Foul Ball

Why environmentalists should love the NFL.

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A game’s CO2 footprint depends on team size, travel, stadium size and energy use, and concessions. Game frequency, though, makes the biggest difference: One baseball game is a carbon lightweight. But all those doubleheaders add up, landing mlb in overall last place. Here’s how the big four score.

SPORT

GAMES PER SEASON

EMISSIONS PER TEAM PER GAME (TONS)*

TOTAL TEAM EMISSIONS PER SEASON (TONS)

OFFSET EFFORTS

NFL

16

716

11,448

The Philadelphia Eagles’ home games are 100% wind powered; team subsidizes renewable energy for employees’ homes; emissions cuts equal 1,500 cars per year.

NHL

82

232

18,983

More than 500 players pledged to offset their share of the league’s jet travel.

NBA

82

225

18,409

At a Houston Rockets “green game” this year, hybrids parked free; mascot Clutch the bear was dyed emerald.

MLB

162

179

28,998

The San Francisco Giants installed 590 solar panels in their stadium, enough to run the scoreboard for a season.

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