Ocean Conservancy on Thursday, September 4, 2025, announced the addition of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, the United States SailGP Team and Team USA Artistic Swimming to its innovative “Protect Where We Play” initiative. These are the first individual teams to join Protect Where We Play alongside “Team Ocean Captains” from across the sports and entertainment industry. Together, they aim to mobilise millions of fans worldwide to take action for our ocean.
“Sports have a unique way of bringing people together,” said Jenna DiPaolo, Ocean Conservancy’s chief brand and communications officer and lead architect of the campaign. “That same sense of connection is what we need to protect the ocean and the places we love. When hometown teams take a stand for something bigger than the game, it reminds all of us of what’s really at stake.”
These first team movers join “Protect Where We Play” alongside existing Team Ocean Captains, including WNBA’s Napheesa Collier, NFL’s Kelvin Beachum, MLB’s Brent Suter, Paralympian Ezra Frech, American ballerina Katherine Barkman, and two new captains that will be announced in advance of New York Climate Week.
“The health of our ocean matters, and has real impacts on our fields, courts and stages,” said Ocean Conservancy’s vice president of ocean plastics Nicholas Mallos. “It’s easier for people to appreciate the threat of plastic pollution because it’s such a visible issue, but extreme heat, flooding, smoke from wildfires – these aren’t abstract problems anymore. Teams stepping up to be part of the solution sends a powerful message: if we want to keep enjoying the things we love, we have to protect what makes them possible.”
The ocean is vital to life on Earth, producing 50% of the oxygen we breathe, capturing 90% of the heat from climate change, and helping to keep our planet cool and our weather patterns predictable. It is essential to supporting and shaping the places we live and play. But the ocean is under constant threat from rising temperatures, plastic pollution and the loss of critical habitats and wildlife.
What Teams Are Saying
“In the Pacific Northwest, water is at the heart of our natural habitats,” said Christy Briggs, sustainability manager of the Seattle Seahawks’ Lumen Field. “Both our stadium and practice facility are uniquely situated on the water, making our connection to protecting it deeply ingrained. Being part of the Protect Where We Play initiative reflects the core of our sustainability efforts, both within our organisation and in the communities we serve.”
“The Cleveland Monsters are proud to defend Lake Erie – our life-giving water system and a source of recreational and commercial opportunity,” said Cleveland Monsters Chief Marketing Officer, Ben Adams. “Without fresh water, there is no hockey, and no chance to represent this green city on a blue lake. While we’re salt-free and shark-free, we’re all connected by water — from the Great Lakes to the ocean.”
“In SailGP the ocean is our playing field and with that comes a great deal of responsibility to take care of it,” said Mike Buckley, co-owner, CEO and strategist of U.S. SailGP Team. “Protect Where We Play is about uniting athletes, teams and fans to do exactly that — inspire the next generation to protect the ocean.”
“This is the partnership that transcends sport. What our members value, what our national team is at its core is what Protect Where We Play is,” said Adam Andrasko, CEO, USA Artistic Swimming. “This is an incredible opportunity to elevate both our brands and we look forward to this partnership.”
On August 8, “Protect Where We Play” was shortlisted for both “Campaign of the Year” and “Purpose-Led Partnership With A Non-Profit” for the Sport Positive Awards, which celebrates organisations and individuals working to tackle issues related to the climate and biodiversity crises. Award winners will be announced on Oct. 7, 2025. Since its launch in February 2025, “Protect Where We Play” and its partners have led several initiatives to rally sports and entertainment fans behind ocean conservation:
- From March 10 to April 22, Protect Where We Play served as the title sponsor of the EcoAthlete Collegiate Cup.
- From June 10 to 12, Protect Where We Play served as the official ocean health sponsor of the Green Sports Alliance Summit in Miami.
- On June 5, Ocean Conservancy and its partner GOAL launched the Protect Where We Play Tour to reduce the plastic footprint of sports and entertainment venues, aiming to prevent 1 million single-use cups from entering the waste stream. Other tour stops include:
- June 6-7: Coldplay at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
- July 19: WNBA All-Star Weekend at Gainbridge Field House, Indianapolis, Indiana
- September 27: Lumineers at Enmarket Arena, Savannah, Georgia
- October 25-26: Billie Eilish at UBS Arena, Belmont Park, New York
The announcement comes in advance of Ocean Conservancy’s 40th International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) event, held every September since 1986. The ICC has mobilised more than 19 million volunteers to remove more than 400 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterways worldwide. Ocean Conservancy has also led advocacy efforts to prevent plastic pollution through policies at the state, federal and international levels.