Coastal Carolina University Coastal Carolina University
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Honors Theses HTC Honors College
Spring 5-6-2022
Sustainability in Minor League Sports Sustainability in Minor League Sports
Sara Nimmo
Coastal Carolina University
, [email protected]
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Nimmo, Sara, "Sustainability in Minor League Sports" (2022).
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Sustainability in Minor League Sports
By
Sara Nimmo
Business Marketing and Management
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science
In the HTC Honors College at
Coastal Carolina University
Spring 2022
Louis E. Keiner
Director of Honors
HTC Honors College
Mark Mitchell
Associate Dean
Wall College of Business
SUSTAINABILITY IN MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 Pandemic has greatly impacted the sports industry with the substantial changes
that were prevalent during 2020. With those changes, many leagues had drastic budget decreases
and were forced to compensate for the lost revenues. Many teams throughout Minor League
Baseball, the AHL and the NBA G League were forced to come up with creative revenue
streams as well as cost cutting strategies in order to maintain operations after the pandemic.
Along with the effects of COVID-19 on the business of minor league sports, there is also
heightened attention on what minor league teams are doing to sustain the environment. With the
growing popularity of environmental sustainability, many teams were pushed to develop and
implement several strategies to do their part in sustaining the environment. This research aims to
inform patrons and teams about potential strategies that can be utilized to sustain the business
and environmental sectors of minor league sports teams and leagues.
SUSTAINABILITY IN MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS
INTRODUCTION
The COVID-19 global pandemic has had a disruptive impact on all aspects of society.
Over 260 million people have contracted the virus globally, and over 5 million have died as of
December 2021 (Worldmeter.com, 2021). The effects of the virus have seen highs and lows as
different local, state, and federal governments have implemented various policies to negate or
slow down the spread of the deadly virus (International Monetary Fund, 2021). The desire to get
“back to normal” has been redefined by the need to live in the “new normal” (Maragakis, 2021).
As society continues to grapple with the effects of the pandemic, leaders in athletic
administration at the high school, college, and professional ranks have worked to implement
protocols and safeguards to allow the game to take place. Various state high school sports
associations enacted policies based on their local state laws. The NCAA (2021) provides broad
guidance to protect the health and safety of over 500,000 college student-athletes. Leadership in
professional sports (minor and major league) took various steps to allow safe delivery of their
respective sports. Here are some examples:
• Major League Baseball (MLB) canceled the 2020 season for minor league teams
(Associated Press, 2020).
• Major league baseball (MLB) played a 60-game schedule with an increased focus on the
geographic proximity of teams (Lacques, 2020). The league’s Division Series, League
Championship Series, and World Series were contested at neutral site locations in Texas
(Houston and Arlington) and California (San Diego and Los Angeles) (Major League
Baseball, 2020).
• The National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended play in March 2020 but later
resumed play for higher-performing teams in a shared location (i.e., The Bubble) in
Orlando, FL (Haislop, 2020).
• The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) played a shortened season in a
shared location (i.e., The Wubble) in Bradenton, FL (Cash, 2020).
• The National Hockey League (NHL) suspended play in March 2020 but resumed play in
a shortened season in two “Hub City” locations: Edmonton, Alb. for Western Conference
Teams; and Toronto, Ont. for Eastern Conference Teams. The Stanley Cup series was
then contested in Edmonton (Gatto, 2020); (Rivera, 2020).
As illustrated above, the various leagues found ways to sustain their operations (and
operate their businesses) in a dramatically changed operating environment. In Spring 2021,
Major League Baseball announced a restructuring of its Minor League system. The new model
provides increased player salaries, modernized facilities, and reduced travel time and costs. A
new Professional Development League (PDL) was organized with four partner leagues: The
American Association, Atlantic League; Frontier League; and Pioneer League. The Triple-A
affiliate teams (its highest level) were reassigned to be closer to their major league clubs (Mayo,
2021). The restructuring reduced the number of affiliated teams from 160 to 120 (ESPN.com,
2021). Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner, described the changes as follows: “In modernizing
our Minor League system, we prioritized the qualities that make the Minor Leagues such an
integral part of our game while strengthening how we develop professional athletes on and off
the field (Mayo, 2021).”
It can be argued that the above changes to Minor League baseball helped to sustain the
longevity of the industry (e.g., its sustainability as a business). Concurrently, many MiLB teams
have introduced sustainability practices related to energy conservation, recycling, landscaping,
purchasing, advocacy and education, and others (Minor League Baseball, 2021). This study
examines the sustainability practices in minor league sports. Attention will be given to business
sustainability and the traditional “lessened environmental impact” sustainability efforts. First, a
detailed description of the organization of minor league sports and their affiliates is provided.
Second, an overview of the actions taken to ensure the business viability of minor leagues sports
teams and leagues is presented. Next, the actions taken to address the issue of environmental
sustainability by minor league sports teams and leagues are reviewed. Finally, future issues are
discussed and potential changes that may come with the continuation of research and availability
of information.
THE ORGANIZATION OF MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS
In this section, the organizational structures for Minor League sports are discussed,
specifically Minor League Baseball, NBA G League Basketball, and Minor League Hockey.
Baseball
There are currently 30 Major League Baseball teams operating in the United States. Each
of these teams has an affiliated Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, and Low-A team. Additionally,
MLB operates two leagues for first year (i.e., Rookie players: Arizona Complex League (ACL)
and the Florida Complex League (FCL), where games take place at the Spring Training sites of
MLB teams. Additional teams bring the total to 179 teams across 17 leagues in 43 states and 4
provinces (Mayo, 2021).
