W|W WEDNESDAY NEWSLETTER: JUNE 18, 2025
With the NHL and NBA seasons coming to a close, this week’s newsletter spotlights a couple of great initiatives from the Edmonton Oilers, and Indiana Pacers’ coach Rick Carlisle. Yes, the Oilers ended up losing the Stanley Cup last night, and the Pacers are down 3-2 to the Thunder in the NBA Finals…but WIN | WIN claims no responsibility for the outcome of these championships!
We’ve also got an MLB story for ya, with the Atlanta Braves announcing five social impact initiatives they’re spearheading as part of their All-Star Legacy Project. Hats off to the team for investing nearly $4M in community efforts that span from access and inclusion to safe spaces to play. Of course, our brains are always churning, so we’re tossing out an idea about how they could take one of these initiatives to the next level in our (aptly-named) Leveling Up feature.
As we’re settling into our new newsletter format, we’d love to hear any feedback you might have to help make our WIN | WIN content more valuable or meaningful to you. Give us a shout on the ‘gram at @thatsthewinwin_ig, on LinkedIn @WIN | WIN, or by email at [email protected].
Until next week,
The WIN | WIN Team
ICYMI: THIS WEEK’S W|W DOWNLOADS
“People in Indiana should never have to deal with food insecurity. There’s plenty of food [here]. The challenge is logistics. We [help] deliver food to those that need it. It’s been a great effort. I’ve got some really great people that are supporting it. I’m very grateful."
- Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on Drive & Dish, the nonprofit he launched with support from the Pacers Foundation, to help tackle local food insecurity
Image source: Braves Foundation on IG
Earlier this week, the Atlanta Braves announced five social impact initiatives they’re spearheading across the greater ATL area. Each one is part of their All-Star Legacy Project, and represents a long-term commitment to the community beyond the big-ticket weekend being hosted at Truist Park in July.
One of these initiatives in particular caught our attention: the creation of a special sensory space to make sure that all fans are able to attend games, and have a calm place to take breaks whenever they need.
While this isn’t the first sensory room in a major sports stadium or arena, we love that these kinds of inclusive spaces are becoming more mainstream. And, it also got us thinking…
What other sorts of spaces might help the Braves Level-Up their fandom, loyalty, and community connections?
Our first thought: allergy-safe concessions.
OK, AI is not perfect. We’re not either — still fine tuning our prompts.
Food allergies are no joke for many kids and families. But stadium and arena concessions are typically loaded with many of the most common food triggers — peanuts, wheat, dairy, soy, you name it — which makes it pretty tough for anyone with allergies to really enjoy a day at the game.
Many teams already have some level of accommodations in place, whether it’s peanut-free seating, gluten-free menus, or clearly posted ingredient lists. (S/O to the Miami Dolphins who added a “limited-allergen kitchen” and received training from FARE in 2021.) But what if the Braves, or any other team, went a step further to create an entire concession area with food options (and dining spaces) that make game-day food more accessible for everyone?
Think dairy-free ice cream. Egg and soy-free veggie burgers. Peanut-free Cracker Jacks. Gluten or wheat-free hot dog and hamburger buns. Nothing fried in peanut oil. And, everything at a comparable cost to the standard stadium fare, because there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re being up-charged to make sure you don’t wind-up in the hospital. (Spokin.com has a list of venues already doing a great job here.)
The Braves have introduced some really innovative things with their food offerings this season, like introducing the Outfield Market (check it out in DL 60), which showcases a local nonprofit, chefs, and flavors from around the A. Why not go one step further and offer an allergy-safe, locally-sourced option, too?
Not only are these kinds of gestures an incredible way to make sports events more accessible, but they’re also great brand partnership plays (Tyson? Whole Foods? Daiya?). We’re pretty sure that whichever teams and brands figure out how to elevate their allergy-free plays are going win some dedicated fans for life.
WHAT ELSE WE’RE FOLLOWING
⚓️ Boston Fleet GM Danielle Marmer talks Culture, Breaking Barriers and the Future of the PWHL on the Mixed Doubles Podcast, hosted by former D1 athlete Maggie Robinson and her copilot, Josh Smythe-Macaulay. Go give ‘em a listen and a follow. We are.
🟨 This past weekend, Angel City FC threw-down the yellow card against ICE policies in LA, creating a seriously powerful moment of community resistance. Introducing the “Immigrant City Football Club.” Size L please.
🧱 Brick! Nike and Lego are collaborating on a bunch of drops ahead of back-to-school season, all spurred on by UNICEF’s International Day of Play initiative. We’re stoked to see what comes out next. (And if we go silent for a few days, you’ll probably find us building things in the basement.)
BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR
If you’re passionate about making a difference, AND have a story to tell about the power of sports to create positive social change, we want to amplify your voice — and your impact — by sharing your story.
Got breaking news at the intersection of sports and social impact? Share it with WIN | WIN first for access to our dedicated audience of insiders.
