In the time we watch the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs clash at Super Bowl LIX, Louisiana will lose land the size of 2.5 football fields. The NFL’s Super Bowl activities include projects to combat this land loss, notably a living shoreline made from oyster shells.
Connecting Super Bowl With The Local Environment
NFL Green works to mitigate the environmental impact of Super Bowl every year by supporting local projects with the host city. Super Bowl LIX takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana, a state losing one football field’s worth of wetlands into open water every 100 minutes.
This is among the fastest rates of land loss in the world, and is caused by sea level rise, hurricanes, levees and the loss of sediment that once replenished coastal wetlands. It threatens communities, wildlife, and infrastructure. Climate change is exacerbating the problem by intensifying storms, increasing rainfall, and driving higher storm surges.
“It’s important to go into a community and listen to what they need,” said Susan Groh, NFL Green co-director, who leads Super Bowl environmental projects with husband Jack. Land loss and coastal erosion are major local issues for Louisiana, but they have national implications. The state is a key hub for the U.S. energy industry, the Mississippi River, which runs through Louisiana, is vital for national commerce and Louisiana supplies a significant portion of the U.S. seafood market.
Oyster Reef Project Created During Super Bowl Week
The creation of a living shoreline from oyster shells is a Super Bowl project taking place in Leeville, a community 90 minutes south of New Orleans. Leeville was founded in 1893 by survivors of the Cheniere Caminada Hurricane and has since endured numerous hurricanes including Katrina, Ida and Francine, as well as the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The oyster reef will slow erosion, protect inland communities from storm surges, and provide a habitat for new oysters and wildlife. The project happening in partnership with Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, a local nonprofit that has been doing this work since 2014, special forces veterans, local government and community volunteers.
Oysters are a cultural touchstone of New Orleans, so it is fitting that shells from those served in local restaurants will create the habitat. For Super Bowl 59, 59 tons of shells have been collected, sanitized, and placed into aquaculture-grade mesh nylon bags by CRCL and Chefs Brigade, using a grant from NOAA. This project is an example of the circular economy, where materials are kept out of landfill and used to help regenerate natural systems.
How Will This Super Bowl Project Make A Difference?
Oysters bring benefits to waters where they live says Danielle Brigida, senior director of wildlife communications and strategy at WWF, the world’s leading conservation organization. “Reef restoration projects end up benefiting local working waterfronts, natural biodiversity, and our oceans.”
Brigida confirms that it’s important to do research before altering an ecosystem, to make sure you’re not accidentally displacing other fragile habitat. However, “with artificial oyster reefs, you’re bringing a lot of positives to both the wildlife and the people of an area.”
Oyster shell reef builds such as this are “a drop in the bucket, that won’t directly stop sea level rise,” says CRCL director of communications and marketing, James Karst. However, they show how “relatively small, low tech, low capital projects can make a big difference and lead to better outcomes.”
Karst shared that engaging the community is almost as important as slowing coastal erosion. “We involve local leaders, business leaders, and elected officials,” he noted, highlighting the crucial role of education and engagement on these issues.
During Super Bowl week, volunteers will move the bagged oyster shells into the water, guided by eleven special forces veterans from Force Blue, a nonprofit for former combat divers. “Caring for our marine environment, as well as caring for our special operations veterans” sits at the heart of this effort says director of special projects and events Steve “Gonzo” Gonzalez. Volunteers will also plant thousands of marsh grasses behind the reef to further stabilize the area.
Other Super Bowl Community Legacy Projects
Additional environmental and community projects are happening around Super Bowl, led by NFL Green, Super Bowl LIX Host Committee and event sponsors. In Hardin Park, where former New Orleans Saints player Tyrone Hughes grew up, tree planting will provide shade and cooling for a playground.
Another tree planting is taking place in Madisonville, 40 miles north of New Orleans along the Tchefuncte River. 600 trees will be planted near the Tchefuncte Lighthouse, to stabilize wetlands and provide storm protection, in partnership with local nonprofit, Pontchartrain Conservancy.
Super Bowl’s Impact And Opportunity
The Super Bowl’s impact on the environment, and the economy, extends beyond the game. An exact environmental footprint for Super Bowl is not available, but NFL have shared they are working on reducing it, mainly through recycling, recovery and donations.
Reducing carbon emissions “demands everyone’s involvement, from businesses, governments, NGOs, and individuals,” says Jack Groh, NFL Green co-director. “Sport attracts wide attention, it can serve as an important channel for spreading the message of climate action to its fans.” Super Bowl fans include the 100,000 people expected to visit New Orleans, a U.S. viewership of 123 million people and 62 million people internationally.
The oyster shell reef initiative and tree planting efforts show NFL is connecting with local communities on serious environmental issues through Super Bowl. However, the league’s global platform and far-reaching influence provide an opportunity to do much more.