Table A: Major League Baseball and Minor League Affiliates
Major League
Triple-A
Double-A
High-A
Low-A
Arizona
Diamondbacks
Reno Aces
Amarillo Sod
Poodles
Hillsboro Hops
Visalia Rawhide
Atlanta Braves
Gwinnett
Stripers
Mississippi
Braves
Rome Braves
Augusta
GreenJackets
Baltimore
Orioles
Norfolk Tides
Bowie Baysocks
Aberdeen
IronBirds
Delmarva
Shorebirds
Boston Red Sox
Worchester Red
Sox
Portland Sea
Dogs
Greenville Drive
Salem Red Sox
Chicago Cubs
Iowa Cubs
Tennessee
Smokies
South Bend
Cubs
Myrtle Beach
Pelicans
Chicago White
Sox
Charlotte
Knights
Birmingham
Barons
Winston-Salem
Dash
Kannapolis
Cannon Ballers
Cincinnati Reds
Louisville Bats
Chattanooga
Lookouts
Dayton Dragons
Daytona
Tortugas
Cleveland
Guardians
Columbus
Clippers
Akron
RubberDucks
Lake County
Captains
Lynchburg
Hillcats
Colorado
Rockies
Albuquerque
Isotopes
Hartford Yard
Goats
Spokane Indians
Fresno Grizzlies
Detroit Tigers
Toledo Mud
Hens
Erie SeaWolves
West Michigan
Whitecaps
Lakeland Flying
Tigers
Houston Astros
Sugar Land
Skeeters
Corpus Christi
Hooks
Asheville
Tourists
Fayetteville
Woodpeckers
Kansas City
Royals
Omaha Storm
Chasers
Northwest
Arkansas
Naturals
Quad Cities
River Bandits
Columbia
Fireflies
Los Angeles
Angels
Salt Lake Bees
Rocket City
Trash Pandas
Tri-City Dust
Devils
Inland Empire
66ers
Los Angeles
Dodgers
Oklahoma City
Dodgers
Tulsa Drillers
Great Lakes
Loons
Rancho
Cucamonga
Quakes
Miami Marlins
Jacksonville
Jumbo Shrimp
Pensacola Blue
Wahoos
Beloit Snappers
Jupiter
Hammerheads
Milwaukee
Brewers
Nashville
Sounds
Biloxi Shuckers
Wisconsin
Timber Rattlers
Carolina
Mudcats
Minnesota
Twins
St. Paul Saints
Wichita Wind
Surge
Cedar Rapids
Kernels
Fort Myers
Mighty Mussels
New York Mets
Syracuse Mets
Binghamton
Rumble Ponies
Brooklyn
Cyclones
St. Lucie Mets
New York
Yankees
Scranton/Wilkes-
Barre RailRiders
Somerset
Patriots
Hudson Valley
Renegades
Tampa Tarpons
Oakland
Athletics
Las Vegas
Aviators
Midland
RockHounds
Lansing Lugnuts
Stockton Ports
Philadelphia
Phillies
Lehigh Valley
IronPigs
Reading Fightin
Phils
Jersey Shore
BlueClaws
Clearwater
Threshers
Pittsburgh
Pirates
Indianapolis
Indians
Altoona Curve
Greensboro
Grasshoppers
Bradenton
Marauders
San Diego
Padres
El Paso
Chihuahuas
San Antonio
Missions
Fort Wayne
TinCaps
Lake Elsinore
Storm
San Francisco
Giants
Sacramento
River
Richmond
Flying Squirrels
Eugene
Emeralds
San Jose Giants
Seattle Mariners
Tacoma Rainiers
Arkansas
Travelers
Everett AquaSox
Modesto Nuts
St. Louis
Cardinals
Memphis
Redbirds
Springfield
Cardinals
Peoria Chiefs
Palm Beach
Cardinals
Tampa Bay
Rays
Durham Bulls
Montgomery
Biscuits
Bowling Green
Hot Rods
Charleston
RiverDogs
Texas Rangers
Round Rock
Express
Frisco
RoughRiders
Hickory
Crawdads
Down East
Wood Ducks
Toronto Blue
Jays
Buffalo Bisons
New Hampshire
Fisher Cats
Vancouver
Canadians
Dunedin Blue
Jays
Washington
Nationals
Rochester Red
Wings
Harrisburg
Senators
Fredericksburg
Nationals
Fredericksburg
Nationals
Source: Mayo (2021).
Men’s Basketball
There are currently 30 NBA teams in the United States and Canada; 28 of these teams
have an affiliated G-League team. In addition, two teams (G League Ignite of Las Vegas, NV;
Capitanes Ciudad De Mexico of Mexico City) operate independently and without NBA
affiliation (Adams, 2021).
Table B: National Basketball Association and G-League Affiliates
G-League Affiliated Team
Capital City Go-Go (Washington, DC)
College Park Skyhawks (College Park, GA)
Maine Celtics (Portland, ME)
Long Island Nets (Uniondale, NY)
Greensboro Swarm (Greensboro, NC)
Windy City Bulls (Hoffman Estates, IL)
Cleveland Charge (Cleveland, OH)
Texas Legends (Frisco, TX)
Grand Rapids Gold (Grand Rapids, MI)
Motor City Cruise (Detroit, MI)
Santa Cruz Warriors (Santa Cruz, CA)
Rio Grande Vipers (Hidalgo, Texas)
Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Fort Wayne, IN)
Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario (Ontario, CA)
South Bay Lakers (El Segundo, CA)
Memphis Hustle (Southaven, MS)
Sioux Falls Skyforce (Sioux Falls, SD)
Wisconsin Herd (Oshkosh, WI)
Iowa Wolves (Des Moines, IA)
Birmingham Squadron (Birmingham, AL)
Westchester Knicks (White Plains, NY)
Oklahoma City Blue (Oklahoma City, OK)
Lakeland Magic (Lakeland, FL)
Delaware Blue Coats (Newark, DE)
Stockton Kings (Stockton, CA)
Austin Spurs (Austin, TX)
Taptors 905 (Mississauga, Ontario)
Salt Lake City Stars (Salt Lake City, UT)
Capital City Go-Go (Washington, DC)
No affiliated team
No affiliated team
Source: Adams (2021).
Men’s Hockey
There are currently 32 NHL teams playing in the United States and Canada. The American
Hockey League (AHL) serves as the top development league for the National Hockey League
(NHL). Under the NHL, the American Hockey League (AHL) hosts 31 teams across Canada
and the United States. The AHL is not exclusively a development league. It is also home to
prospects who have finished junior or college hockey and older players who are too advanced for
other leagues. The vast majority of AHL players were selected in the NHL draft and signed
player development contracts. The American Hockey League and the Professional Hockey
Players’ Association have the following development rule in place (American Hockey
Association, 2021):
“Of the 18 skaters (not counting two goaltenders) that teams may dress for a game, at least
13 must be qualified as “development players.” Of those 13, 12 must have played in 260 or
fewer professional games (including AHL, NHL and European elite leagues), and one must
have played in 320 or fewer professional games. All calculations for development status are
based on regular season totals as of the start of the season.”
Table C: National Hockey League and Affiliated American Hockey League Teams
National Hockey League Team
Affiliated American Hockey League Team
Anaheim Ducks
San Diego Gulls
Arizona Coyotes
Tuscan Roadrunners
Boston Bruins
Providence Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Rochester Americans
Calgary Flames
Stockton Heat
Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Wolves
Chicago Blackhawks
Rockford Icehogs
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Eagles
Columbus Blue Jackets
Cleveland Monsters
Dallas Stars
Texas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Grand Rapids Griffins
Edmonton Oilers
Bakersfield Condors
Florida Panthers / Seattle Kraken
Charlotte Checkers
Los Angeles Kings
Ontario Reign
Minnesota Wild
Iowa Wild
Montreal Canadians
Laval Rocket
Nashville Predators
Milwaukee Admirals
New Jersey Devils
Utica Comets
New York Islanders
Bridgeport Islanders
New York Rangers
Hartford Wolf Pack
Ottawa Senators
Belleville Senators
Philadelphia Flyers
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Pittsburgh Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
San Jose Sharks
San Jose Barracuda
St. Louis Blues
Springfield Thunderbirds
Tampa Bay Lightning
Syracuse Crunch
Toronto Maple Leags
Toronto Marlies
Vancouver Canucks
Abbotsbord Canucks
Vegas Golden Knights
Henderson Silver Knights
Washington Capitals
Hershey Bears
Winnipeg Jets
Manitoba Moose
Source: American Hockey Association (2021).
BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY OF MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS AND TEAMS
Many professional sports teams have implemented strategies to overcome the losses
incurred during the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many professional
sports teams have implemented strategies to overcome the losses incurred during the 2020 and
2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, professional sports teams,
especially minor league teams, had incredible losses in the most significant portion of their
income, ticket revenue and have had to be creative in developing new revenue streams and
cutting costs to survive after the COVID-19 pandemic. Minor league sports took the biggest hit
during the pandemic because they do not have as significant revenues as major league sports
teams do, and so there were many instances of teams struggling to survive during the pandemic
and after.
New Revenue Streams
Minor league sports and their respective teams have put numerous practices in place to
develop new revenue streams to counteract the adverse effects of their challenges. One of the key
revenue streams that bring in the most income for any minor league sports team is ticket revenue,
sponsorships, and broadcasting. The less popular revenue streams include naming rights,
monetization of the experience, and non-sporting events, and though they are prevalent, they
tend to bring in a lesser portion of the overall income to minor league sports teams. Additionally,
some revenue streams are more applicable for specific leagues, as the requirements may restrict
some leagues from being able to utilize them.
Ticket Revenue
Ticket sales are often the most significant revenue driver in sports, especially in minor
league sports that do not have as large a following as major league sports. On average, the top 20
MiLB teams pulled in $9.8 million in revenue per team, of which 49% came from tickets
meaning that the total ticket sales revenue from the top 20 teams in the league totaled
approximately $4.8 million (Ozanian, 2022). With 120 teams in the MiLB, this profit totals an
estimated $28.8 million in ticket revenue alone. The AHL and NBA G League have much
smaller profits than the MiLB. The AHL has average yearly revenues of approximately $21.3
million, and an NHL executive estimated to the Ottawa Sun that "75-to-85% of the revenues for
AHL teams are generated by ticket sales," meaning that ticket sales account for up to $10.5
million in revenue (Wyshynski, 2020) (American Hockey League, n.d.). The NBA G League has
an estimated annual revenue of $38.2 million per year, and in the 2019/20 season, ticketing
revenue had a share of 19.32% of total revenue, totaling approximately $7.3 million in ticket
sales revenue (NBA G League Revenue, Competitors and Alternatives, 2021) (Gough, 2021).
Sponsorships
Sponsorships in minor league sports are among the most prominent strategies to generate
revenue and embed sports teams within local communities. Sponsorships generate large amounts
of revenue for the sports team and advertise the partnering company in exchange. As a result,
sponsorships have become a vital part of the minor league sports environment and have proven
to be equally as lucrative.
Sponsorships in Minor League Baseball have been a long-time tradition and a steady
revenue stream for teams since they first became prevalent on baseball cards. Now, sponsorships
in Minor League Baseball have become increasingly more apparent, thus increasing the revenue
of a sponsorship. Minor league baseball clubs can make between $3 and $25 million a year from
sponsorships, according to the MiLB (MiLB, n.d.). With the COVID-19 pandemic, these
numbers have faltered during 2020 but have rebounded in the 2021 season.
Sponsorships have been equally as influential in the AHL, with an NHL executive
estimating to the Ottawa Sun that "75-to-85% of the revenues for AHL teams are generated by
ticket sales, and the rest come in from sponsorships." (Wyshynski, 2020). With the AHL having
average yearly revenues of approximately $21.3 million, sponsorships account for approximately
$3.2 - $5.3 million in revenue (American Hockey League, n.d.).
The NBA G-League, previously named D-League, is a sponsorship deal since the league
is named after the popular sports drink Gatorade. The financial terms of the agreement were not
disclosed, but the sponsorship deal did give the league access to scientific expertise from the
Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) (Mccann, 2017). For the individual teams in the NBA
G-League, there is an estimated $120,000 in sponsorship revenue per team, making the league
total approximately $3 million in sponsorship revenue (Maniego, n.d.)
Digital media sponsorships also proved beneficial, particularly during the COVID-19
Pandemic when teams could not host fans. Many teams offered their sponsors the opportunity to
continue promotions through the teams on their websites and social media. Though it is not
entirely the same income level achieved through traditional marketing, it is an additional income
that many teams have used to stay afloat and generate partial revenues.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting and media rights have become a fundamental part of minor league sports.
Broadcasting rights allow fans to view the game without being physically present, allowing the
hosting league to earn substantial amounts of revenue through subscriptions and media deals.
Minor League Baseball previously held a media rights deal with TuneIn on the audio side
and to MLB (which then puts them on streaming service MiLB.tv) for what John Ourand
of Sports Business Journal cites as “a rights fee in the low seven figures,” but that seems set to
change, with Ourand reporting that MiLB has now hired sports agency Octagon to shop their
rights around elsewhere (Bucholtz, 2019). Ourand also states, “Given the number of direct-to-
consumer services currently in the market, that fee easily could double, even as Major League
Baseball has discussed contracting up to 42 minor league teams.”
The AHL has created a similar streaming service to MiLBTV, AHLTV, which is in
partnership with HockeyTech (HardevLad, 2018). However, the AHL currently holds its
broadcasting rights, and no financial information has been disclosed as of February 2022.
Likewise, the NBA G League currently has broadcasting deals with ESPN, NBA TV, and
Twitch, a popular online streaming site, but no financial information has been released for any of
these partnerships (Greer, 2021).
Naming Rights
Naming rights to sports stadiums has become a viral revenue stream since it first began
70 years ago, and consequently, the income gained has grown along with it. However, there are
many advantages and disadvantages to brands funding the naming rights of sports stadiums
which contribute to the costs and are why many stadiums have still not sold their naming rights.
Some teams have even decided not to renew their naming rights deals, specifically the Frisco
RoughRiders, after being named Dr. Pepper Ballpark has been renamed Riders Field in 2017
(Brennan, 2021). Nonetheless, naming rights remain a steady revenue stream for most minor
league teams.
Since minor league hockey and NBA G League teams do not own their stadiums, they
cannot benefit from the names of their stadiums. While NBA G League teams cannot have
naming rights for the stadiums they play at, the NBA G-League, formerly named D-League, is
named after the popular sports drink Gatorade, which became effective during the 2017-2018
season (Mccann, 2017). The financial terms of the NBA G-League sponsorship were not
disclosed, but the deal came with other benefits to the league, including scientific expertise from
the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) (Mccann, 2017).
Team naming rights have been a particularly lucrative revenue stream in minor league
baseball even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Naming rights to stadiums has been a solid
revenue stream for sports teams for generations, the first being Budweiser Stadium of the St.
Louis Cardinals in 1953, which is no longer their home field (Trex, 2008). Currently, naming
rights still act as a valuable revenue stream for many minor league sports teams and can bring in
revenues of up to $5 million for a 20-year naming rights deal (Klebnikov, 2016).
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, some teams have opted to auction their naming rights in
more creative ways to increase fan engagement and to further their community impact. For
example, the Beloit Snappers said goodbye to their old Pohlman Field by auctioning the naming
rights for every home game in the 2021 season before the team’s new downtown ballpark opens.
