NFL: The Long-Term Sustainability Impacts of Super Bowl LIX

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Super Bowl LVIII in Nevada benefitted from NFL's green initiatives, but will New Orleans get the same? - Credit: Verizon
The NFL hopes Super Bowl LIX and its sustainability initiatives will have a lasting positive impact on the city of New Orleans in spite of the huge event

More than 125,000 people are expected to visit New Orleans, Louisiana, for Super Bowl LIX where defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

This is New Orleans’ 11th time hosting the big game and the NFL has said it will “leave a lasting impact” on the community.

This will certainly be true, but perhaps not just in positive ways.

Much of the city is situated below sea level and its location on the Gulf Coast exposes it to hurricanes, making it vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Celebs in private jets, fans arriving by car, producing huge amounts of food and even the (in)famous US$7m 30 second adverts produce a lot of greenhouse gases.

However, the NFL and other organisations are making a point of mitigating these environmentally unfriendly factors through a range of positive initiatives. 

“Sustainability is a core focus for the NFL, and the league is committed to reducing the environmental impact at each of our events,” it says. 

“The NFL strives to not only make each Super Bowl more sustainable than the last but to also leave a lasting ‘green legacy’ in the host's community.”

Oyster shells are part of the NFL's plan to leave a green legacy in New Orleans

Oysters in New Orleans

Not one, but two oyster-themed events form part of the NFL’s sustainability plans in New Orleans. 

The city is famous for its food including, of course, oysters.

The league’s environmental programme, NFL Green, is working with the Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, special forces veterans from FORCE BLUE, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) and community volunteers to support Louisiana’s coast.

To kick off the Super Bowl week, more than 50 tonnes of bagged oyster shells were collected by CRCL and a consortium of Gulf coast restaurants, chefs and caterers and moved into the water in Lafourche Parish.

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The aim is to create a living shoreline that provides habitat for new oysters and other wildlife to slow the rate of erosion. 

Volunteers also planted thousands of marsh grasses.

This is part of the Living Shoreline Project which also has support from Verizon, Entergy, Dow Chemical and Venture Global.

Wednesday of the pre-Super Bowl LIX celebrations brings more oysters where specials featuring the shellfish will be on menus across the city.

Discarded shells will then be collected by CRCL and Chef’s Brigade to restore shorelines and prevent further coastal erosion.

Planting trees and restoring habitats

Trees and park benches are new additions to Hardin Park in New Orleans after NFL Green and the Host Committee, along with the New Orleans Saints, Verizon and local government, put together a neighbourhood cleanup. 

Volunteers came together at Hardin Park for a special greening project in celebration of Super Bowl LIX - Credit: New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee

On Thursday 6 February, NFL Green, The Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, Verizon and Entergy will join 50 volunteers to plant 600 tree saplings in partnership with Pontchartrain Conservancy. 

This effort aims to stabilise an area of wetlands near the endangered Tchefuncte Lighthouse in Madisonville to protect the historic landmark. 

Tchefuncte River Lighthouse

The lighthouse was built in 1832 on the Tchefuncte River, home to fish, birds and even alligators.


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