PHOENIX, AZ. (02/14/2012) – The Arizona Cardinals were recognized at a luncheon today for winning the Bud Light Good Sport Designated Driver Challenge with the St. Louis Rams. Representatives from the Cardinals, Anheuser-Busch, ROJO Hospitality, Hensley Beverage Company, Coca-Cola, MADD, Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and TEAM Coalition gathered for the celebration.The Designated Driver Challenge tracked the number of fans who pledged to be designated drivers at all the 2011 regular season home games for both teams. Each fan who pledged to be a designated driver at University of Phoenix Stadium earned the Cardinals six points in the challenge. Additionally, fans who “liked” the Cardinals posts on Facebook about the Challenge earned the team an extra point. The Cardinals outscored the Rams in both in-stadium designated driver pledges and Facebook “likes.”Click here to see the final standings in the Designated Driver Challenge.
(left to right) Troy Cuspard, Account Executive for Coca-Cola; Kelly Larkin, Arizona State Executive Director for MADD; Ken Wilson, General Manager for ROJO Hospitality; John Drum, VP, Stadium Operations for the Arizona Cardinals; Alberto Gutier, Director of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety; Cari Maas, Director, Premium Services & Guest Relations for the Arizona Cardinals; Brooke Montgomery, Regional Director of Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch InBev; Douglas Yonko, Vice President of Communications for Hensley Distributing; Jill Pepper, Executive Director of TEAM Coalition; Rick Knight, VP, Security for the Arizona Cardinals; Sgt. Angelo Trujillo, Arizona Department of Public SafetyThe Cardinals, University of Phoenix Stadium, ROJO Hospitality, Hensley Beverage Company, Coca-Cola, Bud Light, the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and MADD have been working together successfully for the designated-driver program, finishing in the Top Five for the NFL in 2009.
“We’re pleased to work with the Cardinals, TEAM and the other program partners to recognize fans who look out for each other and make a designated-driver part of their game plan,” said Kathy Casso, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Anheuser-Busch. “When it comes to preventing drunk driving, we’re all part of the team.”
“Teamwork is exactly what this organization is all about,” said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. “Through the Designated Driver Challenge, we are demonstrating that when everyone – including the fans – takes responsibility, everyone wins.”
The designated-driver program is just one component of the fan behavior initiatives offered by the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Other components include:
- A Fan Code of Conduct posted in and around University of Phoenix Stadium
- Text messaging (text “CARDS” to 57375) empowers fans to report disruptive behavior to security
- Certification of more than 1,000 employees across every organization operating in University of Phoenix Stadium in effective alcohol management training
- Alcohol service policies including ID checks for fans who look 35 years of age or younger, no more than two alcoholic beverages per person per transaction and alcohol cut-off at the end of the third quarter
About TEAM Coalition
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM’s members and supporters include the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Ovations Food Services, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch, 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. www.teamcoalition.org. |
