A campaign to reduce waste at USC football games will begin tonight as the Trojans open their season against Arkansas State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The “Zero Waste Coliseum” campaign will transform the stadium’s trash cans into compost bins with the goal of achieving “zero waste” status, according to Halli Bovia, the manager of the USC Sustainability Program.
Signs and social media will show fans which containers to use. Food vendors will use compostable trays, pizza boxes, cutlery, cups and napkins and food waste will be composted, Bovia said.
It takes about three to four weeks for the items to decompose, after which it is sold as premium compost to Central Valley farms, Bovia said.
“This is a critical first step for the Coliseum,” said Brian Grant, the stadium’s director of operations. “We will learn a lot through this process, but we are striving to merge the history that the facility has with progressive sustainability efforts.”
(Industry standards define zero waste as diverting 90 percent or more of waste materials from the landfill or incinerator through recycling, composting or repurposing, Bovia said.)
Fans are also encouraged to participate in the Tailgate Waste Diversion program, which seeks to increasing recycling and composting by making it easier for fans.
About 350 peer educators and volunteers help fans recycle by collecting aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles. Fans and volunteers recycled nearly five tons of materials last season, Bovia said.
USC’s 10-year commitment made in 2013 to spend $70 million to renovate the Coliseum has resulted in this season’s boosting WiFi in various concourse locations, including at the student entrance at Gate 28, and upgrading concession food items, including wood-fired pizza and smoked brisket sandwiches.
There are also two additional Coliseum Clubs for Trojan Athletic Fund members. The clubs are located along the Coliseum’s outside fence line and feature live televised sports and upscale food and beverages.
For the first time, fans will be able to purchase and redeem tickets from their smartphones.
Fans can visit uscpass.com to sign up to receive a text message notification when tickets become available for each home game. Once notified, fans can select the desired section and purchase tickets directly from their smartphone.
A barcode and seat location will be sent to the mobile device and can be used to enter the Coliseum.
The Trojan Marching Band will perform in its 350th consecutive game tonight. Following a 19-17 loss at Michigan State to open the 1987 season, then- coach Larry Smith vowed to never travel again without the band.
The Trojan Marching Band has not missed a game since then, traveling 320,000 miles to 35 stadiums in 24 states, from Boston to Honolulu, according to figures supplied by the university.
Tonight’s game marks the start of Arthur Bartner’s 46th season directing the Trojan Marching Band, which will be playing “Jealous” by Chromeo, “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon, “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson, featuring Bruno Mars, and “Firework” by Katy Perry at halftime.
The Trojans will be playing Arkansas State for the first time.
The game was announced in 2013 and came as the result of a previously scheduled USC opponent dropping out, Sports Information Director Tim Tessalone told City News Service.
“This will be a great opportunity for our program to be displayed in one of the largest media markets in the world,” Arkansas State athletic director Terry Mohajir said when the game was announced.
Arkansas State, based in Jonesboro, was created as part of a 1909 law to establish four “public schools of agriculture.” Classes began in 1910 at what was known as the First District Agricultural School.
The school became the First District Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1925 and its athletic teams became the Gorillas.
A four-year degree program began in 1930. The school was renamed Arkansas State College in 1932 and Arkansas State University in 1967.
The school’s nickname was changed from Indians to Red Wolves in 2008. Arkansas State has played at the highest level of college football, now known as the Football Bowl Subdivision, since 1992.
The Red Wolves were 7-6 in 2014 and made their fourth consecutive appearance in the GoDaddy Bowl, losing to Toledo, 63-44.
The Trojans were 9-4 in 2014, concluding their season with a 45-42 victory over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.
USC has won 17 consecutive season openers. Oddsmakers have made the Trojans a 27 1/2-28-point favorite. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives USC a 94.7 percent chance of winning.