The winning bidder for each game was able to choose the ballpark’s name for the night and
received eight tickets to the game, two vinyl signs displayed at the stadium featuring their
stadium name, public address announcements throughout the game, a radio interview during an
inning, inclusion of their stadium name on the team website, the opportunity to lead the singing
of the seventh-inning stretch, and a group photo with team mascot Snappy (Reichard, 2021). All
the proceeds earned from the naming rights auction were donated to the Stateline Boys and Girls
Club, and though it was not an additional revenue stream, it did allow them to engage more of
their community and bring in other fans throughout the season.
Monetization of Activities
Many minor league teams have developed creative ways to find additional revenue at
each event when games can be played. Some strategies for monetizing the in-game experience
include jersey auctions, 50/50 raffles, and theme nights, which all bring in additional revenue
that can be used to support various departments, especially marketing and fan engagement.
Many teams have long utilized jersey auctions to generate revenue, specifically on
themed or promotional nights. Jersey auctions allow patrons to bid and purchase game-worn
jerseys, most going above the average price of a jersey sold in the team Pro Shop. Jersey
auctions begin at a set price, which is usually slightly below the price for a custom jersey to be
made, but as the game proceeds, bid prices rise to often double the price of a regular jersey.
Many teams have multiple jersey auctions throughout the season, which bringing in thousands of
dollars in revenue. Though revenue from jersey auctions does not compare to the costs teams
face during a season, it is a supporting income for game operations and marketing strategies.
Most minor league teams utilize another strategy during games: holding a 50/50 raffle.
Again, it is not a substantial income, but it brings revenue to support various departments in their
day-to-day activities. 50/50 raffle tickets are typically sold for $5-$10 depending on the level of
the team and generate at least $1,000 per game, making the profits small, but with increased
audiences and fans that are willing to pay higher prices, the payout for minor league teams can
increase substantially. In addition, since 50/50 raffles are held at every home game, the profits
multiply throughout the season and can be used as supplemental income for various departments.
Lastly, theme nights are the most popular monetization strategy all minor league teams have
utilized. Theme nights are consistently used across all leagues; the AHL utilizes themed jerseys
and merchandise; the NBA G League utilizes mascot performances; and the MiLB uses a
combination of specialized jerseys and merchandise, in-game experiences, and themed
attractions. Theme nights have proven to be a highlight for fans and have contributed to
increased attendance and additional spending, which can add thousands of dollars’ worth of
revenue to a minor league team's ticket revenue and suffice as additional income for specialized
departments.
Non-Sporting Events
Hosting non-sporting events at stadiums and ballparks across the country has been
particularly beneficial to generating income without the significant expenses of hosting their
teams and are year-round opportunities. Though it is only entirely possible in the MiLB since
most AHL and G League teams do not own their stadiums, it is still a relevant strategy for those
that do. Teams across the country have been holding special events outside of the game schedule
to generate revenue. Though it cannot make up for all the revenue lost during the COVID-19
pandemic, it is an incredibly lucrative tactic to regain some of the lost revenue. According to a
Sports Business Journal analysis of hundreds of sports venues and musical acts’ schedules and
recent box office data from Pollstar, more than 500 concerts scheduled for arenas and stadiums
in 2020, representing nearly $1 billion in total projected revenue, were canceled, or postponed
since 2020, by the coronavirus pandemic. Now that many restrictions have been lifted, teams can
reinvest in special events (Broughton, 2020).
Some minor league teams that have already begun to hold special events due to the
COVID-19 pandemic include the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Richmond Flying Squirrels, and the
Columbia Fireflies minor league baseball teams. One team, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, even
listed their stadium on Airbnb as a rental to generate income during the COVID-19 pandemic
(Acquavella, 2020). Non-sporting events that have been hosted at various locations include
social and corporate event venues as well as concerts and community events. The most recent
figures provided by the 2014 Economic Impact of Meetings to the U.S. Economy by the
Convention Industry Council (CIC) and Price, Water- house, and Coopers estimated a $115
billion value for the events and meetings industry, which account for $10.36 billion in spending
on venue rental (Parrish, Lee, & Kim, 2014). These figures represent an opportunity for sports
organizations to generate additional income by tapping into this market. Additionally, with these
events taking place, there is often additional income from food and beverage to be included with
many events, which adds to the support stadiums and ballparks receive by hosting these events.
Cost Reduction
Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, many minor league sports teams have had to find new
ways to cut costs to ensure the sustainability of their businesses while also maintaining
functionality to ensure life after the pandemic. The most publicized of these cost-cutting
strategies has been breaking down into more minor leagues, decreasing staff size and salaries,
and changing the game scheduling structure. These strategies correlate to the leagues’ COVID-
19 strategies implemented in 2020 and carried over to the 2021 season. Many of the following
strategies are only applicable for certain leagues but may become impactful as revenues and
practices change.
Smaller Leagues
As of 2022, there has been no reduction in league size for the American Hockey League
or the NBA G League, but the MiLB did cut 43 teams during the 2021 season due to reduced
capacities and the inability to maintain stadium activities per COVID-19 restrictions (Lacques,
2020). The remaining 120 teams were reorganized into new, smaller divisions that allowed for a
shortened distance of travel, which aligned more closely with COVID-19 restrictions.
Having fewer teams in Minor League Baseball allows the remaining teams to receive the
much-needed support and funding lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. While 42 teams were
cut, Minor League Baseball gave the remaining 120 teams were organized from 162 clubs to four
affiliates for all 30 clubs, a process MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has championed to create a
more cost-effective and efficient mode of player development (Lacques, 2020).
In addition, the annual amateur draft that was once 40 rounds will now be 20 rounds,
depressing the need for additional affiliates. Affiliated short-season and rookie leagues in the
Northeast, the Rockies, and the Appalachians were also absorbed into collegiate and draft-
showcase leagues during the process (Lacques, 2020).
Shared Facilities
Minor League sports teams using shared facilities is one strategy that many in the AHL
and G League utilize, as they do not own their stadiums but have yet to become a popular
money-saving trend in Minor League Baseball. Currently, only two teams in Minor League
Baseball share a facility: the Palm Beach Cardinals and the Jupiter Hammerheads at Roger Dean
Chevrolet Stadium (Knight, 2021). The cost of creating and sustaining a Minor League Baseball
Stadium is exceptionally costly, the most expensive being $157 million to build Polar Park, the
new home of the minor league Worcester Red Sox, which surpasses the inflation-adjusted $153
million home of the Las Vegas Aviators (deMause, 2021).
As previously stated, AHL teams do not own their stadiums as they can cost up to $282
million, which is not a price that they would be able to survive (Assad, 2015). However, there
are many teams in the AHL that share their facilities with other professional teams, including the
San Jose Barracuda at the SAP Center at San Jose, also home to the San Jose Sharks NHL team;
the Cleveland Monsters at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, also home to the Cleveland
Cavaliers NBA team; and the Iowa Wild at Wells Fargo Arena, which is also home to the Iowa
Wolves NBA G League team and the Iowa Barnstormers Indoor Football League team.
