Press release Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball announced elements of environmentally conscious practices and sensory inclusivity that will be present at London Stadium, host to the Mitel & MLB Present London Series 2019 featuring the World Champion Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees on June 29th and 30th. Some of these features include a variety of efforts to offset the carbon footprint of the standard ballpark operations of the games as well as to being inclusive of those with sensory challenges.
Throughout the London Series, the “MLB Green Team,” which can be found during every MLB All-Star Week and World Series, will be passing through the aisles and concourses to collect recyclable from fans and promote positive environmental practices that fans can also participate in at home. On site, waste equipment will be present to help with recycling and other sustainability-focused waste disposal, including a dry mixed recycling compactor (plastic, paper, cardboard, etc.), a general waste compactor, and an ORCA system that will process food waste on site. Other elements that will be recycled and converted to a renewable energy source includes used cooking oil, construction materials, medical hygiene waste, and electrical waste. The Material Recovery Facility is located one mile from London Stadium to help with the recycling process.
MLB has partnered with KultureCity, the leading nonprofit that advocates for those with sensory challenges such as autism and post-traumatic stress disorder, on a number of efforts to make the Mitel & MLB Present London Series 2019 MLB’s first sensory inclusive event outside of the United States. Volunteers for the games have gone through KultureCity Sensory Inclusion training. Additionally, there will be two “Quiet Spaces” and sensory bags will be given away to guests on game day. These bags include noise cancelling headphones, fidget tools and other sensory calming devices. KultureCity also will activate during ballpark events during MLB All-Star Week at Progressive Field in Cleveland. They have certified ballparks for nine MLB Clubs, including the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, and Washington Nationals.