March Madness wouldn’t be possible without nation’s oil and gas industry
March Madness has become a staple in American sports and is my favorite thing to binge watch. A year ago, the women’s Final Four and championship games set viewership records, with the finale between LSU and Iowa marking the most-watched women’s college basketball game, ever. Not to be outdone, the men’s championship game had more viewers than any of the six 2022 NBA Finals games.
March Madness is made possible by the nation’s oil and gas industry.
The obvious role the industry plays in the tournament is providing the fuel that gets all 136 teams from their universities and colleges to the games and hotels, but the industry goes much further than that to energize March
Madness.
Unless you are at the game, you are going to watch or listen to March Madness on a television, computer, or personal electronic device like a cellphone. All these devices are made with plastics, which are derived from petroleum hydrocarbons. In addition, oil is part of the materials used in the creation of electronic circuits and screens.
OK, so the teams are there, people are watching across the country, and the oil and gas story is over, right? No way. Ever try playing basketball without a basketball? Today’s balls are made from several products including rubber, nylon, and polyester. Petro by-products are key ingredients in all these products.
Speaking of polyester, this fabric is nearly 100% a petroleum product. Polyester fabric and its moisture-wicking properties make it ideal for sportswear and is composed almost exclusively of the malleable plastic found in the common water bottle, which also will be used during the games.
Petro by-products are also responsible for the soaps and detergents used after the game by the players and equipment managers.
As you listen to the game, the sounds you hear will be captured by microphones and amplified by speakers, both made possible by petroleum products. Even the drums the bands will use come from oil by-products.
Oil and gas are responsible for so many products we use in our everyday lives. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to live without petroleum products and maintain our current lifestyles. If so, you will find yourself without shampoo, beauty supplies, electronics, shoe soles, sunglasses, cooking utensils, fertilizer, toys, jewelry, and contact lenses, just to name a few.
As we enjoy March Madness, we can all be grateful for the oil and gas industry. I will especially enjoy the popcorn I get to eat out of my plastic bowl.
I wish the best of luck to all the teams who make the year’s Big Dance.