Shared stadiums as a cost-cutting technique also reach outside of the main three minor
league sports. For example, the entirety of the United States Football League will be playing in
one stadium, Protective Stadium, and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama (DiLullo, 2022). As
a result, the league can save millions of dollars and generate revenues in one central place by
using only one field.
With the expensive price tag of sports stadiums, it is reasonable to see why many AHL
and NBA G League teams share their facilities with other teams and companies, especially amid
the COVID-19 Pandemic, to cut costs and maintain the fan experience. In addition, sharing
facilities with larger teams can also give the minor league teams better facilities since much of
the cost would go to the major league team whom the facility would more dominantly represent.
Salaries and Staff Size
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, every professional sports league across
the country had to cancel their upcoming or in-progress seasons to comply with COVID-19
restrictions. Since the season's cancellation meant no revenue, teams were forced to engage in
furlough, lay off, or pay cut structure with their staff to save as much money as possible to
survive the pandemic and resume play in the 2021 season. Many positions were also cut from
businesses, offering fewer internships, and giving more responsibilities to those who remained.
With an estimated $12.3 billion in earnings lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately
1.3 million sports jobs were furloughed, reduced, or erased (EMSI Burning Glass, 2020). Though
it was hard for many teams and employees, cutting staff size and salaries has proven to save
money and allow teams to make a comeback after the COVID-19 pandemic since leagues were
able to resume play and rehire many employees.
Though there have been jobs reinstated, there have also been many erased. In a study on
the popular sports job posting site, TeamWork Online, it is stated that jobs on the site have
rebounded over the past three quarters, nearly reaching the average number of job postings
within the data set in Q1 2021. The number of new postings increased 67.2% from Q3 2020 to
Q4 2020, and then 36.0% from Q4 2020 to Q1 2021 (IUPUI Sports Innovation Institute, 2021). It
can be concluded that the job market in sports has been on the rebound since the renewed
revenue began, but it will take time for teams in all areas of sports to make a complete comeback
after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Game Scheduling
Another result of the COVID-19 pandemic is a reorganization of the game schedule that
applied to some sports, allowing for less travel and lowered chances of contracting the virus. In
2021, when gameplay was resumed, the AHL and the NBA G League maintained the previous
scheduling structure since they played fewer games than the MiLB. However, in 2021, Minor
League Baseball had a completely altered schedule that aligned more closely with COVID-19
restrictions necessary to maintain the number of games played and try and return to the previous
amount of revenue brought in by a regular season. Minor League Baseball also faced a shortened
season, running May-September rather than from April since restrictions were not set to be lifted
until May of 2021.
Minor League Baseball team schedules were regionalized and included six-game series to
reduce travel and cut expenses (Associated Press, 2021). The game schedule structure for 2021
and the league alignment have continued into the 2022 season since COVID-19, and its variants
are still a threat to the global environment (Associated Press, 2021). The two Triple-A Minor
League Baseball divisions featured 142 regular-season games per team, while clubs in the
Double-A, High-A, and Low-A divisions had 120 games apiece (Dykstra, 2021). It was also
stated that in 2022, the Triple-A schedule would be expanding from 144 to 150 games to “help
Triple-A baseball better align with the Major League season” (Franco, 2022). The realignment of
the schedule will continue to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and support teams in the
league in terms of cutting costs by reducing travel.
Reduced Roster Size and Compensation
Another strategy employed during the COVID-19 pandemic to cut costs amid the
pandemic, which left many leagues financially struggling to maintain operations, was involved in
player development. The NBA G League had few reported changes during the 2019-2020 season
as the remainder of the regular season was canceled. Minor League Baseball has seen the most
significant effect on player development, being an area to cut costs, but the AHL did see some
similar issues, just not as large as Minor League Baseball.
In 2020, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) reduced the 2020
draft from 40 rounds to five, deferred large portions of draft bonuses, and lowered the bonus cap
for undrafted free agents from $125,000 to $20,000 (Baumann, 2020). This change made it
possible to save teams money in desperate times, and the MLB was able to save just a few
million dollars per franchise (Baumann, 2020). These strategies continued into 2021 when the
MLB draft was cut in half, offering 20 rounds to continue the money-saving strategy that began
in 2020. The MiLB also cut 43 developmental teams during the 2021 season due to reduced
capacities and the inability to maintain stadium activities per COVID-19 restrictions (Lacques,
2020). The remaining 120 teams were reorganized into new, smaller divisions that allowed for a
shortened travel distance, which proved to be more cost-effective than the previous league
structure.
The AHL did not finish the 2019-2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
diminishing the player development process extensively as the players could not participate.
During the 2020-2021 season, the start of the regular season was pushed back to February 5,
2021, and the league championship Calder Cup was not awarded for the second consecutive
season due to the ongoing restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic. Though it did save the league
money on holding the games, it also meant that players who may need to be called up to their
NHL affiliates could not have as much in-game experience as they usually would. Previously,
before the COVID-19 pandemic, teams were relocated closer to their NHL affiliates which gave
them the ability to transfer players from the minor league team to the major league without
spending as much on transportation costs (Picard, 2017). This strategy, which has been deployed
in multiple developmental leagues around the sports industry, has proven to be beneficial to
cutting costs in the AHL and Minor League Baseball.
The NBA G League was forced to cancel the remainder of the 2019-2020 season because
of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020-2021 season was also postponed until January 5, 2021,
since the effects of the pandemic were ongoing. During the 2020-2021 season, more than 40 G
League players were called up or signed hardship contracts alone during December. The signings
have depleted rosters in the G League, and the postponement will help teams replace those
players (Taylor, 2021). The cancellation of the 2019-2020 season and postponement of the 2020-
2021 season has allowed NBA G League to save money on holding games, but it has also
restricted revenue as they cannot collect the money they would have earned through ticket sales.
Travel
In minor league sports, travel costs have proven to be a possible area for improvement in
terms of cutting costs and have spread to multiple leagues, showing that it can be a strategy to
cut costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Many minor league sports teams have relocated or
rearranged their affiliates to decrease travel costs and more closely align with COVID-19
restrictions. There was no reported realignment to the NBA G League; therefore, travel costs
remained steady and unchanged during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the AHL, realignment was
not used as a cost-cutting strategy as many teams are now further away from their NHL
affiliates.
During the 2021 season, MiLB cut 43 teams and had a total realignment to align with
COVID-19 restrictions and decrease transportation costs around the league. The remaining 120
teams were reorganized into new, smaller divisions that allowed for a shorter travel distance,
proving to be more cost-effective than the previous league structure as affiliates were closer to
their MLB counterparts, and travel costs were not as substantial (Lacques, 2020). In addition, the
smaller divisions in the MiLB restructure were organized by region, meaning less distance
traveled for games, and affiliates located closer to their MLB affiliates were switched into
different divisions to decrease costs. One example of teams switching divisions in accordance
with their distance from their MLB affiliate is the South Bend Cubs and the Myrtle Beach
Pelicans. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans in South Carolina, previously a High-A affiliate of the
Chicago Cubs, were dropped down into the Low-A division, whereas the South Bend Cubs in
Indiana were raised from Low-A to High-A.
