Thousands of full-color 65-page programs were handed-out to fans inside Joe Louis Arena for the Red Wings vs Predators game on Friday night. Since the cover of our copy of "Today: The Official Publication of the Detroit Red Wings" is imprinted with "Issue 4 Game 30 Detroit vs. Nashville, Friday March 5, 2010 7:30 p.m.", I am going to assume that these are distributed at each and every game. Again I am only assuming because I have not checked directly with the organization.
Don't get me wrong...I was born and raised in Detroit and am a huge fan of the Wings at JLA. The program is chock-full of ads, articles, line-ups, trivia...all good, fun stuff!
Why is it that "being-green" isn't second nature to us as a society? Do we really need to have a date-specific publication at each and every game? There are more eco-friendly ways to combine advertising dollars with information while reaching the audience. The Wings organization is such a stand-up one and practices of environmental sustainability would fit them so well.
Realistically, how many of those programs left the seats with the fans after a fabulous win; how many programs made it past the garbage bins in the concourse? If they did make it back to our homes, how many were given a second chance by being recycled?
Next time, for the sake of being-green, we'll have to say "no thanks" and pass on the program.