Football Fans Planting Trees?

Well not directly, but football fans are helping to plant trees with every post-season NFL ticket purchased on StubHub. StubHub, the world’s largest ticket marketplace, has partnered with the National Forest Foundation (NFF) in a joint effort to restore National Forests across the country.

“Tickets for Trees” is an ambitious program encouraging fans to “Support Your Team and Your Environment.” For every ticket purchased on StubHub for the 2008-2009 NFL post-season, one tree will be planted in a National Forest. Trees will be planted in the closest proximity to the cities hosting playoff games, as well as in the Ocala National Forest near Tampa, FL., the site of Super Bowl XLIII.

“All the trees planted in the initiative will help restore areas within National Forests that have been damaged through catastrophic fire, insect and disease outbreak and other natural disasters, while also improving recreational opportunities and helping to reduce erosion,” said Jeff Olson, NFF Vice President.

Football fans help plant trees with StubHub NFL playoff ticket purchases

StubHub and NFF expect to plant tens of thousands of trees in early 2009 as a result of the program. Planting 30,000 trees would sequester more than 15,000 tons of carbon. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that approximately two million acres of National Forests need restoration.

The Tickets for Trees program is another example of how sporting events are undergoing a green makeover nationwide. This year’s Super Bowl in Tampa is set to be green in many ways:

• Biomass from plant waste and solar energy will power the stadium on game day. Tampa Electric Company officials estimate the renewable energy power will prevent approximately 313,000 pounds of CO₂ emissions, the equivalent of taking 19 cars off the road for a year.
• All building materials, decorations and office equipment used for Super Bowl preparation will be donated to local nonprofit groups, rather than landfilled. An estimated $300,000 of materials is expected to be donated.
• Travel offsets will be made for the teams and NFL officials traveling to Super Bowl XLIII.
• Solid waste from the game and related NFL experience events will be recycled.