With the realignment of Minor League Baseball, there was also a new schedule structure
that cut scheduled travel mileage by 28 to 56% and reduced expenses in their first season of
operations under Major League Baseball after the pandemic (Blum, 2021). The schedule
restructure involved adding six-game homestands and one “off day” a week which roughly
sustained the number of games played while reducing travel costs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILTY OF MINOR LEAGUE SPORTS AND TEAMS
Environmental sustainability has become an increasingly significant trend throughout
history and is now working its way into the sports industry. Several companies within major and
minor league sports have implemented strategies to become more environmentally friendly in an
attempt to gain social acceptance and stand out among competitors as a pioneer in environmental
sustainability. The two main areas sports teams are focusing on to lessen their impact on the
climate are facility designs and certifications and waste reduction strategies. Both of these
critical areas, when utilized, can work towards environmental sustainability as it pertains to
sports teams.
Facilities
One of the most widespread strategies to become more environmentally sustainable in
minor league sports has been to update sports facilities to counteract the effects of climate
change. Updating sports facilities can significantly impact the climate, as sports facilities are
incredibly prevalent and are continuing to expand and hold large numbers of people, which only
increases the impact. There are several strategies sports teams have used to update and maintain
facilities while remaining environmentally sustainable, including actions towards achieving
LEED facility certifications, upgrading lights, water usage, and the usage of more
environmentally sustainable fertilizers. These strategies support the climate and work towards
lessening the impact of climate change.
LEED Facility Design
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green
building rating system globally and provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-
saving green buildings (The U.S. Green Building Council, n.d.). LEED certification also works
to reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce waste, and implement sustainable strategies in all
facility areas (The U.S. Green Building Council, n.d.). here are four levels of LEED certification
being Certified (40–49 points), Silver (50–59 points), Gold (60–79 points), and Platinum (80+
points) (The U.S. Green Building Council, n.d.). Points are earned through credits, which are
regulations chosen by the facility builders, and points earn rewards that range from healthier
spaces to buildings that save money and resources (The U.S. Green Building Council, n.d.).
There are several sports stadiums across the country that have achieved some level of
LEED facility certification, including Medlar Field, home of the State College Spikes of the New
York-Penn Baseball League (Winston, 2010). There are currently no reported Minor League
Baseball stadiums with LEED certification, and AHL and NBA G League teams are unable to
earn the certification as they do not own their home arenas. Though AHL teams are unable to
gain LEED certification, many teams do play in arenas with the certification, such as Orleans
Arena, home of the Henderson Silver Knights (Henderson Silver Knights, n.d.).
Washington’s Entertainment & Sports Arena, home of the Capital City Go-Go NBA G League
team has also achieved LEED certification (Editors, 2019).
Medlar Field, home of the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn Baseball League,
is equipped with low-flow sinks and showers, a system that allows the stadium to reuse gray
water for irrigation and other uses, and automatic lights that turn off after five minutes of no
movement as well as 75% of the ballpark being made with recycled materials (Winston, 2010).
Orleans Arena, home of the Henderson Silver Knights, has achieved the LEED Gold
Certification and is part of the largest company in Nevada to achieve SHARP Certification for
commitments to safe venue operations (Henderson Silver Knights, n.d.). Washington’s
Entertainment & Sports Arena, home of the Capital City Go-Go NBA G League team, features
green roof areas, onsite stormwater retention systems, and energy-efficient systems (Editors,
2019). Achieving LEED certification will continue to be a goal for many upcoming and updated
sports facilities that choose to support environmentally sustainable initiatives, and though it is
not a current trend, many facilities are working towards achieving that goal.
LED Lighting
Light-emitting diode (LED) screw-based bulbs are becoming increasingly widespread
across the sports industry as an energy-efficient alternative to compact fluorescent (CFL) and
incandescent lighting. LED lights use at least 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than
incandescent lighting, proving to be the more cost-efficient option by a substantial margin (U.S.
Department of Energy, n.d.). Several minor league sports facilities currently utilize LED
lighting, spanning from Minor League Baseball to the AHL. Though many AHL teams do not
own their stadiums, the stadiums that house them are still taking part in the effort of energy-
efficient lighting. There is currently only one reported instance of LED lighting in an NBA G
League arena, being the Sears Centre Arena, home to the Windy City Bulls in Chicago, Illinois
(Electrical News, n.d.).
Minor League Baseball facilities with LED lighting include North Augusta GreenJackets’
SRP Park, Round Rock Express Dell Diamond, Salt Lake Bees’ Smith Ballpark, Jacksonville
Jumbo Shrimp’s Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, Lowell Spinners’ Edward A. LeLacheur
Park, and Wilmington Blue Rocks’ Frawley Stadium (Musco, 2018). Minor League Baseball
also has the “Green Team” information resource to inform teams on the importance of energy
conservation and offers several strategies and resources on how to obtain the strategies
mentioned in the text (Minor League Baseball, n.d.)
It is also reported that at least ten of the AHL’s 31 arenas now use one of Eaton’s
Ephesus LED lighting solutions, including Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut; the
MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts; the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica
Memorial Auditorium in Utica, New York; the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in
Binghamton, New York; Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto; Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids,
Michigan; and the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Illinois (American Hockey League,
2018). LED Lighting has proven to be a successful strategy in energy conservation, and with the
ease and popularity of LED light usage, it will continue to be a widespread method to support
environmental sustainability in the future.
Fertilizer
Many Minor League Baseball teams already utilize sustainable fertilizers for their fields
to maintain and grow their grass during the season. Organic fertilizers have improved soil
structure, supplied a season-long supply of nutrients, and increased the water holding capacity.
By using organic fertilizers, many teams have decreased their water usage, minimized nutrient
losses to the environment, and lessened the plants' salt injury (Silva, 2018). Organic fertilizers
also stimulate microbial activity, improve soil structure, and are valuable sources of
micronutrients to plants (Silva, 2018). Lastly, organic fertilizers increase soil carbon, which
reduces atmospheric carbon levels that lead to global warming, reduces soil erosion and runoff,
and reduces nitrate leaching (ADMIN, 2019).
Minor League Baseball teams that utilize organic fertilizers include the New Hampshire
Fisher Cats at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium and the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Gibson, 2019).
Minor League Baseball also notes organic fertilizers in their “Green Team” resource, offering
several examples of organic fertilizers, discussing the benefits of utilizing them, and noting
strategies for decreasing water usage (Minor League Baseball, 2021). Organic low-soluble-
nutrient fertilizers require less water, improve the water capacity of the soil, regulate plant
growth through the slow release of nutrients, and mycorrhizae extend root length, which
improves water and nutrient intake for the plants (Green Acres Nursery and Supply, 2018). Since
several teams are already using organic fertilizers, it is sure to become a trend in Minor League
Baseball as it saves time and water usage, thus supporting sustainable practices within the sport.
