Waste Management Open—big impact on economy, little on environment

The Waste Management Phoenix Open may attract 600,000 attendees January 26-February 1, 2015. In addition to boosting the economy of the Phoenix Metropolitan area, the tournament seeks to educate the attendees about sustainability and water conservation.
WM Logistics Indore

The benefits of life in Arizona were obvious on January 28, 2015, as the sun shown brightly over the meticulous greens of TPC Scottsdale. The Waste Management Phoenix Open, which hopes to set new attendance records the week between the Bowl games, kicked off with the Annexus Pro-Am.

The WM Open has been growing annually in popularity, even despite the absence of Tiger Woods since 2001. Over 500,000 attended last year. In 2015, with Tiger’s return, celebrities, athletes, and corporations in town for the Super Bowl, and, weather permitting, the crowds might number 600,000. A study by Arizona State University in 2012 estimated the economic impact of the Open to be $222 million.

“The Greatest Show on Grass” enjoys the sponsorship of large corporations, like FedEx, featured in the on-site vendors’ tent. But local hotels (which would be close to capacity, even without the Big Game), restaurants and smaller businesses, also, benefit. For instance, Hollywood’s Productions wrapped Coors Light RV, which frequents Phoenix and Vegas, will be hosting VIPs all week at the popular Bird’s Nest after-hours party area.

A common question among Arizonans, who remember the previous sponsor FBR, is why Waste Management decided to sponsor a golf tournament. “The Open allows us to make a difference, “ said Janette Micelli, WM’s Manager of External Communications, “By demonstrating that the largest US golf tournament could have the smallest footprint on the environment.”

WM is unique in having earned a Gold Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport in 2013-14 and a UL Environment Zero Waste-to-Landfill Validation. Attendees at the Open this year will be reminded at every turn to “Think Green.” Over 6000 Recycling/Composting bins have replaced trashcans. Renewable energy is being used to power the tournament, while greenhouse gas emissions are being offset. All food and beverage items at the concession stands are recyclable or compostable.

Golf fans were being encouraged to participate by pledging to conserve water (by texting "WMPO" to 77177 or visiting website wmpo.changethecourse.us this week), conversing on #greenestshow, or coming on January 31, where one dollar is donated to environmental charities for each person wearing something green.

The WM Phoenix Open will have a significant impact on the economy of Phoenix this week. But Waste Management will also ensure that it has an insignificant impact on the environment now and in the future by raising the environmental consciousness of its record crowds.

Source : http://www.examiner.com/article/waste-management-open-big-impact-on-economy-little-on-environment