How Natural Gas Shows Up at March Madness 

  • Kyla Coleman

    • Many college basketball athletes are gearing up to compete in the 2026 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness. Whether your team will make it all the way to the Final Four or even the Championship Game; watching the best of the best in college basketball makes the month of March more fun. What makes the month even more exciting for AGA is knowing that natural gas is playing a significant role in the tournament. 

    Without natural gas, there would be no basketball in a basketball game. The inner butyl rubber bladder inside a basketball is created using byproducts derived from natural gas. This helps the basketball hold air so that it is inflated for every bounce during the game. It also offers durability when the basketball is being fought over by two players in hopes they hear a whistle for a jump ball call in their favor.  

    Many people will be sporting college jerseys whether at the arena or at home on their couches. Natural gas is one of the reasons why you are able to show off your favorite player in style. As a raw material, natural gas is used in the production of college basketball jerseys through the creation of synthetic fibers.  

    The championship game will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The state of Indiana is a part of the top 10 natural gas consuming states in the country. Natural gas generates 32.80% of the state’s electricity, which includes more than1.8 million households and 166,425 businesses across the state. This means that whether you are watching in the arena, in the comfort of your own home, or at the local bar; natural gas will have you covered for uninterrupted gameplay. 

    Throughout the United States, commercial and industrial natural gas customers have saved more than $655 billion over the last decade by using natural gas. On average in Indiana, natural gas customers save 55% on their bill when compared to electricity. Hoosiers choose natural gas because it is affordable, reliable, safe, and essential to improving our environment. 

    So, this March Madness season when you are screaming at your TV because of an unexpected buzzer beater, repping your favorite player’s jersey into the office or feeling nostalgic by going outside to bounce your own basketball; remember how natural gas plays a vital role in helping businesses, customers, and communities thrive.  

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