Water
Water usage is another increasingly popular tactic used in minor league sports to lessen
the impact and conserve the earth’s resources. Conserving water saves energy and reduces the
carbon footprint of those that utilize water conservation. Water is also needed to be conserved for
ecosystem sustainability, especially in wetlands that need water to sustain the habitat and the
animals that live there. There is already a shortage of water, specifically freshwater, since 97% of
water is saltwater, and only .5% of the freshwater on earth is safe for drinking, while the
remaining 2.5% of freshwater is locked in ice caps, glaciers, the atmosphere, soil, or under the
earth’s surface, or is too polluted for consumption (Evans, 2020). With growing population rates,
sustaining the supply of drinkable freshwater has become a priority among environmental
conservationists and has also spread into the sports industry. Many facilities in the AHL and
NBA G League are also dedicated to water conservation but are not directly linked with the
teams, as many do not own their facilities and cannot implement the practices; however, many
MiLB teams have already implemented the initiative working towards environmental
sustainability.
MiLB’s Lake Elsinore Storm has already released a resource to fans, informing them
about the “installation of waterless urinals, reclaimed water irrigation pipes, a tankless water
heater, and water-saving sprinkler heads and the implementation of the Evapotranspiration
Technology Irrigation System, which provides an exact measurement of necessary water
dispersion” (Faulconer, 2018). The changes made by the Lake Elsinore Storm have already
conserved 25 million gallons of water and saved approximately $100,000 in costs in two years
(Faulconer, 2018). In addition, the Trenton Thunder, also in the MiLB, has also sponsored a
Clean Water Pledge program providing students with information about water pollution and
rewards those who “pledge” to adopt environmentally sound practices (Faulconer, 2018).
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy collected from a renewable source, which is not depleted
with the use of that energy. Renewable energy is one of the fastest-rising trends in environmental
sustainability because nonrenewable energy sources are facing scarcity, especially with the
energy usage used today. Some examples of renewable energy are wind and solar power, which
are sources being constantly replenished by natural means to be created and utilized rather than
coal, oil, and gas, which are not constant, meaning their supply can be depleted. In addition,
renewable energy in minor league sports may take the trend to the next level of usage, especially
considering many teams’ current focus on environmental sustainability.
The MiLB has noted in their “Green Team” resource that the Spokane Indians have
already made this renewable energy tactic a reality, stating that “Avista Stadium will be powered
entirely by renewable energy for the 2010 season with assistance from Avista Utilities
Corporation and the Avista Buck-A-Block Program” (Minor League Baseball, n.d.). Making the
Spokane Indians the first professional sports team to have their electricity generated entirely
from renewable energy sources. The Chattanooga Lookouts have since joined in the renewable
energy trend, being the “first minor league baseball team in America to play a game that is 100
percent carbon-neutral” this game was possible through energy sourced from EPB of
Chattanooga partnered with Tennessee Valley Authority, offered locally-generated solar energy
credits (Tennessee Valley Authority, 2019).
There are currently no reports of AHL teams or NBA G League teams using renewable
energy sources, partly because many do not own their facilities. However, the AHL and NBA G
League remain firm in their dedication to environmental sustainability through many other
energy-saving tactics, especially LED lighting.
Waste Reduction
Waste reduction is one of the most popular topics in environmental sustainability because
of the ease of implementing strategies catered towards it. Waste reduction works towards
conserving energy and reducing air, water, and soil contamination that is dominantly caused by
the manufacturing of those materials and supplies that become waste. Waste reduction also
decreases the number of fossil fuels that power the transportation that delivers the goods and
takes them away after those materials become waste. Lastly, waste reduction reduces the number
of materials that will need to be recycled or sent to landfills, which pollutes the earth and
atmosphere.
Recycling
Recycling is the most popular resource for waste reduction and environmental
sustainability as it is the most straightforward strategy for many businesses and minor league
sports teams, especially, to execute. Recycling is converting waste into reusable materials, thus
reducing waste, and maintaining resources by using materials of single-use products. Recycling
is meant for many materials, the most popular being paper, and plastic, as they are easily
converted into other products with the same materials. Recycling is vital to environmental
sustainability because materials such as plastic are not biodegradable, which means they take a
very long time to break down and put back into the earth. Through recycling, non-biodegradable
materials can be melted down and reused in other products, thus continuing their life cycle rather
than polluting the earth. Since recycling is the most popular strategy for environmental
sustainability, it is also prevalent in the sports industry as common practice for most professional
sports teams.
Many minor league teams have developed creative ways to incorporate recycling into
their businesses and more traditional approaches. The MiLB Green Team resource outlines
several recycling strategies and the benefits of incorporating them into their companies (Minor
League Baseball, 2021). For example, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp minor league baseball
team has already taken steps toward recycling to make 121 Financial Ballpark the Cleanest
Ballpark in Minor League Baseball (Minor League Baseball, n.d.). In addition, the Jacksonville
Jumbo Shrimp partnered with Advanced Disposal and added a new set of recycling bins for
ballpark guests to recycle aluminum and plastic, as well as to work with the Jumbo Shrimp's
ballpark 'Clean Team' to keep the ballpark clean at every Jumbo Shrimp game (Minor League
Baseball, n.d.).
In the NBA G League, The Rio Grande Valley Vipers launched G2 (G squared), which is
short for Go Green, during their last two home games of the 2010 season in which students from
the University of Texas-Pan American walked the aisles with bags labeled "RECYCLABLE"
and "NON-RECYCLABLE," which educated fans on what is and what is not recyclable (NBA G
League (G League), 2010). During the same season, the Idaho Stampede partnered with their
local minor league baseball team, the Boise Hawks, to offer a giveaway of recycling bags to the
first 100 people in the door as well as "going dark" for the entire hour before the game to reduce
energy usage (NBA G League (G League), 2010). The NBA G League implemented these
environment-saving strategies across the entire league to educate fans on the benefits of
recycling and implement those strategies in their businesses.
As for the AHL, The Rochester Americans renewed a partnership with Sunnking
Electronics Recycling to celebrate Global Recycling Day on Friday, March 18, when the
Americans host the Cleveland Monsters at The Blue Cross Arena with the game featuring ticket
deals and a recycling-themed giveaway to promote the importance of recycling and its positive
impact worldwide (NBA G League (G League), 2010). There have not been any other reports of
AHL teams implementing recycling events or strategies, but it is sure to become a widespread
technique as it is already prominent in Minor League Baseball and the NBA G League.
Food Packaging
Food packaging is a large majority of the waste found in minor league professional sports
due to the large number of patrons visiting concessions stands and the large amounts of food
obtained at any professional sporting event. Food is a large part of the fan experience for major
and minor league sports teams, so teams must be mindful of the amount of waste that can
accumulate from wasteful packaging. Several teams across minor league sports have already
implemented various strategies to replace the wasteful products in food packaging with more
sustainable materials to reduce waste. However, there are no reports of NBA G League or AHL
teams using environmentally friendly food packaging as they do not own their stadiums and
operate out of community facilities.
