Kickstart: Kicking off a new season

Major League Baseball finally gets its 2022 season underway today after a lockout over labor negotiations. And that means it's time for bobbleheads, souvenir cups and bags, along with a little controversy over those items.

In Philadelphia, the Phillies have a new list of things that fans cannot bring into the stadium, a list that includes backpacks, duffel bags, tote bags and most purses — only purses smaller than 8 inches in length, 5 inches in height and 1 inch in depth are allowed.

Fans can, however, carry items in a "convenience store plastic bag." Only thing is, as the website phillysportsnetwork.com points out, Philadelphia has a new plastic bag ban, which means that a standard retail plastic bag is hard to find.

Even more frustrating, the website points out at least two of the giveaway items planned for this season violate the Phillies' own ban. At the July 26 game, kids age 14 and younger will receive an MLB Network tote bag. And on Aug. 18, the Phillies will hand out a cooler bag to fans.

Sustainability will be part of foodservice operations through the upcoming season. The interest in increasing recycling efforts at sporting events has been growing with groups such as the Green Sports Alliance working with both professional and college teams.

This year, WinCup Inc.'s foodservice items, including Phade-brand straws and stirrers made from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) will be used at all concessions for the New York Yankees' home games. WinCup also is an official partner of the Green Sports Alliance this year. Phade, which WinCup says is biodegradable and compostable in industrial facilities, is also used during football games at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.

Meanwhile in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Twins' home facility of Target Field will feature AWSM Sauce in its Delta SKY360° suites. AWSM has targeted a reduction in plastics use by providing dry-pack sauce mixes that are then combined with water to create ketchup, mustard and barbecue sauces served at the facility.

But if baseball isn't your thing, what about soccer?

Sports gear maker Adidas AG has unveiled the Al Rihla, the official ball for the 2022 World Cup taking place in Qatar in November and December. The ball was designed "from the inside out using data from rigorous testing in Adidas labs, wind tunnels and on-pitch [to provide the] highest level of accuracy and reliability on the field of play, due in part to its new panel shape and surface textures."

That "speedshell" surface is a polyurethane skin featuring "micro and macro textures" and a 20-piece panel shape to enhance aerodynamics and improve flight stability, Adidas said.

As Don Loepp, PN editor and soccer fan, noted, those same features will likely be blamed by goalkeepers for every missed shot when play begins.