The Portland Trailblazers will plant three trees for every three-point field goal the team scores during the 2014-2015 season.

“3’s for Trees” is just one of the many sustainability initiatives of this pro-basketball team and its home arena, the Moda Center.

Upgrades have made the Moda Center one of the most energy efficient sports arenas in the country. More than 90 percent of the Center’s trash is recycled or composted. But Chris Oxley, VP of Business Development, says the team’s largest source of carbon pollution is not from the building or the trash.

Oxley: “Transportation is the biggest impact that we have, overall as a business – well beyond team travel or energy use. It’s the people that are coming back and forth to games here at the Moda Center that has the greatest impact from a carbon emission perspective.”

The team now provides bike racks and encourages fans and employees to avoid using cars whenever possible – with impressive results. On game days, more than 40 percent of fans walk, ride bikes, or use public transit to get to the arena – proving that when teams shoot for sustainability, it’s a game-changer.

Reporting credit: ChavoBart Digital Media.
Image source: NBA Portland Trailblazers 3’s for Trees

More Resources
Going Green Allows NBA Teams To Gain Corporate Partners And Engage New Fans
NBA Trail Blazers Sustainability
Green Sports Alliance Game Changer Report (Case Study: Trail Blazers)