In the MiLB, the Sacramento RiverCats have taken multiple steps to reduce the present
waste in many Minor League Baseball stadiums. For example, the Sacramento RiverCats have
replaced all their napkins with recycled napkins in all concession stands and served food in
biodegradable containers, eliminating Styrofoam in their ballpark concession stands (Minor
League Baseball, n.d.). The MiLB has also placed environmentally friendly food packaging as a
strategy on their MiLB Green Team Resource (Minor League Baseball, 2021). Though
sustainable food packaging is not entirely widespread across Minor League Baseball, it is sure to
be a growing trend as public concerns grow, and businesses begin to take more responsibility for
environmental sustainability.
Paperless Ticketing
Another increasingly popular strategy for waste reduction used across all professional
sports is paperless ticketing. Paperless ticketing removes the waste that previously held millions
of paper tickets patrons would need to enter ballparks and arenas. With the advancement of
technology being increasingly rapid, paper tickets have come close to being nonexistent for most
sports attendees. Paperless ticketing also serves to reduce overhead costs by cutting the use of
paper, ink, and electricity, thus expanding the benefits of paperless ticketing across the business.
Though many fans use paperless tickets that are easily downloaded on mobile devices,
professional sports teams still offer physical tickets for those who do not have access to mobile
devices or those who want the ticket as a valuable memento of their experience. Still, paperless
ticketing has become an industry standard across all sports and will continue to dominate as it is
easy and more reliable than the previous paper tickets.
In 2012, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans minor league baseball team became the first team to
offer paperless ticketing, rapidly spreading throughout Minor League Baseball (Staff, 2012).
Paperless ticketing reduces waste and makes it much harder for fans to lose their tickets, as they
are accessible on mobile devices with internet access and scanned upon entry. In the United
States, paper is one of the most significant contributors to landfills, weighing in at approximately
26 million tons a year (Eventbrite, 2017). By utilizing paper ticketing, stadiums can easily do
their part in reducing this waste and supporting the environment.
Paperless ticketing is also the standard in the NBA G League, with all teams offering
digital tickets to be downloaded to fans' mobile devices and scanned upon entry. There are no
reports regarding what team first implemented the waste reduction strategy, but it is thought of as
happening all at once, considering the league is sponsored by popular sports drink brand
Gatorade. The same trends continue for the AHL; starting in 2012, all teams were able to utilize
paperless ticketing to save money and support the environment. As a result, paperless ticketing
has become an industry standard and, in doing so, has had significant benefits to waste reduction
across the sports industry.
Digital Publications
Digital publications, like paperless ticketing, have become an industry standard,
especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce surfaces that many people can touch,
professional sports teams have transferred all of their documents, such as schedules and
programs, into online platforms. As previously stated, in the United States, paper is one of the
most significant contributors to landfills, weighing in at approximately 26 million tons a year,
and by switching documents that are traditionally paper into digital platforms, sports teams can
decrease waste in large quantities (Eventbrite, 2017). Digital publications and schedules, and
programs were previously a large part of the sporting event experience, but with COVID-19, fans
are trading in the risk of contracting the virus by using digital platforms instead.
Since the rise of technology, Minor League Baseball has held steady ground in its efforts
of digital publications. Minor League Baseball uses its online platforms as a database for fans to
stay up to date on news and events and release information quickly. Recently, with the COVID-
19 pandemic, all teams were able to make the switch to digital platforms for other documents
throughout the ballpark. In 2021, many teams developed digital schedules and programs that fans
could find by scanning a QR code that would redirect them to the desired document. By making
documents digital, minor-league teams reduced the number of contact surfaces in the ballpark
and reduced paper waste substantially.
In the 2009-2010 season, the AHL became the first organization in professional hockey
to make a complete transition to digital publications, reducing paper waste and saving thousands
on printing. The AHL states that “rather than producing a normal print run of the league’s annual
Guide & Record Book, the league has created an electronic version that has been distributed to
media members” this effort is in support of the AHL’s dedication to the “green” movement to
reduce waste and sustain the environment (The AHL, 2009). The AHL also encouraged teams to
join the initiative by digitizing media guides and press notes to have “green” press boxes that
reduce waste while also sustaining the operations of the sport (The AHL, 2009) Lastly, the AHL
estimated that “digital production of the Guide & Record Book alone will save more than 7,400
pounds or 600,000 sheets of paper,” which is small compared to the paper waste throughout the
world but is working towards a substantial impact (The AHL, 2009).
The NBA G League has no reports of when they first began utilizing digital publications
but, similarly to Minor League Baseball, they have utilized digital publications since the rise of
technology. The NBA G League also has an online newsletter, similar to those of Minor League
Baseball and the AHL, to keep fans updated on the news in the league and throughout fans’
favorite teams.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Future Issues
At present, minor-league sports teams are constrained to the business and environmental
practices available to them. Future scholarship should consider the evolution of these practices
and the socioeconomic factors that may decide which practices a team will follow. Additionally,
the secrecy of specific teams has caused a gap in available data to analyze. Should teams become
increasingly transparent (on their own accord or through league regulations), an updated version
of this study would benefit scholars in business practices, environmentally sustainable practices,
and the availability of valuable resources.
Some future issues may arise as more technological advances become available to
professional sports, and issues may arise as further research into the various topics that were
discussed occurs. Future issues that may occur include falsity of current information, expansion
of facility access, specifically in the AHL and NBA G League, and government access may
influence numerous business practices employed by minor league sports teams.
The information presented is also based on responses from the sports industry to the
COVID-19 pandemic, and as government regulations lessen, some practices may change and
evolve during the continuation and completion of the pandemic. Likewise, the information
presented may also change as fans' needs change and evolve throughout time as professional
sports teams base their practices on what engages and encourage fans to take part in their
practices.
Conclusion
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, most major and minor league sports organizations
were forced to cancel their seasons, thus losing millions in revenue driven by normal operations
and ticket sales. To overcome the loss in revenue, many minor league sports teams have been
forced to develop creative revenue streams to regain a portion of the income while also
developing cost-cutting strategies to maintain operations while adhering to regulations set by the
government. Once COVID-19 regulations were lifted, numerous teams maintained the new
revenue streams and cost-cutting structures that were developed during 2020 in order to continue
regaining the millions of dollars that were lost.
Sustaining minor league sports as businesses has become recently crucial, as has what
those businesses have been doing to sustain the environment. The sports industry has a history of
contributing a large amount of waste to the environment, and in recent years, many in the sports
industry have begun to take social responsibility and develop strategies that will sustain the
environment. Among those strategies, there is a much larger focus on waste reduction and the
types of facilities used than any other environmentally sustainable practice. In addition, sports
fans are beginning to take notice of the environmentally friendly practices that many teams are
employing. Those teams have been working to lessen their impact on the environment through
digitalization and finding more sustainable substitutes for products used consistently.
Through an analysis of minor league teams, several critical factors, including business
sustaining practices, environmental support practices, and regulatory crisis implementations,
were better understood. This work can support professionals and scholars in sustainability in
professional sports and sports business.
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