reusable bags and eco-friendly car and tire tips will be distributed during their on-site activation. Continental Tire and MLS W.O.R.K.S. will also conduct a Greener Goals event surrounding Red Bull Arena as part of the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game festivities.

"Major League Soccer is committed to environmental sustainability," said JoAnn Neale, Executive Vice President of MLS. "The MLS W.O.R.K.S. Greener Goals platform allows us to raise awareness and provide tools to minimize our environmental impact as well as conduct environmentally friendly projects that benefit the communities where our clubs play and where our fans live."

MLS clubs throughout the League do their part to educate our local communities and participate in sustainable projects in support of Earth Day. The following highlights some of the individual Club efforts being conducted:

- Chicago Fire - Chicago will launch the "Fire Goes Green" campaign for the second straight year. Fire players will be wearing commemorative jerseys with a patch and green lettering. The jerseys will be auctioned off post-game to benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation.

- Chivas USA - Chivas USA and MLS W.O.R.K.S. will mobilize students, supporters and local partners in a three-part campaign that will feature a recycling contest at three elementary schools in the Los Angeles area, a Chivas USA beach clean-up, and a "green" Chivas USA home match.

- Colorado Rapids- The Rapids will host their annual "Play Clean" night at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on April 22. Commerce City green businesses/vendors will be showcased prior to the game, Republic recycling trucks will be on-site, presenting a halftime recycling challenge to promote habitual recycling and a PSA will be aired that features Rapids players. Dick's Sporting Good Park is a founding member of the Rocky Mountain Greener Venues Partnership (RMGVP), focusing on helping entertainment and sports venues improve the sustainability of their facilities.

- Columbus Crew - Crew executives, Crew Cat and members of the front office recently lent their support to a neighborhood cleanup. The Crew contingent joined Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Keep Columbus Beautiful in a litter removal effort with residents of the South Linden neighborhood in Columbus. The Crew is a long-time partner of Keep Columbus Beautiful and the organization's environmental and beautification efforts.

- Houston Dynamo - Through their partnership with jersey sponsor Greenstar Recycling, the Dynamo will be conducting various recycling efforts including in their front offices, training complex (upon opening), and current home, Robertson Stadium. Other efforts will include the club wearing special white jerseys with Greenstar's purple logo to promote the "purple is the new green" theme (jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit Keep Houston Beautiful), eco-friendly fan giveaways and a halftime ceremony with Houston Mayor Annise Parker and the city's Sustainability Director, Laura Spanjian to recognize Houston Green Office Challenge members for displaying their environmental leadership.

- LA Galaxy - Volunteers from the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation, The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation and The Home Depot will build a Reading Garden at Leapwood Avenue Elementary School in Carson the week of April 11. Leapwood Elementary won the 2011 Reading Garden Challenge which encouraged schools and students (grades K-5) to focus on Earth Day by reading Dr. Seuss' The Lorax as part of the NEA's Lorax project student Earth Day and creating posters based on one of the following environmentally friendly themes: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, Save a Tree, Don't Waste Water, and Conserve Energy.

- New England Revolution - Waste Management and the Department of Transportation will be activating on the plaza during pre-game. Waste management will be collecting batteries, old cell phones for recycling and giving away eco-friendly items to fans. The Department of Transportation will also be promoting their NuRide carpooling/natural transportation program.

- Portland Timbers- The Timbers will kick off events with in-stadium promotions highlighting their January Stand Together/Friends of Trees tree planting, Timber Joey will make an appearance at an event that will feature 12 different local environmentally-focused vendors/resources for Leatherman's 400 employees and the Timbers and JELD-WEN will partner with a local youth soccer club to clean-up the area surrounding JELD-WEN Field. Timbers recycling company, Clean Scapes, will also be on-hand to participate and the youth soccer club will participate in a mini soccer clinic with Scot Thompson, former Timbers player and community ambassador following the clean-up.

- San Jose Earthquakes - Earthquakes players, coaches and front office staff will be participating in two community service events: Nursery Day with Our City Forest to prepare tree seedlings for tree planting and they will also build a community garden with Hope Services. In stadium activations will include discount parking and tickets for fans driving hybrids and taking public transportation and fan giveaways will include reusable bags and discount coupons from environmentally friendly businesses.

- Seattle Sounders - The Sounders joined the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Storm, Portland Trail Blazers and Vancouver Canucks to launch the Green Sports Alliance (GSA), a non-profit organization that will lead the effort for professional sports leagues, teams and facilities to reduce their impact on the environment. These organizations are working closely with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the U.S. EPA, Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Portland State University to identify and adopt innovative environmental initiatives and share information about opportunities to measure and reduce impact. The Sounders are committed to environmental sustainability and plan to improve their recycling programs and install solar panels in Qwest Field in 2011.

- Toronto FC - Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and approximately 200 employees will be participating in the "20-minute Toronto Makeover," a community clean-up, on April 15. In 2010, 175 MLSE employees participated.

MLS W.O.R.K.S. GREENER GOALS will help to identify ways to reduce our environmental footprint and raise awareness about environmental issues throughout the soccer community. The greening of our game will encourage MLS Clubs, players, corporate partners and fans to create a cleaner, healthier environment.

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