Arsenal fans (Gooners) will be at the center of a new supporter focused climate action tournament ... [+]
English Premier League club Arsenal FC is teaming up with Ball Corporation - the sustainable aluminum packaging giant - and the British soccer climate action network Planet League to offer the club’s first ever climate action tournament for supporters.
The tournament is expected to begin this spring and will focus on reducing waste, reusing and recycling materials and switching from environmentally damaging products, like plastic, to aluminum. Planet League will develop the eco-friendly tournament and will provide green actions and challenges that help give fans agency in the fight against climate change. More details about the tournament will be provided in the near future.
By completing green actions and inspiring fellow fans to take up the tournament’s green challenges, Arsenal supporters will have the opportunity to win a range of “money-can’t-buy-prizes.” Fans should know: there will be no room for simulation, or cheating of any kind. Planet League uses its own virtual assistant referee (VAR) system, which requires participants performing green actions to upload photo or video evidence of them doing what they pledged to do. So Arsenal fans will need to abide by the popular internet phrase “pics or it didn’t happen,” to prove they completed each challenge.
Arsenal’s Chief Commercial Officer, Juliet Slot, is enthusiastic about the club’s first climate action tournament for fans. In the joint announcement of the new venture, she said “We’re excited to work with Ball Corporation and Planet League on this project. We have a long history of working with our supporters to drive positive change in their communities around the world, and this platform gives us the opportunity to inspire even more positive action.”
Ball Corporation and Planet League are similarly thrilled with the collaboration, and are focused on educating and engaging Arsenal’s fanbase. Ball’s Director of Strategic Partnerships stated, “Creating opportunities for supporters to learn more about the importance of recycling and building a viable circular economy is at the heart of our business and we’re looking forward to running a tournament with Arsenal supporters worldwide later this season. The Planet League platform offers a wide range of mechanics to mobilise supporters and help them live more sustainable lifestyles.”
Founder of Planet League, Tom Gribbin, expressed how important fan engagement on climate is, noting that “fans taking climate action is an emerging field.” He added that the field “needs the endorsement of leading clubs like Arsenal and brands like Ball Corporation to get the prominence it merits.” Most importantly, Gribbin stated that “the biggest impact football clubs can have on carbon emissions is to mobilise their supporters to take action.”
Planet League has a history of mobilizing supporters, clubs and players to take action on climate change. The organization was “set up to use the power of sport to help people live greener,” and since its foundation has seen over 200,000 verified eco-friendly actions recorded on its platform. Actions can be as simple as taking public transportation, recycling plastic and eating meat-free meals. Players like former Tottenham winger Lucas Moura, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and former England international Karen Carney have participated in green actions from Planet League’s platform.
Planet League is supported by over 82 clubs, including all 20 English Premier League clubs and by broadcaster Sky. It also played a major role in helping organize last year’s Green Football Weekend, which it will do again in early February.
This tournament, which focuses on developing fan awareness and agency in the face of climate change, is much needed proof that there is some willingness in the soccer industry - and amongst its corporate partners - to attack climate change head on. The hope now is that fans, clubs, players and sponsors push for holistic change that creates a future-proofed game and environmentally friendly sport.
