By Dan Bacher

In mid-February, a dedicated crew of Kings fans associated with Third Act Sacramento braved torrential rain to protest the team’s sponsorship by Shell and AM/PM. In doing so, they joined conservationists in nine other cities simultaneously demonstrating against professional sports teams being sponsored by Big Oil and banks that finance large fossil fuel projects.  

Fossil fuel companies have long used partnerships with trusted institutions like sports teams to influence the way fans perceive them, according to veteran climate advocates. This is sometimes called “sportswashing” – a play on the term greenwashing. Critics say the tactic is intended to lull fans into forgetting that fossil fuels are  causing deadly air pollution and the climate change experts say is contributing to catastrophic  wildfires, floods and extreme weather events, including last year’s devastating Los Angeles infernos.

“We are asking the Kings’ owner and executives to immediately end the team’s sponsorship deals with Shell, one of the world’s largest oil companies, and AM/PM” said Sally Richman, a Third Act Sacramento advocate.

The demonstration happened in front of Golden 1 Center during a cold, pouring rain.

“Our region has suffered  devastating wildfires in recent years,” Richman went on. “We shouldn’t pretend that fossil fuel companies are our buddies when they are causing the climate change that worsens these disasters.”

The sign that protestor Pat Ferris was holding read “Don’t Spoil the Beam with Dirty Oil.”

The Kings’ management also received and open letter from Third Act Sacramento arguing that their relationship with Big Oil outfits tend to “create positive associations that are undeserved.”

The Kings did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

February’s national sportswashing protest was an expansion of a movement called Dodger Fans Against Fossil Fuels, which was started by Sierra Club members in Southern California after Phillips 66 sponsored that ball club.  

As the demonstration was happening at Golden 1 Center, similar protest events were being held at Dodgers Stadium, San Francisco’s Oracle Park and other competition venues around the country.  

Bill McKibben, an author, environmentalist and co-founder of Third Act/350.org, weighed in on the nationwide campaign against sportswashing.

“The  greatest threat to sports in the years ahead is the rapid rise in temperature, which  increasingly makes it too hot and stormy to play,” McKibben argued. “So, you might say it’s an error for those  who enjoy – and profit from – sports, to be collaborating with the industry doing the most to  overheat the planet.”