Responsibility Has Its Rewards: Responsible Major League Soccer Fans Earn Ultimate Reward at MLS Cup 2012(tm)
Los Angeles, CA, Dec 2, 2012 (Menafn - GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) --As the Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy close the door on the 2012 season after amazing performances at MLS Cup 2012(tm), two fans and their guests are reminiscing about the experience of a lifetime at MLS Cup 2012(tm). Johnny Chin, from Houston, TX and the Houston Dynamo Designated Driver for the Season and Shannon Draper, a fan from Whittier, CA representing LA Galaxy were selected as the grand prize winners of the "Responsibility Has Its Rewards" sweepstakes. The sweepstakes is in its seventh season, provided by Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition with support from Major League Soccer (MLS), and it continues to succeed in raising awareness for the designated driver programs offered by MLS teams. Both fans and their guests attended MLS Cup 2012(tm) at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA on Saturday December 1, 2012. The winners were recognized on the field at halftime of the game after having been selected from among the record 22,447 fans who pledged to be designated drivers at MLS games throughout the 2012 season, ensuring a safe ride home for their friends and family.
The top three MLS clubs for designated drivers in 2012 are:
-- Seattle Sounders FC: 4,273 designated drivers
-- New England Revolution: 3,785 designated drivers
-- Real Salt Lake: 2,988 designated drivers
"One of Major League Soccer's top priorities is the safety of our fans, and our partnership with TEAM Coalition is an excellent program that provides a positive message," said Evan Dabby, MLS senior director of Supporter Relations & Safety and TEAM Coalition second Vice Chairman. "We're pleased to work with TEAM Coalition to promote responsible habits."
"Anheuser-Busch has led our industry in promoting responsible drinking for 30 years and Budweiser Good Sport, which reminds fans who choose to drink, to do so responsibly and get their friends home safely is one of our most visible programs," said Kathy Casso, vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility at Anheuser-Busch. "We all share the same streets after the game. This partnership with Major League Soccer, participating stadiums, concessionaires, TEAM Coalition and soccer fans displays our collective responsibility to help keep our roads safe." Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers promote responsible drinking among MLS fans by implementing Budweiser Good Sport fan responsibility programs with 10 MLS venues throughout the season.
At Soccer Celebration - the festival held outside of the Home Depot Center before MLS Cup 2012(tm) - hundreds of MLS fans pledged to be responsible by promising to always have a designated driver and never drive drunk. Those responsible MLS fans received souvenir photos and they autographed a larger-than-life soccer ball, as champions of responsibility. The promotion for fans at Soccer Celebration was a partnership between TEAM Coalition, MLS, Budweiser and el Jimador.
"We are excited to work with the other members of TEAM Coalition and build upon our efforts to encourage responsible drinking," said Brown-Forman's Director of Corporate Responsibility, Rob Frederick. "Sporting events and concerts should be safe and fun for everyone, and I believe through collaboration we can more effectively promote positive fan behavior."
"All the responsibility programs we offered this season were great examples of how MLS and the league partners are able to show support for the clubs' efforts in coordination with the concessionaires, distillers, the brewers and the local beer wholesalers to encourage responsible fan behavior," said Jill Pepper, executive director, TEAM Coalition. "Teamwork is what the Responsibility Has Its Rewards campaign is all about. It is proof that when everyone - including the fans - takes responsibility, everyone wins."
About MLS
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Major League Soccer's 17th season features 19 clubs each playing 34 regular-season matches. Those clubs include the Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; 2011 and 2012 MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Portland Timbers; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC; Vancouver Whitecaps FC; and, in their inaugural season, Montreal Impact. For more information about MLS, log on to the league's official website at www.MLSsoccer.com.
About Anheuser-Busch
For nearly three decades, Anheuser-Busch and its nationwide network of wholesalers have invested more than 930 million in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs to promote responsible drinking, prevent underage drinking and drunk driving and address college issues. For more information on these alcohol responsibility efforts and the progress being made, visit www.anheuser-busch.com. Budweiser is the Official Beer of Major League Soccer and proudly sponsors 10 of the 19 MLS clubs.
About Brown-Forman
For 140 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Jack Daniel's & Cola, Canadian Mist, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, New Mix, Tuaca, and Woodford Reserve. Brown-Forman's brands are supported by nearly 3,900 employees and sold in approximately 135 countries worldwide. Brown-Forman's el Jimador is the Official Tequila of Major League Soccer. For more information go to www.brown-forman.com
About TEAM Coalition
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaries, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, traffic safety experts and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM Coalition members and supporters include Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, NASCAR, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies - Sportservice, Ovations Food Services, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch Companies, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, Elite Show Services, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com
SOURCE: TEAM Coalition
CONTACT: Jill Pepper, TEAM Coalition 202-669-0357 jill@teamcoalition.org
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