Gainbridge Fieldhouse going green for All-Star Weekend
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While the WNBA’s brightest stars will shine on the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this weekend in the WNBA All-Star Game, a team of volunteers will have some renewable energy of their own on the concourse.
For the first time, Gainbridge is partnering with Protect Where We Play to bring reusable cups to the fieldhouse. Once the cups are used at Gainbridge, they will be washed and sent on to another venue.
“Being able to replace, over the course of a weekend, 25,000 single use plastic cups with reusable cups is engaging every fan in this fieldhouse,” Maddie Plank, sustainability project coordinator for Pacers Sports and Entertainment, said in an interview with Inside INdiana Business. “That’s really incredible and hopefully having an influence not just on the organization, but on the city and on the sports industry.”
Composting is moving up from the back-of-house bench to the front-of-house. In addition to the normal trash and recycling bins, fans will notice special bins for food waste and a container to drop off the reusable cups.
The green team will be stationed in different areas to offer guidance and educate fans about the sustainability initiatives.
“For sustainability folks in the industry, waste management is the most fan-facing sort of initiative,” Plank said. “I think it’s an honor to be collaborating with the WNBA on this, because it’s not just an All-Star Host Committee or Pacers Sports and Entertainment initiative. It’s something that the league can implement in the future.”
The front-of-house composting and reusable cups are part of a pilot program, but Plank says if this weekend is successful, there are hopes to implement more sustainability initiatives full-time.
Fans will also notice more opportunities to recycle around Monument Circle and on Georgia Street in downtown Indy.
PS&E also teamed up with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful before the All-Star Game. More than 100 volunteers picked up trash at 25 public basketball courts across Indianapolis.
The Indianapolis Business Journal is sharing live updates throughout WNBA All-Star Weekend. You can see their blog and other coverage here.
We’ll have more on the sustainability effort and the impact of the All-Star Game on Indianapolis on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.