A new deal with sustainability group Aspiration will allow Athletes Unlimited’s women’s professional sports organizations to make history and achieve carbon neutrality.
Athletes Unlimited reached a multi-year partnership with Aspiration, a leading sustainability platform, that will allow AU to operate the first professional sports leagues in the United States that are fully carbon neutral, the companies announced Friday.
That initiative begins when Athletes Unlimited Basketball launches next month in Las Vegas and will continue with its volleyball, softball, and lacrosse leagues. The pact also includes a two-year jersey patch deal — a first for Athletes Unlimited — that will apply to its basketball and volleyball leagues.
Physical and digital signage elements and activations that promote sustainability will apply to all of its leagues, while Aspiration will also be the presenting partner for each league’s five national broadcasts per season.
“Our innovative mindsets and core values are precisely aligned, highlighted by a deep-seated commitment to growing our leagues, investing in our athletes, and bettering the world around us,” said Jon Patricof, Athletes Unlimited’s CEO. “Social responsibility is one of the foundations on which Athletes Unlimited was built, and Aspiration’s expertise will help advise and guide us on how we can minimize our environmental impact. This partnership is a testament to the continued growth and traction of the fast-growing sector of women’s pro sports, as well as the power of building complementary leagues across four sports, a network of national TV and digital partners, and robust fan engagement platforms.”
Aspiration will empower Athletes Unlimited to implement climate change-fighting actions on a daily basis as well as providing engagement opportunities for its fans.
AU’s first basketball season will run from Jan. 26 to Feb. 26 and include WNBA players like Natasha Cloud, Sydney Colson, Ty Young, Courtney Williams, Odyssey Sims, and Essence Carson.
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