Bettman to be honored by Green Sports Alliance

The Green Sports Alliance will honor NHL commissioner Gary Bettman with the 2014 Green Sports Alliance Environmental Leadership Award for his visionary work and guidance in establishing NHL Green and promoting sustainable business practices across the League. The award presentation will take place at the 2014 Green Sports Alliance Summit on Tuesday, July 22 in Santa Clara, CA.

The Green Sports Alliance Environmental Leadership Award is presented to a member of the sports industry who has demonstrated leadership and has provided significant contributions to environmental sustainability. The award is voted on by the Green Sports Alliance Board of Directors, which is comprised of representatives from professional sports organizations, leading environmental nonprofits and other organizations affiliated with the sports industry.

"The National Hockey League family truly is honored," Commissioner Bettman said. "As intensely as our Clubs compete against one another on the ice, all are unified by the commitment to become a more sustainable business, to combat major environmental challenges and to preserve the roots of our game."

Established by Commissioner Bettman in 2010, with support from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), NHL Green is the comprehensive, high-impact environmental sustainability initiative of the NHL. The initiative is spurred by five goals: tracking impacts; reducing energy, waste and water; offsetting impacts; supporting environmental programs; and inspiring environmental progress. Working together with NHL Clubs, the League has started on a journey toward greater sustainability. As an industry first, the NHL will release an environmental report that documents sustainability-oriented initiatives of the League, Clubs and partners at the Green Sports Alliance Summit in July.

"The NHL is the first professional sports league to develop and release a sustainability report," said Green Sports Alliance Executive Director Martin Tull. "Commissioner Bettman's demonstrated leadership with the production of this historic report, along with all NHL Green programs and initiatives, has significantly contributed to the growth of the green sports movement. The League's efforts to track and measure the environmental impact of the NHL is not only helping to combat environmental concerns that impact the sport, but is also setting a great example for the entire sports industry."

NHL Director of Sustainability Omar Mitchell will accept the Environmental Leadership Award on Commissioner Bettman's behalf at the Santa Clara Convention Center on July 22 at 4 p.m. Following the award presentation, Mitchell, three-time NHL All-Star and Hall of Famer Michael Richter, Vancouver Canucks Executive Vice President and Arena General Manager Michael Doyle, and NRDC Senior Scientist Dr. Allen Hershkowitz will join SportsBusiness Journal Executive Editor Abraham Madkour for a special panel discussion on the greening of the NHL.

For the third year, the Alliance is honored to offer the award of Studio Edition artwork by renowned artist Dale Chihuly to Commissioner Bettman.